Thailand National team - general news

[TPF]

International Football - FAT players get free burgers

Thailand's top players will feast on free burgers as part of a three-year sponsorship deal with American fast food giant McDonald's.

McDonald's will provide 25 million baht (£452,617) for the Football Association of Thailand and will offer five million baht in products in exchange for shirt sponsorship for the next three years, starting this month.

"This will be a great help towards our efforts to reach the 2014 World Cup finals," FAT president Worawi Makudi told Reuters.

"This funding will help develop our game, especially youth football, and all the players, junior and senior, will get to enjoy the food too," he added.

Thailand's national team, which is currently 110th in the FIFA rankings, signed a five-year kit sponsorship deal with US sports giant Nike in 2007 for an undisclosed figure.

The team has never qualified for the World Cup finals and is now being coached by former England and Manchester United captain Bryan Robson.

Link: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/04112009/58/international-football-fat-players-free-burgers.html

[Vinnie]

International Football - FAT players get free burgers

Thailand's top players will feast on free burgers as part of a three-year sponsorship deal with American fast food giant McDonald's.

McDonald's will provide 25 million baht (£452,617) for the Football Association of Thailand and will offer five million baht in products in exchange for shirt sponsorship for the next three years, starting this month.

"This will be a great help towards our efforts to reach the 2014 World Cup finals," FAT president Worawi Makudi told Reuters.

"This funding will help develop our game, especially youth football, and all the players, junior and senior, will get to enjoy the food too," he added.Thailand's national team, which is currently 110th in the FIFA rankings, signed a five-year kit sponsorship deal with US sports giant Nike in 2007 for an undisclosed figure.

The team has never qualified for the World Cup finals and is now being coached by former England and Manchester United captain Bryan Robson.

Link: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/04112009/58/international-football-fat-players-free-burgers.html

Please tell me that's a joke. He honestly thinks it's appropriate for professional footballers to eat McDonalds!!??

[SriRachaShark]

International Football - FAT players get free burgers

Thailand's top players will feast on free burgers as part of a three-year sponsorship deal with American fast food giant McDonald's.

McDonald's will provide 25 million baht (£452,617) for the Football Association of Thailand and will offer five million baht in products in exchange for shirt sponsorship for the next three years, starting this month.

"This will be a great help towards our efforts to reach the 2014 World Cup finals," FAT president Worawi Makudi told Reuters.

"This funding will help develop our game, especially youth football, and all the players, junior and senior, will get to enjoy the food too," he added.Thailand's national team, which is currently 110th in the FIFA rankings, signed a five-year kit sponsorship deal with US sports giant Nike in 2007 for an undisclosed figure.

The team has never qualified for the World Cup finals and is now being coached by former England and Manchester United captain Bryan Robson.

Link: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/04112009/58/international-football-fat-players-free-burgers.html

Please tell me that's a joke. He honestly thinks it's appropriate for professional footballers to eat McDonalds!!??

All washed down with pints of Smirnoff, no doubt.

[kinteaw]

oh, thay's news

[lokomotive]

It looks like Steve was only suspended from the U-23 i am right?

A few pics reached me by today, and I think the man in the middle with the grey hair ist Steve. Isn't he?

[jakartacasual]

just bluster from fat

[SriRachaShark]

An update :

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/sports/31865/decision-on-darby-next-week

[lokomotive]

An update :

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/sports/31865/decision-on-darby-next-week

And the decission was made.

ส.บอลให้แต๊กมือขวาร็อบโบ้พร้อมตั้งส.เปาก่อนเปิดลีก

A few more too at this meeting, bu I have no clue what they are about.

[druryfire]

4th September - Thailand v India

http://www.the-aiff.com/pages/news/index.php?N_Id=1118

[TPF]

When was the last time a Thailand striker scored in a proper International match?

By that I mean an Asian Cup Qualifier, ASEAN Championship, or King's Cup match, something along those lines...I don't class 'friendlies' as proper matches.

