Winners from each of the eight groups (Group A to Group H) and the four best runner up teams from the eight groups will proceed to yet another round of FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Thailand's new national football head coach Akira Nishino of Japan smiles during a press conference in Bangkok on July 21, 2019. - Nishino will also be in charge of the Thailand Under-23 team. (Photo by Romeo GACAD / AFP)
Akira Nishino, the head coach of the Thailand national team, has been hopeful about his team’s performance in the second round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
On Sunday, when he was introduced to the Thai Media for the first time, he reiterated how he feels he could take Thailand to the FIFA World Cup.
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Notably, Thailand were drawn in Group G in the second round of 2022 World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup Join Qualifiers. The team is the part of a group which comprises of Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and United Arab Emirates (UAE).
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“We are in a group that is not too tough but not easy as well. The good thing is we don’t have to travel far for the games as most are in Southeast Asia,” the Thai team coach-cum-manager said on Sunday while interacting with the Thai media.
Winners from each of the eight groups (Group A to Group H) and the four best runner up teams from the eight groups will proceed to yet another round of FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Thailand begin their campaign on 5 September when they meet Vietnam. This implies that Nishino won’t get much time with his new set of players prior to the World Cup qualifiers.
“I have no worry. I was asked this same question when I was assigned to coach Japan two months before the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia last year. The team made it to the Round of 16,” he stated.
Nishino is also in charge of the Thailand U-23 side participating in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games and 2020 AFC U-23 Championship.
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