Thailand's national futsal team are looking to create history when they take on France in the Fifa Futsal World Cup last 16 tie in Uzbekistan today.
The match will be played at the Bukhara Universal Sports Complex.
Thailand have not progressed beyond the last 16 round in their previous appearances and will go into the tie against France confident of upstaging the Europeans.
Thailand booked their knockout stage spot with a match to spare after wins over Croatia (2-1) and Cuba (10-5).
Brazil, however, proved too strong as the five-time champions took the Group B top spot with an emphatic 9-1 win in their final tie.
Despite that, Thailand have been in good form this year after having finished runners-up in the AFC Futsal World Cup 2024, which they hosted.
Muhammad Osamanmusa has been at the forefront of their impressive campaign, having already netted four goals and Thailand will be counting on the star player to lead their challenge against France, who finished second behind Iran in Group F.
"Our team are nearly 100 percent ready. This round, we cannot make any mistakes at all because if we lose, then it means we are knocked out from the tournament. But if we want to create history, it will be our chance to get to the quarter-finals," said Thailand captain Jirawat Sornwichien.
"Every player is eager to play against France. Some of their players are playing in the Spanish league and, although this is their first appearance in the World Cup, we cannot underestimate them at all. We will fight for our country. We want to prove that the Thai futsal team are not easy to get through at all," he added.
The match will kick off at 7.30pm and will be shown live on the T Sports 7 channel.
The match will be played at the Bukhara Universal Sports Complex.
Thailand have not progressed beyond the last 16 round in their previous appearances and will go into the tie against France confident of upstaging the Europeans.
Thailand booked their knockout stage spot with a match to spare after wins over Croatia (2-1) and Cuba (10-5).
Brazil, however, proved too strong as the five-time champions took the Group B top spot with an emphatic 9-1 win in their final tie.
Despite that, Thailand have been in good form this year after having finished runners-up in the AFC Futsal World Cup 2024, which they hosted.
Muhammad Osamanmusa has been at the forefront of their impressive campaign, having already netted four goals and Thailand will be counting on the star player to lead their challenge against France, who finished second behind Iran in Group F.
"Our team are nearly 100 percent ready. This round, we cannot make any mistakes at all because if we lose, then it means we are knocked out from the tournament. But if we want to create history, it will be our chance to get to the quarter-finals," said Thailand captain Jirawat Sornwichien.
"Every player is eager to play against France. Some of their players are playing in the Spanish league and, although this is their first appearance in the World Cup, we cannot underestimate them at all. We will fight for our country. We want to prove that the Thai futsal team are not easy to get through at all," he added.
The match will kick off at 7.30pm and will be shown live on the T Sports 7 channel.
