Polking leaves Thailand

Thu, 23 Nov, 2023

Polking leaves Thailand

Bangkok: Thailand's national men's football team have parted ways with head coach Alexandre Polking, officials said on Wednesday. 

Team manager Nualphan Lamsam said Polking would be replaced by Masatada Ishii, the 56-year-old Japanese coach who led Buriram United to Thai Premier League titles in 2022 and 2023.

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Thailand’s Polking hails super-sub Teerasil

Wed, 22 Nov, 2023

Thailand’s Polking hails super-sub Teerasil

Singapore: Teerasil Dangda came off the bench to devastating effect, helping Thailand secure a 3-1 win over Singapore in their Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ tie on Tuesday.

Head coach Alexandre Polking waxed lyrical about the evergreen forward who at the age of 35, can still completely change a game - supplying two assists which gave Thailand their first win in Group C.

Kim: Collective effort secured Malaysia victory

Wed, 22 Nov, 2023

Kim: Collective effort secured Malaysia victory

Taipei: Head coach Kim Pan-gon said Malaysia showed determination in their hard-fought 1-0 win over Chinese Taipei in Group D of the Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ at Taipei Municipal Stadium on Tuesday.

Substitute Darren Lok, who was brought in to replace Paulo Josue, scored the winning goal in the 72nd minute as Malaysia maintained their perfect start to the qualification campaign while Chinese Taipei are still in search of points after their opening day defeat to Oman.

Japan’s high intensity delights Moriyasu

Wed, 22 Nov, 2023

Japan’s high intensity delights Moriyasu

Jeddah: Japan continued to impress in the Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ with a 5-0 success over Syria at the neutral venue of Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium on Tuesday.

The Blue Samurai’s high-octane performance was marked by head coach Hajime Moriyasu as key to their second successive win in Group B that saw them open a three-point gap with DPR Korea and Syria.
 
Moriyasu was also pleased with his team’s high work rate.

Focused Qatar reap dividends

Fri, 24 Nov, 2023

Focused Qatar reap dividends

Bhubaneswar: Qatar's focus was the key to their 3-0 win over India in Group A of the Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ on Tuesday.

Head coach Carlos Queiroz said his side maintained their concentration for the entire match as Qatar made it two wins out of two to open a three-point gap at the top of the standings.

Mancini expects Saudi Arabia to get even better

Wed, 22 Nov, 2023

Mancini expects Saudi Arabia to get even better

Amman: Saudi Arabia produced another classy performance to defeat Jordan 2-0 on Tuesday with head coach Roberto Mancini expecting his side to get even better. 

Saleh Al Shehri scored both goals as Saudi Arabia moved to six points in Group G of the Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™.
 
They sit two points ahead of Tajikistan with Jordan five adrift in third place.   

Oman's Ivankovic laments poor finishing

Wed, 22 Nov, 2023

Oman's Ivankovic laments poor finishing

Bishkek: Oman paid a heavy price for their poor finishing as Kyrgyz Republic took the points in their Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ Group D tie on Tuesday.

Odilzhon Abdurakhmanov scored the only goal of the game in the 49th minute as Kyrgyz Republic bounced back from their 4-3 defeat to Malaysia on Matchday One in resounding fashion.

Uzbekistan showed character against IR Iran, says Katanec

Wed, 22 Nov, 2023

Uzbekistan showed character against IR Iran, says Katanec

Tashkent: Head coach Srecko Katanec was brimming with pride after seeing Uzbekistan overturn a two-goal deficit to hold Islamic Republic of Iran to a 2-2 draw in Group E of the Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ on Tuesday.

The result left the two teams level on points heading into the next matchday scheduled for March, 2024.