Perhaps it is fortuitous that Tim Cahill is not in the Australian squad that takes on Thailand in Bangkok on Tuesday night. Should the veteran have scored – as he has done 48 times previously in the green and gold – his celebratory corner-flag boxing routine might not have gone down too well.
The 2018 World Cup qualifier at the Rajamangala Stadium is not going to be easy – Thailand may have lost all four games in Group B so far but the death of King Bhumibol last month complicates matters for Ange Postecoglou. Few in the so-called “Land of Smiles” remember life before the much-loved monarch took the throne in 1946 and his passing has prompted a nationwide period of mourning.
That resulted in the Thailand Premier League cutting its season short by three games and there was talk of this match being moved or played behind closed doors. The green light has been given, though fans have been asked to dress in sombre colours and to behave respectfully. After nine young Australians spent four days in a Kuala Lumpur jail for drinking beer in Malaysian-flag undies at the country’s Formula One grand prix last month, it is a chance for visiting fans to recoup some standing in south-east Asia.
What is best for Thailand is that those Socceroos supporters have nothing to shout about at all. This is a crucial game for both. Australia have dropped four points in their last two games – in Saudi Arabia and at home to Japan – and are keen to return to winning ways. Thailand just want to find a way to win.
The War Elephants topped their group in the previous round to become the first south-east Asian nation to get to the final stage of qualification since 2002 (a time when South Korea and Japan were absent). To finish above 2007 Asian champions Iraq was a fine achievement but not all that surprising to those that have been watching the country’s development.
In the past three or four years, Thailand have emerged as the clear No1 in South-east Asia, playing an easy-on-the-eye passing game along the way. This has happened in the past but this time there is real hope that the Thais could finally break clear of the passionate, but at times claustrophobic, Asean football scene, and look to the continental stage first and the one closer to home second.
As the final phase began, nobody in Thailand expected or demanded a place in the top two in Group B and automatic qualification for the competition in Russia, or even third and a play-off route. What was hoped for were signs that the team could be competitive against the best in Asia.
It started well enough. Kiatisuk Senamuang’s men were, just, the better team against Saudi Arabia in Riyadh on 1 September. The 1-0 loss came due to a late and fairly soft penalty given to Bert Van Marwijk’s men. It was followed by a 2-0 defeat at home to a Japan side that was treated with too much respect.
Therein may lie the Thais’ issue. The talent is there but perhaps it will take a little time for confidence to catch up. Japan have not looked impressive in qualification so far and had the hosts been more aggressive, it could have been a different story.
Then came a 3-1 loss in the United Arab Emirates before their first truly disappointing performance. Playing Iraq (in Iran) should have offered a fine chance of victory given the events of the previous round but defensively Thailand were at sixes and sevens and could have lost by that much too. In the end it was 4-0.
The danger is that further defeats will, naturally, damage confidence and the team’s future ambition may suffer. Losing a few is fine for a team looking for stronger tests, but to lose every game is understandably dispiriting.
Long term though, the signs appear healthy. The widely-disliked Thai FA president, Worawi Makudi, is finally out after a corruption scandal too many and the local league is progressing well.
With 2015 champions Buriram United struggling this year, the likes of Bangkok United came to the fore but it was Muangthong United who won the league. Well-funded and well-supported, like a growing number of Thai clubs, the Kirins contain a number of internationals who will line-up against the Socceroos.
Chanathip Songkrasin is one. The attacking midfielder, known as “Messi Jay”, is the biggest star in south-east Asian football and there is cool midfielder Sarach Yooyen, charismatic striker Teerasil Dangsa, highly-rated full-back Theerathon Bunmathan and Kawin Thamsatchanan, an athletic goalkeeper once linked to Manchester United.
The talent, most of it still young, is there for Thailand, as are the ambitions. It remains to be seen if the team has the self-belief to stop the Asian champions, stop a fifth straight defeat and stop the Socceroos supporters from having anything to cheer at all.
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