Thais keen to bounce back in Singapore
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Thais keen to bounce back in Singapore

Thailand players arrive in Singapore for their World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.
Thailand players arrive in Singapore for their World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.

Thailand landed in Singapore on Sunday hoping to make amends for their recent loss to China with a victory in their second Group C match of the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday.

The War Elephants, who wasted a one-goal advantage on Thursday to go down 2-1 to China in the opening match of their World Cup qualifying campaign, will take on Singapore on Tuesday at 7pm (Thai time).

The Thais will be missing two key players -- Chanathip Songkrasin and Pansa Hemviboon -- who have been forced to pull out of the team after picking up injuries in the China game.

Before their departure on Sunday, Thailand coach Mano Polking said: "We are still disappointed with the result of the game with China.

"But we have had a chat with players and they have the same target, that is to beat Singapore. We are ready for the match.

"We will not have Chanathip and Pansa for this match but other players are ready."

Chanathip has a bruised ankle bone while Pansa has suffered a knee tendonitis injury, both needing two weeks off the pitch to recover.

"Teerasil Dangda is not in a condition to play from the start but he is very likely to play some role in the game against Singapore," added Polking.

Thailand midfielder Ekanit Panya said: "We are all ready to play Singapore and our target is to claim three points from this game.

"We have been chatting since our loss to China. We realise that it's important for us avoid the mistakes we made in that game."

Midfielder Supachok Sarachat added that he was left "exhausted after the match against China, but I have recovered.

"We must not underestimate Singapore as they also lost their first group match to South Korea and will be equally keen to do well in this game."

Ref banned for life

The Football Association of Thailand (FAT) has banned referee Somsak Poosomnuek for life for making racial remarks during a Thai League 3 game.

The referee was found guilty of racial discrimination against Thai-Ghanaian player Abdulkordiri Hamid of Prachinburi City during a match against Pluakdang United on Oct 29.

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