Next World Cup too early for Thai squad - Kiatisak

Kiatisak’s men ended Thailand’s 12-year title drought in the region’s showpiece tournament in dramatic fashion by clinching a heart-pounding 4-3 aggregate victory over Malaysia to lift the trophy for the fourth time, matching Singapore’s record as the most successful nation in the event.

The Thais’ triumph was made even more impressive by attractive play based on a quick-passing game, which attracted praise across the Southeast Asia. With Kiatisak’s squad made up mostly of players under 23, such as Thai-Swiss midfield supremo Charyl Chappuis, some fans have started dreaming of bigger things. 

But the 41-year-old Kiatisak, who became the first person to win the biennial tournament as both player and coach, doesn’t want his team to get carried away with the success, which left the country gripped by football fever.

“We produced good performances, which means some fans now want to see us make it through to the World Cup finals. I want to see that happen, too. But we’re not ready yet for the next World Cup [2018 in Russia]. So please don’t rush the team. 

“Everything needs time. This squad has average age of 21-22 so they still need to gain more experience. And I don’t want them to suffer more pressure. I believe in the next four to six years they will be much stronger,” said Kiatisak, who was named EPSN’s manager of the tournament.