Saudi Arabia have qualified for the Asian Cup knockout stages in Qatar after they beat nine-man Kyrgyzstan 2-0 in their second Group F game on Sunday.
Two Kyrgyz players were sent off for reckless fouls as Mohamed Kanno and Faisal Al-Ghamdi found the net in each half at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium in Al-Rayyan.
The next match for the Green Falcons of Saudi Arabia will be a formality, as Saudi Arabia has already qualified for the last 16.
Saudi Arabia will square off against Thailand at the Education City Stadium in their final group-stage match of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup on Thursday.
Both teams have enjoyed an unbeaten start to their campaigns, with Saudi Arabia recording wins in their two games and Thailand having a win and a draw to their name.
The Green Falcons are unbeaten in their last 13 matches versus Thailand, failing to concede in four successive meetings against them.
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With Saudi ensured of a place in the final 16, they will likely take the foot off the pedal and rest up for the knockout stage.
Saudi Arabia’s manager Roberto Mancini is likely to hand starts to players like Faisel Al-Ghamdi, Mukhtar Ali, and Abdulrahman Ghareeb, who have all started from the bench and had goal involvements.
Thailand are undefeated in their last four group stage games in the AFC Asian Cup (W2 D2) and will be looking to qualify for the knockout stages for the second tournament in a row after doing so only once in their previous six campaigns.
It has been nearly 40 years since their last triumph versus the Green Falcons in October 1984 (3-1), while they were outscored 10-0 in their previous two meetings against the Saudis in the Asian Cup group stage.
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The elephant in the room at the Asian Cup in Qatar has been India.The world’s first most populous Country did not even win a single game in the tournament.
India finished the 2023 Asian Cup without a point, as they suffered three successive defeats to finish last in the group.
The Blue Tigers had come last in the 2019 edition as well but after earning a win and three points.
The world No.102 India began with a 2-0 defeat to 25th Australia before suffering a 3-0 loss to world No. 68 Uzbekistan. Against 91st Syria, India lost by 0-1 and had eight
shots, only one of them on target and 47% ball possession but an error-prone Blue Tigers failed to convert the chances as Qasioun Eagles of Syria earned a memorable win.
A win or draw against Thailand on Thursday for Saudi Arabia would set them on a collision course with South Korea in the last 16 if Jurgen Klinsmann’s side finish second in Group E, where they currently sit after a win and a draw.
