Thailand does not call up 'Messi' Chanathip to play in AFF Cup 2018
Coach Milovan Rajevac did not call up four players playing abroad for the Southeast Asian championship.
The four stars not called up include Chanathip Songkrasin (Consadole Sapporo, J1 Japan), Teerasil Dangda (Sanfrecce Hiroshima, J1 Japan), Theerathon Bunmathan (Vissel Kobe, J1 Japan) and goalkeeper Kawin Thamsatchanan (OH Leuven, Belgian second division).
This decision was made after a meeting on September 14 between coach Milovan Rajevac, President of the Football Association of Thailand Somyot Poompanmoung and Advisor and Spokesperson Virach Chanpanich. Accordingly, the meeting determined that the goal of Thai football is two upcoming major tournaments including the AFF Cup 2018 and the Asian Cup 2019.
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Chanathip (left) is considered the brightest star of Thai football at present. He is nicknamed "Messi Jay". |
The team did not call up four stars playing abroad for the AFF Cup 2018, because the tournament is not part of the FIFA system and does not take place during the break for international teams.
"Those four players will have the opportunity to help the team, as will the new players who will replace them," coach Rajevac said after the meeting. "Every tournament has a lot of pressure. The fans want us to achieve the best results in the AFF Cup, but the Asian Cup is equally important, and I want to take the Thai team as far as possible."
"At the Asian Games, the young players played well. But some maintained their form and some played worse. We need to carefully select our personnel and bring balance to the squad," he added.
The Thai team will begin gathering on October 23 to prepare for the AFF Cup 2018. Coach Rajevac will submit a preliminary list of 50 players to the FAT, and will narrow it down to 23 players after the preparation process, including two friendly matches with Hong Kong and Trinidad & Tobago.
At the 2018 AFF Cup, Thailand is in Group B with Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia and Timor Leste. Under the new format, they will play two home matches, against Indonesia and Singapore, and away matches against Timor Leste and the Philippines.