BEC Tero Sasana striker Adisak Kraisorn has pulled out of the national team, which will face Iraq in next month’s World Cup qualifier, due to injury.
Thailand striker Adisak Kraisorn.
National coach Kiatisak Senamuang announced his 23-man squad on Tuesday and Adisak suffered a knee injury during BEC’s match in the Thai Premier League the following day.
BEC said the striker would be sidelined for about one month.
Kiatisak has called up another BEC player Peerapat Notechaiya to replace Adisak.
The players reported to Kiatisak’s assistant Klairung Treejaksung yesterday to begin their preparations for the World Cup qualifier against Iraq at Rajamangala National Stadium on Sept 8.
However, Kiatisak and six players flew to Myanmar yesterday to receive awards for their performances at last year’s Suzuki Cup won by Thailand.
Among the six is midfielder Chanathip Songkrasin, who is not in the squad for the Iraq match as he is trying to regain fitness following a long injury lay-off.
Thailand lead Group F of Asia’s qualifying round for the 2018 World Cup.
The Kingdom have six points from two wins, against Vietnam and Taiwan.
Iraq will begin their campaign against Taiwan on Sept 3 before facing Thailand.
Indonesia were originally in the group but have since been suspended by Fifa for their government’s interference in local football.
Meanwhile, Jeonbuk striker Lee Dong-gook thinks Japanese players can get rattled under pressure and says his side will try to use their physicality to win the crucial midfield battle against Gamba Osaka in the Asian Champions League quarter-finals next week.
Jeonbuk Motors, South Korea’s last representatives in Asia’s elite club competition, are 10 points clear in the Korean top flight but have not been firing on all cylinders this year due to a host of personnel changes and a drop-off in form.
Jeonbuk’s attacking options were diminished when Brazilian duo Edu and Eninho left the club mid-season, and while manager Choi Kang-hee has brought in reinforcements they are taking time to bed in.
However, Jeonbuk are unbeaten at home in the Champions League this season and striker Lee, who turned 36 in April, said team chemistry was improving all the time.
“Overall, we’ve been playing well in the AFC Champions league and as the tournament has progressed the relationships between the players have been getting better and better,” said Lee in a statement on Thursday.
“I believe the battle for ball possession in the midfield will be very competitive. The Japanese players are maybe weaker when put under pressure, so we will need to use our physical ability to take control of the game,” added Lee, who was named last season’s player of the year in Korea. agencies