Returning to the Asian Cup after a 12-year absence, Thailand can look back on a productive cycle, that generated a pool of talent that was all set to put South East Asian football on the map. However, with raised expectations and some damaging recent results, comes a retreat to a more defensive mentality which could see a thoroughly watered-down product in the UAE. With their star players set to return in time for January, can they help influence a change in the team’s fortunes?
Thailand’s record at the Asian Cup is pretty dire, given the circumstances they find themselves in today. Only once have they passed the group stages, but that was at their home tournament, back in 1972. Since then, one win from fifteen matches since 1992 has well and truly shackled The War Elephants to the outer edges of international Asian football.
With such a meagre history of contesting on the continental stage, the job achieved in qualification by former player turned coach Kiatisuk Senamuang was nothing short of remarkable. While steamrolling along regionally (winning back-to-back Suzuki Cups in 2014 & 2016), Kiatisuk’s Thailand shocked Asian Cup semi-finalists Iraq, in topping their Asian Cup qualifying group, before pushing the likes of Saudi Arabia and Australia in the early proceedings of final World Cup qualification.
The very fact that he was forced out thanks to criticism of below par performances in the final round, should illustrate the expectations he’d risen over his tenure. The squad of players groomed over qualification are tentatively being coined as the Thai “golden generation”, and despite concerns over the team itself ever really living up to that moniker, individual players have burnt through their own path to live up to the billing.
In the last year, the golden trio of Chanathip Songkrasin, Teerasil Dangda and Theerathon Bunmathan all made the loan move to Japan, a noticeable change to their predominantly home based squad, not only to make up the numbers, or to draw in the crowds, but to compete and excel. Chanathip in particular, after a fine season with Consadole Sapporo, has sealed his permanent future in the J.League, impressing enough to be nominated for the league’s top performer across the season.
The rise of all three championed a positive style of play Kiatisuk encouraged throughout the side. An attacking, wing back system, that saw Thailand at their very best, rip through weaker teams on quick counters, but also stretch and pose questions of those established nations, something rarely seen from a Thai side to date. Chanathip’s burst of energy whilst in possession scared opponents, while the delivery from Theerathon from the left, and Tristan Do from the right, kept lone man Teerasil busy with goal scoring opportunities.
One thing Thailand wasn’t, was ever cautious. In the end, that was Kiatisuk’s undoing, thus a more defensive coach Serbian coach Milovan Rajevac was brought in to steady the ship. As I preluded upon his appointment a year ago, initial concerns brought up from his previous roles came to fruition. Immediately he bolstered the defence, filing back to a back four (sometimes consisting of four natural centre halves), while cutting out the then inspiring Tristan Do, who has rarely featured under Rajevac since, and clipping Theerathon’s attacking performances, sometimes deploying him in midfield.
The set up is now reminiscent of where we used to pit Thailand. A stubborn side on the fringes, looking to make best off infrequent attacking opportunities, but crucially keeping the door shut behind them. Out have gone the exuberance and invention of old, in came stability, to manage attacks patiently and minimise risks. Perfect for a technical disadvantage that may have come later at the Asian Cup, but something that has slowly saw them lose ground regionally, a place where they have regularly bossed proceedings.
A semi-final exit in the last few weeks to Malaysia in their Suzuki Cup title retention bid was nothing short of humiliating for a nation that has dominated so much recently. They weren’t just beaten, it could have been by much more. A competition Thai fans had grown accustomed to winning, has now been set back to yet another tournament Thailand were struggling to exude their influence on. While Rajevac was hamstrung somewhat in not being able to select the Japanese based trio, Thailand managed to cobble together a squad stiff enough to mount a serious challenge that regrettably didn’t occur.
Of the few positives that came from the tournament, defensive stability was clearly on show, one area Rajevac and his employers can point to as a step up from that under Kiatisuk. Individually, the performances of 20-year-old forward Supachai Jaided will have also caught the eye. Even if he does only offer a substitute option in the Emirates, the Buriram forward, proved to be an unpredictable option out wide, that worked nicely to balance the side’s structured approach towards goal.
Similarly, the goalscoring exploits of Adisak Kraisorn were back on show. The lone front man remains an underwhelming prospect in Asian football, that promised so much early on, to go on to suffer from countless injury setbacks and a lack of form that has hampered his progress to date. The change of management may in the end prove beneficial for him, excelling more in individual moments rather than attacking flow, the striker’s aerial ability and initiative to come alive in the box has already proven to be a successful starting block for Rajevac’s attacking play.
Thailand travel to the UAE, in a group they should be progressing from – already framing this as potentially their most successful tournament away from home in their history. Drawn alongside the hosts, India and Bahrain will see Thailand start as considered favourites along with UAE for progression, yet with the last month lacking energy and attacking thought, could Thailand become the first of the shock casualty of the Asian Cup?
Key Men
Head Coach - Milovan Rajevac (SRB)
Stepped into the breach of legendary player and coach Kiatisuk Senamuang to restore parity in qualification but failed to clinch a victory to end the cycle. Has returned Thailand to a typical 442/4231 formation, setting up in a more defensive approach than in previous years. Has a chequered managerial past, including short spells in charge of Qatar and Algeria.
Star Player - Chanathip Songkrasin
The most talented player in recent Thai footballing history, who’s transitioned his home form overseas with a successful move to Consadole Sapporo in Japan. “Jay” has the capability of featuring centrally or out wide, with pace and trickery to out think, rather than out muscle his opponents, given his diminutive 5ft 2in stature. After star of the tournament awards regionally, the Asian Cup marks the biggest test of his quality.
Returning to Form - Adisak Kraisorn
Physical striker, who has wrestled with injury knock backs to come into the tournament in great form but has plenty of critics to turnaround. Top scorer at the recent Suzuki Cup, Adisak recorded a double hat-trick against Timor-Leste in the group stage. A clever out ball, he provides a direct alternative to Teersail at the point of the Thailand attack.
Young Prospect - Supachai Jaided
Fledgling striker, who is an unpredictable threat from out wide, was one of the few players to further his case for an Asian Cup call up, with three goals in the Suzuki Cup group stage. The 20-year-old has been in and out since breaking through to the Buriram United first team but looks to have nailed down a starting birth domestically in the last month of the season.
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