[druryfire]

When was the last time a Thailand striker scored in a proper International match?

By that I mean an Asian Cup Qualifier, ASEAN Championship, or King's Cup match, something along those lines...I don't class 'friendlies' as proper matches.

If i'm correct, i think 21st Jan 2009 against Lebanon in the King's Cup. Dangda was a scorer

[TPF]

When was the last time a Thailand striker scored in a proper International match?

By that I mean an Asian Cup Qualifier, ASEAN Championship, or King's Cup match, something along those lines...I don't class 'friendlies' as proper matches.

If i'm correct, i think 21st Jan 2009 against Lebanon in the King's Cup. Dangda was a scorer

That's the same answer I have. For the record, the Lebanon match was 9 competitive games ago! It's a pretty appalling stat really, and given that none of the midfield players are prolific in front of goal, makes it even more worrying.

[druryfire]

Thailand need to find more Sutee Suksomkit's and more Therdsak Chaiman's if they want to score or create chances in my opinion. Both wrong side of 30.

Since Robson has been in charge we have gone backwards in my opinion. Under Reid our strikers kind of thrived, or at least they did against pants opposition, the same kind of opposition I would class Jordan and Singapore as.

[TPF]

Thailand need to find more Sutee Suksomkit's and more Therdsak Chaiman's if they want to score or create chances in my opinion. Both wrong side of 30.

Since Robson has been in charge we have gone backwards in my opinion. Under Reid our strikers kind of thrived, or at least they did against pants opposition, the same kind of opposition I would class Jordan and Singapore as.

I guess the 2 players being groomed as Sutee & Therdsak's long term replacements are Arthit Sunthornpit & Anawin Jujeen.

I've always been impressed with Arthit, although some ppl say he's lazy. I guess SRS will be able to give a better idea of his ability then me. As for Anawin, he looks to be a decent all-round midfielder, who can hopefully develop in the next few years. I doubt he'll be as good as Therdsak though.

[charade_2010]

I guess the 2 players being groomed as Sutee & Therdsak's long term replacements are Arthit Sunthornpit & Anawin Jujeen.

Yeah , I also like Arthit so much . He is a David Beckham in Thai team but I elect Tana Chanabut , instead of Anawin Jujeen . He's very skillful .

[TPF]

I guess the 2 players being groomed as Sutee & Therdsak's long term replacements are Arthit Sunthornpit & Anawin Jujeen.

Yeah , I also like Arthit so much . He is a David Beckham in Thai team but I elect Tana Chanabut , instead of Anawin Jujeen . He's very skillful .

Does Tana Chanabut still play for Pattaya United? (first time they've been mentioned on here for a while  ). I saw him play at Thai Port last season, and he did look pretty useful, albeit in a poor team.

[SriRachaShark]

Tana is still at P*tt*ya. He's in the QC squad. I always rated him during the short spell he had with us.

Arthit is something of an enigma. When he wants to play he can but when he's not bothered he can be a burden on the team. If I'm being honest I wish we'd accepted MTUFC's millions last June.

[Vinnie]

When was the last time a Thailand striker scored in a proper International match?

By that I mean an Asian Cup Qualifier, ASEAN Championship, or King's Cup match, something along those lines...I don't class 'friendlies' as proper matches.

If i'm correct, i think 21st Jan 2009 against Lebanon in the King's Cup. Dangda was a scorer

That's the same answer I have. For the record, the Lebanon match was 9 competitive games ago! It's a pretty appalling stat really, and given that none of the midfield players are prolific in front of goal, makes it even more worrying.

What about Singapore away in November? They scored three times!

edit: Sorry, I didn't see the 'Striker' bit. I thought you were just talking about the Thai team in general.

[Vinnie]

Thailand need to find more Sutee Suksomkit's and more Therdsak Chaiman's if they want to score or create chances in my opinion. Both wrong side of 30.

