Thai Futsal Team runners-up in 5s Futsal Championship

Thailand's Futsal team finished runners-up in the Thailand 5s International Futsal Tournament yesterday after a 2-2 draw with tournament winners Argentina at Nimibutr Gymnasium.



Thailand and Argentina had each won two matches and drawn one, but Argentina won on a better goal difference.

Thailand's fut5al coach Jose Maria Mendez said he was pleased with his team's performance because of Argentina's pedigree and that he had high hopes for the future.''I believe Thailand can become the top Asian futsal team,'' he said.

Thai men may be the usual underdogs at the 11-a-side game, where they currently lie 114th on the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings, but on the futsal court they are one of Asia's finest sides. Thailand is currently ranked 12th in the Futsal World Rankings, and 3rd amongst Asian countries.

Futsal is the official FIFA version of five-a-side football and has become Thailand's favorite sport. Thailand's futsal twins Ekaphan and Ekapong Suratsawang are stars of the national futsal team.



Thailand will play in the FIFA Futsal World Cup 2008 in Brazil from 30 September to 19 October, 2008, under Group B. Thailand have qualified for the FIFA Futsal World Cup for a third time.