Thailand vs United Arab Emirates 15/10/19

15 October 2019

Thailand will kick-off their 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifying (WCQ) home campaign this week against the United Arab Emirates at Thammasat Stadium in Rangsit.

After being held to a goalless away draw to Vietnam, the hosts have kick-started their WCQ campaign with a 3-0 away victory over Indonesia to secure the second spot in Group G for the time being. Although unbeaten in their last three matches (W1, D2), the War Elephants have pulled off just one win in six of their previous outings, friendlies included (W1, D2, L3). Massive problems in the final third in that sequence have seen Thailand draw a blank in four games and score over 1.5 match goals once in the remaining two matches. Furthermore, Thailand’s last home win dates back to November 2018 (3-0 over Singapore), with Akira Nishino’s men failing to pick up a triumph in eight consecutive home games ahead of this clash (D3, L5).

On the other hand, the visitors have won both of their opening WCQ fixtures by a combined +6 goal difference (GF:7, GA:1). As a result, they are now unbeaten in six straight matches (W5, D1), although only one of those triumphs has come away from home. Nonetheless, each of those successes has seen the UAE score 2+ match goals and concede a maximum of one, with three seeing them lead at the halftime break. However, the Sons of Zayed have failed to clinch a win in all three visits to Thailand since the turn of the new millennium (D2, L1), scoring one goal or less in each of those trips. Interestingly, three of the last four H2H meetings between these two nations have ended with the same 1-1 scoreline, with the UAE’s 3-1 home win in October 2016 being the only exception.