Thai football is weak against the world's 197th ranked team

Although considered the strongest team in Group D of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifying round, Thailand is currently ranked 3rd in the group, behind Turkmenistan and Sri Lanka.

Thailand (left) is ranked below Sri Lanka - Photo: AFC

After 3 rounds, the 3 teams in Group D, Turkmenistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand, have 6 points each. The 4th place team, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), has almost no hope left as it has no points.

Among the three competing teams, Thailand is the weakest and is temporarily ranked 3rd with a goal difference of +1 (4-3). Turkmenistan's goal difference is +2 (5-3), similar to Sri Lanka (4-2).

But head-to-head record is the first criterion to be considered when there are teams with equal points. Thailand, Turkmenistan and Sri Lanka have 6 points each so head-to-head record is considered in matches between the 3 teams.

Accordingly, Turkmenistan has a score difference of 3-2 thanks to a 3-1 win over Thailand, losing to Sri Lanka 0-1. Sri Lanka is 1-1 (lost to Thailand 0-1), and Thailand is ranked last because it lost to Turkmenistan by 2 goals.

This defeat puts Thailand in a difficult position in the race. In the return leg, they will meet Turkmenistan at home, but have to face Sri Lanka away.

It will be very difficult for Thailand to make up the gap in their head-to-head with Turkmenistan - the team that beat them by 2 goals in the first leg.

As for Sri Lanka, they will play at home when they meet Thailand again, and are a special unknown in Asian football.

Sri Lanka created a fever after two consecutive victories against Taiwan and Turkmenistan - the team ranked 138th in the world , nearly 60 places higher than Sri Lanka.

It was one of the biggest "over-level" victories in football today, similar to Vietnam's ability to beat Iraq or Uzbekistan.

And if they beat Thailand, Sri Lanka will create a miracle that will shock the world. This South Asian team is currently ranked 197th in the world, and for decades has been considered one of the weakest football teams in the world.

But the massive naturalization policy - with overseas players from England, Germany and Australia - has completely changed the face of the Sri Lankan national team.

Having lost only 0-1 away to Thailand, and beaten Turkmenistan 1-0 at home, Sri Lanka is now firmly in the middle of Asian football. And if Thailand are knocked out by them in the Asian Cup qualifying race, it would not be too surprising.

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HUY DANG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/bong-da-thai-lan-yeu-the-truoc-doi-hang-197-the-gioi-20251011125439882.htm