London: While Thai football fans wait for a star player to break through at the top level in Europe, there will at least be a distinctive Thai flavour at the FA Cup semi-final between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley today.
George Zuerner and his son Freddie at Wembley.
Although many in Asia will be watching to see if South Korea's Son Heung-Min can sink Jose Mourinho's Manchester United in front of around 90,000 fans in London, a young boy with a family link to Chon Buri will accompany the Red Devils onto the pitch before kick-off.
Seven-year-old Freddie Zuerner has been selected as one of United's mascots thanks to connections in the game forged by his half-Thai father George, who is a semi professional footballer in England and who once had trials in Thailand in a bid to secure a place in the national team.
While George is accompanying his son to Wembley for the crunch match, Freddie's UK-based grandmother Janphen Chonwanich will be watching the match in Chon Buri, where she is visiting family.
His British-German grandfather Heinz Zuerner lives in Pattaya and will also be tuning in to catch a glimpse of the fair-haired youngster, who is football-mad and playing his way through the junior system in England.
"It's a dream for Freddie to walk out with his idols from his favourite team," said 30-year-old George, who was born in England and works at the University of Lincoln as a schools and colleges liaison officer.
"We don't know what player he will be with but it's usually done by size so we think it may be Jesse Lingard or Alexis Sanchez. Whoever it is will be amazing anyway.
"All of his family in Thailand will be watching on television, it will be a great day for all of us."
George said his son is excited about the occasion, especially as he was only in the crowd at Wembley two weeks ago watching hometown club Lincoln City win the EFL Trophy.
This time the pair have to arrive at England's national stadium three hours before kick-off and there will be a rehearsal before Freddie walks out of the tunnel for real.
Now the young boy is dreaming of a future in the sport.
"Freddie's ambition is to play there professionally so this will be a day he'll never forget," said George.