Thailand the ones to beat in AFF Futsal Championship 2017
Ho Chi Minh City: Nine teams will converge in Vietnam, as they host the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Futsal Championship 2017, which once again serves as the qualification competition for the AFC Futsal Championship 2018.
The top four teams from the AFF Futsal Championship Vietnam 2017, which kicks off on Thursday, will advance to the AFC Futsal Championship Chinese Taipei 2018.
In the event Philippines or Timor-Leste (or both) emerge as one of the top four teams, the next best ranked team(s) in the ASEAN Zone will qualify for the final round, as Philippines and Timor-Leste did not submit their entries for the AFC Futsal Championship 2018.
Group A
In Group A, Vietnam will welcome Myanmar, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Philippines.
Vietnam will be on a high after bagging bronze in the Kuala Lumpur 2017 SEA Games and a top eight finish in the Ashgabat 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games.
With former Japan and Thailand head coach Miguel Rodrigo at the helm and the support of the home crowd, Vietnam are in prime position to excel.
Myanmar were beaten by Thailand in the 2016 AFF Futsal Championship to finish second, and Htay Myint’s side are aiming to make their country proud by finishing first this year, which will mean a debut appearance in the AFC Futsal Championship.
Brunei have yet to qualify for the AFC Futsal Championship, and will have a mountain to climb in Group A. After five consecutive attempts ending in the qualifying group stages, the Wasps are looking to make a difference this time.
Indonesia were the 2010 AFF champions, and remain to this day the only team to prevent Thailand from completely dominating the championship, and are looking to make a comeback into the scene with a kick.
Victor Hermans' (pictured above) experience in leading teams like Islamic Republic of Iran, Netherlands and Thailand in the past will come in handy to guide Indonesia through.
Although the Garudas’ have not played much competitive matches in recent times, a fourth place accomplishment at the 2017 SEA Games places them as one of the favourites to qualify for the AFC Futsal Championship 2018.
Even though the Philippines aren’t fighting for AFC Futsal Championship qualification, a AFF Futsal Championship title would go a long way for the development of the game in the nation.
Group B
Thailand, 12-time AFF Futsal champions, are seeking to defend their title and return to the AFC Futsal Championship but have Malaysia, Laos and Timor-Leste standing in their way in Group B.
The ASEAN futsal powerhouse have continuously dominated the sport in the SEA Games, and have not missed a single AFC Futsal Championship Finals, and have featured in all five FIFA Futsal World Cups since 2000.
At the prime age of 28, Suphawut Thueanklang is the tournament’s overall top goalscorer with 71 goals, since his first appearance in 2010. Jose Maria Pazos Mendez’s will rely on Thailand’s dynamic duo Suphawut and Jirawat Sornwichian to put them through to the Finals stage.
In contrast to Thailand’s list of achievements, Laos are the second team in this year’s qualifiers who have yet to qualify for the AFC Futsal Championship. Early exits in previous AFF tournaments have left them more determined to outdo their previous best.
Malaysia can claim to be one of Thailand’s closest ASEAN rivals, with their recent encounter in the 2017 SEA Games, where Chiew Chun Yong’s side suffered a narrow 4-3 loss to claim silver. Malaysia’s third place finish in the 2015 and 2016 AFF tournaments proved that they are also indeed fierce contenders in the qualifiers.
Timor-Leste finished fourth in the previous AFF Futsal Championship, and there is no doubt that Bruno Miguel Martins Torres’ side will push for a first title, despite not being eligible to qualify for the AFC Futsal Championship.
Photos: AFC
Source: the-afc.com
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