Since Robson has been in charge we have gone backwards in my opinion. Under Reid our strikers kind of thrived, or at least they did against pants opposition, the same kind of opposition I would class Jordan and Singapore as.

Our strikers haven't been doing the job but I can't blame Robson for Teerasil being injured or for Leesaw's finishing to have got noticeably worse since he returned from Belgium. When Leesaw puts an unmarked header over the bar from six yards out against Jordan that's the fault of one person and one person only: the tart in the number 14 shirt.

[lokomotive]

And did Anon got a real chance over the last years? I don't think so. Two time topscorer, but only 9caps, where most of them came from the bench?

[SriRachaShark]

"When Leesaw puts an unmarked header over the bar from six yards out against Jordan that's the fault of one person and one person only: the tart in the number 14 shirt."

Or if he did the same whilst playing for his club it would no doubt be the ref's fault.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

[druryfire]

And did Anon got a real chance over the last years? I don't think so. Two time topscorer, but only 9caps, where most of them came from the bench?

And the problem is, i think, is that Robson has been force fed a load of news that he should include in his matchday squads. He doesn't know any of the players which is understandable. So at the moment he's playing players on reputation rather than what they can do.

The victory over Singapore probably mislead him into thinking which players should and shouldn't be included

[lokomotive]

ehm yes, maybe, but for which reason he had Darby? And Anon was topscorer already under Reid. And not just since October last year.

[druryfire]

Yeah, i know what you mean, but what chance has Robson had himself to see the players?

Just training sessions to begin with, and it has gone on record of how lazy Anon can be in training. Match wise, Robbo has gone with what he's chosen for whatever reason, particulary taking a shine to that young lad Kerrati(?) After that he has used 4-5-1, this isn't a formation you throw a unknown player into - and he would have been unknown to Robbo.

What Robbo needs is to see TPL games in action to get a better opinion of his players. But come TPL matchday, Thailand may well be out of Asian Cup and Robbo coudl be packing his bags.

[lokomotive]

Yeah, i know what you mean, but what chance has Robson had himself to see the players?

Just training sessions to begin with, and it has gone on record of how lazy Anon can be in training. Match wise, Robbo has gone with what he's chosen for whatever reason, particulary taking a shine to that young lad Kerrati(?) After that he has used 4-5-1, this isn't a formation you throw a unknown player into - and he would have been unknown to Robbo.

What Robbo needs is to see TPL games in action to get a better opinion of his players. But come TPL matchday, Thailand may well be out of Asian Cup and Robbo coudl be packing his bags.

....and Tak becomes new head coach

[bon-nirnam]

No, I think it will be Kavin Keegan's turn next.

Personally, I want Eddie 'The Eagle' to be Thailand's head coach.

[TPF]

Our strikers haven't been doing the job but I can't blame Robson for Teerasil being injured or for Leesaw's finishing to have got noticeably worse since he returned from Belgium. When Leesaw puts an unmarked header over the bar from six yards out against Jordan that's the fault of one person and one person only: the tart in the number 14 shirt.

True, you can't blame Robbo for individual misses, but you can blame him and Darby for playing Leesaw up front on his own in such a vital game knowing that his finishing isn't great. You (Vinnie) said after the match " 'Interesting' formation last night, too  ." I can only presume you had the same thoughts about the 4-5-1 as me! As for Teerasil, he might have been able to hold the ball up better than Leesaw, but he’s not exactly prolific either.

Let's not forget that had Thailand beaten Jordan, they'd have needed only a point in Iran to virtually guarantee qualification, but the overly cautious approach of the management put paid to that.

If the formation wasn’t negative enough, just look at the substitutions. After 73 minutes they brought on Keerati Kaewsombat as second striker, a lad who scored 3 TPL goals last season, when they had Pipat (10 goals) and Anon (19 goals) sat on the bench! Oh sorry I forgot, they can’t defend corners can they  :.

