Asian Football Confederation
November 15

After three disastrous results in Uzbekistan, Thailand are now dogged to make sure they can win back the hearts of their fans back home in Bangkok.

Three consecutive losses to Uzbekistan, and Hong Kong have left the Tiger Cup champions without a single point from the Asian Cup Group A qualifying.

Instead of Tajikistan trying to find the most inane of excuses, the admirable Thais, fronted by President of the Football Association of Thailand Vijitr Getkaew, the South East Asians are determined to make up for lost pride when the group stage games swing back to the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok.

"You have to give coach Roberto Carvalho and team manager Thavatchai Sajakul a bit of time," said the Thai chief. "We don't want to change coaches again. We just want to start winning.

"We must play at our best and win back the hearts of the Thai people. We still have a chance with the second leg at home.

"The players said they were determined to do better in the second leg for the sake of the Thai people."

Former Thai coach Peter Withe was suspended after Thailand was dumped out of the Olympic qualifying and although Carvalho had not fared any better since the Brazilian had taken charge, the South American still believes Thailand are very much in for a fighting chance.

"These sort of setbacks also happen to such big teams as Brazil, England and France," said Carvalho. "The problem was that we could not get all the players together at the same time for training.

"If our players concentrate we are capable of beating every team in the group. It will be hard, but I believe in the potential of our players.

"In the first leg matches we had a lot of possession but just couldn't score."

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