Star Chanathip eager to see Thais through to next stage

Star Chanathip eager to see Thais through to next stage

Midfielder Chanathip Songkrasin aims to help Thailand finish top of their World Cup qualifying group and advance to the next round.

Thailand are in the same group as the United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia in Asia's second qualifying round for the 2022 World Cup.

Winners of the eight groups and four best second-placed sides will make it to the third and final stage of the Asian zone qualifiers and also earn places in the 2023 Asian Cup finals.

The War Elephants kick off their campaign against Vietnam at home on Sept 5.

"My aim is to help the national team top Group G. I want to win every game in the group," said Chanathip who is playing for Japanese club Consadole Sapporo.

He is likely to play alongside Theerathon Bunmathan and Thitiphan Puangjan who both are also playing in Japan.

It will be Japanese Akira Nishino's first competitive game as coach of Thailand.

Earlier, Nishino, who guided his country to the last 16 round at the 2018 World Cup, praised the three Japan-based Thai stars who could be among the main players in his War Elephants squad.

"No matter who is coach of the national team, we have to learn from him. We have to adapt ourselves to his tactics," Chanathip said.

Thailand have never qualified for the World Cup finals.

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