[SriRachaShark]

Our strikers haven't been doing the job but I can't blame Robson for Teerasil being injured or for Leesaw's finishing to have got noticeably worse since he returned from Belgium. When Leesaw puts an unmarked header over the bar from six yards out against Jordan that's the fault of one person and one person only: the tart in the number 14 shirt.

True, you can't blame Robbo for individual misses, but you can blame him and Darby for playing Leesaw up front on his own in such a vital game knowing that his finishing isn't great. You (Vinnie) said after the match " 'Interesting' formation last night, too  ." I can only presume you had the same thoughts about the 4-5-1 as me! As for Teerasil, he might have been able to hold the ball up better than Leesaw, but he’s not exactly prolific either.

Let's not forget that had Thailand beaten Jordan, they'd have needed only a point in Iran to virtually guarantee qualification, but the overly cautious approach of the management put paid to that.

If the formation wasn’t negative enough, just look at the substitutions. After 73 minutes they brought on Keerati Kaewsombat as second striker, a lad who scored 3 TPL goals last season, when they had Pipat (10 goals) and Anon (19 goals) sat on the bench! Oh sorry I forgot, they can’t defend corners can they  :.

Shouldn't you be celebrating Everton's win rather than coming on here at gone two o'clock in the morning?

[SriRachaShark]

Our strikers haven't been doing the job but I can't blame Robson for Teerasil being injured or for Leesaw's finishing to have got noticeably worse since he returned from Belgium. When Leesaw puts an unmarked header over the bar from six yards out against Jordan that's the fault of one person and one person only: the tart in the number 14 shirt.

True, you can't blame Robbo for individual misses, but you can blame him and Darby for playing Leesaw up front on his own in such a vital game knowing that his finishing isn't great. You (Vinnie) said after the match " 'Interesting' formation last night, too  ." I can only presume you had the same thoughts about the 4-5-1 as me! As for Teerasil, he might have been able to hold the ball up better than Leesaw, but he’s not exactly prolific either.

Let's not forget that had Thailand beaten Jordan, they'd have needed only a point in Iran to virtually guarantee qualification, but the overly cautious approach of the management put paid to that.

If the formation wasn’t negative enough, just look at the substitutions. After 73 minutes they brought on Keerati Kaewsombat as second striker, a lad who scored 3 TPL goals last season, when they had Pipat (10 goals) and Anon (19 goals) sat on the bench! Oh sorry I forgot, they can’t defend corners can they  :.

I sat with Vinnie for the game and we both expressed our surprise at the formation and the substitutions. However, in all the years I've been watching Thai football the same thing keeps being said over and over and over again. "If only we had a decent striker."

I get your point about Pipat and Anon but I'm not sure that they would have performed any better in that formation.

[Vinnie]

Our strikers haven't been doing the job but I can't blame Robson for Teerasil being injured or for Leesaw's finishing to have got noticeably worse since he returned from Belgium. When Leesaw puts an unmarked header over the bar from six yards out against Jordan that's the fault of one person and one person only: the tart in the number 14 shirt.

True, you can't blame Robbo for individual misses, but you can blame him and Darby for playing Leesaw up front on his own in such a vital game knowing that his finishing isn't great. You (Vinnie) said after the match " 'Interesting' formation last night, too  ." I can only presume you had the same thoughts about the 4-5-1 as me! As for Teerasil, he might have been able to hold the ball up better than Leesaw, but he’s not exactly prolific either.

Let's not forget that had Thailand beaten Jordan, they'd have needed only a point in Iran to virtually guarantee qualification, but the overly cautious approach of the management put paid to that.

If the formation wasn’t negative enough, just look at the substitutions. After 73 minutes they brought on Keerati Kaewsombat as second striker, a lad who scored 3 TPL goals last season, when they had Pipat (10 goals) and Anon (19 goals) sat on the bench! Oh sorry I forgot, they can’t defend corners can they  :.

