

image: © Wats Toon
The World Cup 2018 in mind and an eye toward the Asian Cup 2019. Or even vice versa. It might depend on the angle of view. But at the bottom line, the result is the same. For the first time since over a decade Thailand is back among Asia's elite. And will be there for the next three years at least.
At the moment when Abdulrahman Al-Jassimden blew his whistle for the last time into the evening night of Teheran on the 23 March, the surprise was perfect. Although Iraq just scored seconds ago before the final whistle, to draw 2-2 with Thailand, it could not alter the fact: Without defeat, Thailand secured winning of Group F and qualified for the 2019 Asian Championships and the final qualifying round to the World Cup 2018 in Russia.
At the moment when Abdulrahman Al-Jassimden blew his whistle for the last time into the evening night of Teheran on the 23 March, the surprise was perfect. Although Iraq just scored seconds ago before the final whistle, to draw 2-2 with Thailand, it could not alter the fact: Without defeat, Thailand secured winning of Group F and qualified for the 2019 Asian Championships and the final qualifying round to the World Cup 2018 in Russia.