And yet despite the formation and substitutions they created more than enough clear-cut chances to win the match.
They were overly defensive but they created enough good chances to win the match. Both statements can't be true.

Remember Teerasil is only 19. I don't know of too many prolific 19 year olds. In years to come I think he's going to be something very special and Thais will be saying "I can't believe we thought Leesaw was a great striker all these years".

[TPF]

Our strikers haven't been doing the job but I can't blame Robson for Teerasil being injured or for Leesaw's finishing to have got noticeably worse since he returned from Belgium. When Leesaw puts an unmarked header over the bar from six yards out against Jordan that's the fault of one person and one person only: the tart in the number 14 shirt.

True, you can't blame Robbo for individual misses, but you can blame him and Darby for playing Leesaw up front on his own in such a vital game knowing that his finishing isn't great. You (Vinnie) said after the match " 'Interesting' formation last night, too  ." I can only presume you had the same thoughts about the 4-5-1 as me! As for Teerasil, he might have been able to hold the ball up better than Leesaw, but he’s not exactly prolific either.

Let's not forget that had Thailand beaten Jordan, they'd have needed only a point in Iran to virtually guarantee qualification, but the overly cautious approach of the management put paid to that.

If the formation wasn’t negative enough, just look at the substitutions. After 73 minutes they brought on Keerati Kaewsombat as second striker, a lad who scored 3 TPL goals last season, when they had Pipat (10 goals) and Anon (19 goals) sat on the bench! Oh sorry I forgot, they can’t defend corners can they  :.

And yet despite the formation and substitutions they created more than enough clear-cut chances to win the match.
They were overly defensive but they created enough good chances to win the match. Both statements can't be true.

Remember Teerasil is only 19. I don't know of too many prolific 19 year olds. In years to come I think he's going to be something very special and Thais will be saying "I can't believe we thought Leesaw was a great striker all these years".

When I said Teerasil wasn’t prolific, it wasn’t meant as a criticism of him, I actually rate him very highly. The point I was trying to make was that even if he’d been the one upfront on his own instead of Leesaw, it wouldn’t have significantly increased the goal threat.

By my reckoning Thailand had 3 good chances, 2 of which fell to midfield players with dismal goal scoring records (Suchao 6 in 44 & Narongchai 3 in 27) so you can’t be surprised that they lacked composure in front of goal. Had those chances fallen to a second striker, then who knows what would have happened?

I guess that is the difference in balance between 4-4-2 and 4-5-1. You get more graft with 4-5-1, but you also lose the natural goalscoring threat, that a second striker would offer.

[TPF]

Our strikers haven't been doing the job but I can't blame Robson for Teerasil being injured or for Leesaw's finishing to have got noticeably worse since he returned from Belgium. When Leesaw puts an unmarked header over the bar from six yards out against Jordan that's the fault of one person and one person only: the tart in the number 14 shirt.

True, you can't blame Robbo for individual misses, but you can blame him and Darby for playing Leesaw up front on his own in such a vital game knowing that his finishing isn't great. You (Vinnie) said after the match " 'Interesting' formation last night, too  ." I can only presume you had the same thoughts about the 4-5-1 as me! As for Teerasil, he might have been able to hold the ball up better than Leesaw, but he’s not exactly prolific either.

Let's not forget that had Thailand beaten Jordan, they'd have needed only a point in Iran to virtually guarantee qualification, but the overly cautious approach of the management put paid to that.

If the formation wasn’t negative enough, just look at the substitutions. After 73 minutes they brought on Keerati Kaewsombat as second striker, a lad who scored 3 TPL goals last season, when they had Pipat (10 goals) and Anon (19 goals) sat on the bench! Oh sorry I forgot, they can’t defend corners can they  :.

I sat with Vinnie for the game and we both expressed our surprise at the formation and the substitutions. However, in all the years I've been watching Thai football the same thing keeps being said over and over and over again. "If only we had a decent striker."

I get your point about Pipat and Anon but I'm not sure that they would have performed any better in that formation.

I agree that Pipat or Anon wouldn’t have played any better in a 4-5-1. Neither would any of the other Thai strikers like Sarayoot or Sompong for that matter. That is exactly the point I’m trying to make. Robbo & Darby don’t seem to be playing to the strengths of the players they have available. They are intent on playing 4-5-1, and for me, they just don’t have enough players with the required attributes to do it.

In my opinion only Teerasil can do an effective job playing as the lone striker, so if he is injured you may as well turn to plan B (If they have a plan B).

I’d like to add, I’m not 100% against the idea of 4-5-1. It can be an effective formation away from home…if you have the right players available. I just think at home vs Jordan, knowing a win would give Thailand a great chance of qualification, Robbo & Darby needed to grow a pair of bollocks and go for it a bit more, especially with much earlier substitutions.

PS: If I was a betting man, I think against Iran, Robbo will play 4-5-1 with Keerati upfront on his own.

[druryfire]

If Thailand wish to use 4-5-1 then i suggest they contact David Moyes, he is like the godfather of 4-5-1

Any Thai striker used in that formation may well need counselling off Marcus Bent.

[TPF]

If Thailand wish to use 4-5-1 then i suggest they contact David Moyes, he is like the godfather of 4-5-1

Any Thai striker used in that formation may well need counselling off Marcus Bent.

Ronnachai Rangsiyo spent a year with Everton at the same time Marcus Bent was having his one good season. Let's hope Benty taught him a thing or two while he was in good form!

[TPF]

Interview with Robbo on the FIFA website: http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid=1169134.html

[Vinnie]

Iran match will be broadcast on Channel 7.

[lokomotive]

Iran match will be broadcast on Channel 7.

Yes and KO 19:30 Iran time. This makes it possible for me to watch the game without taking a day off.

[Vinnie]

Iran match will be broadcast on Channel 7.

Yes and KO 19:30 Iran time. This makes it possible for me to watch the game without taking a day off.

Which is 23:00 here in Thailand.

[lokomotive]

As announced already before, thai-fussball.de is proudly to present an interview with Peter Laeng. You can find an english version of it on here

http://thai-fussball.de/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=106

 

[charade_2010]

Thailand head coach Bryan Robson has been assured that his job is still safe despite Thailand's failure to qualify for the 2011 Asian Cup.

The failure marked the first time in 22 years that Thailand have failed to qualify for the quadrennial event.

Worawi Makudi, the president of the FA of Thailand (FAT), admitted his disappointment but stressed there was no point dwelling on the past.

"We played well against Iran only to concede a last minute goal. We have to accept it. It's disappointing we failed to qualify but we have to move on,” said Worawi.

"Our next mission is the ASEAN FOOTBALL Championship and the Asian Games at the end of this year.
"Robson has his work cut out, scouting Thai Premier League matches for players.”

[TPF]

England will play friendly with Thailand

England will play a friendly with the Thai national team next year, Football Association of Thailand president Worawi Makudi said yesterday.

The match will take place at Rajamangala stadium in June at a date yet to be determined. It will be part of the celebrations of His Majesty the King's 84th birthday, he said.

Worawi said English FA chairman Lord Triesman and English Premier League chairman Sir David Richards had told him that England would play Thailand in June.

"It will be a great honour for Thailand to play England. I am sure that it will be a great match for Thai fans," he said.

Worawi and FAT adviser Suwat Liptapanlop will be in England to watch the FA Cup final between Chelsea and Portsmouth next month and they will discuss details of the friendly with concerned parties.

Writer: TOR CHITTINAND

Link: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/sports/36475/england-will-play-friendly-with-thailand

[charade_2010]

England will play friendly with Thailand

England will play a friendly with the Thai national team next year, Football Association of Thailand president Worawi Makudi said yesterday.

The match will take place at Rajamangala stadium in June at a date yet to be determined. It will be part of the celebrations of His Majesty the King's 84th birthday, he said.

Link: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/sports/36475/england-will-play-friendly-with-thailand

HAHA!! Do someone really believe that England wil play a friendly in June? The only month the players have a holiday?
The season ends in May, and pre-season normally starts early July. The FA-president has lied about an England game before.
It`s not April fools day, but it`s a joke!:)

I think it is not a joke . England still may come to Thailand but taking many sub and young players .
... and if England won World Cup 2010 , there would be the most enormous money to be paid ever !

[Vinnie]

England will play friendly with Thailand

England will play a friendly with the Thai national team next year, Football Association of Thailand president Worawi Makudi said yesterday.

The match will take place at Rajamangala stadium in June at a date yet to be determined. It will be part of the celebrations of His Majesty the King's 84th birthday, he said.

Worawi said English FA chairman Lord Triesman and English Premier League chairman Sir David Richards had told him that England would play Thailand in June.

"It will be a great honour for Thailand to play England. I am sure that it will be a great match for Thai fans," he said.

Worawi and FAT adviser Suwat Liptapanlop will be in England to watch the FA Cup final between Chelsea and Portsmouth next month and they will discuss details of the friendly with concerned parties.

Writer: TOR CHITTINAND

Link: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/sports/36475/england-will-play-friendly-with-thailand

We really need a 'yawning smiley' on here.

[jakartacasual]

i think the plan is that england won t be coming in 2011!

[jakartacasual]

thailand v arsenal!

http://asianfootballpix.blogspot.com/2010/04/thailand-v-arsenal.html

[lokomotive]

muah and lehman borthers on the ticket 

[druryfire]

The Thailand - England game next June!!!

Someone should tell Worawi that England want to host the 2018 World Cup so it's all part of there game plan to getting 'in' with the voting members, which includes Worawi.

The vote for WC is before the friendly date, so if they win the WC hosting rights with a Worwai vote, then maybe it's possible, if they lose the world cup hosting rights, then obviously Worwai didn't do enough inside FIFA, so no friendly would happen.

Personally, I'm getting rather tired of this England rant, why chase them? It's just for money. Why not chase a team we can realistically beat or make us better? Just last week, i read reports of Real Madrid, now England again. When will it end?

[TPF]

ENGLAND OFFERED THAILAND FRIENDLY

Claims that England have already agreed to play Thailand in June next year have been played down.

Reports in the Thai press had said a fixture was confirmed.

But Worawi Makudi, the president of the Thai FA and a FIFA executive committee member, said he had invited England to play Thailand as part of the birthday celebrations of the country's king and the Football Association have yet to respond to the invitation.

Worawi said: "I have invited the England national team to come to Thailand next year - it would be a great honour and a great match for the fans.

"It is up to the FA now to see whether they can accept this invitation."

England already have a Euro 2012 qualifier against Switzerland on June 4 next year so travelling to Thailand afterwards for a friendly would be problematical.

As one of the 24 men on FIFA's executive committee Worawi is a key figure for England in terms of their bid for the 2018 World Cup, and bid leaders have met him on a number of occasions.

He is a keen follower of English football and will be in London to watch the FA Cup final between Chelsea and Portsmouth next month.

Bryan Robson, the former England midfielder, is coach of the Thai national side.

Link: http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_6111290,00.html

[charade_2010]

T It's just for money. Why not chase a team we can realistically beat or make us better? Just last week, i read reports of Real Madrid, now England again. When will it end?

Agree ! Thailand always want to reach Asia level . Playing some big matches with Liverpool , Arsenal , Real Madrid and England may be a part of their plan , but is it feasible when their 1st position in ASEAN is being lost now ?

[druryfire]

Today the Asian Cup draw was made. So, there's 16 nations there that Thailand should be looking to get games against. Forget the European nations that are really out of our reach until we can start to be competitive in Asia first.