Pakistan reach a FIFA finals for the first time as Group B opens in Bandung

The FIFA ASEAN Cup reaches its third day on Saturday, and with it the first Division 1 Group B matches. Both are at Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung.

Pakistan play Thailand at 17:00 Malaysian time, and Vietnam play the Philippines at 20:30.

A first for Pakistan

FIFA’s own preview records that this is the first time a men’s national side from Pakistan has featured in the finals of a FIFA tournament. They are coached by Nolberto Solano, described by FIFA as a Peruvian icon, and their captain Abdullah Iqbal arrives off a title-winning season in the Swedish top flight.

Thailand are led by Anthony Hudson, with Sarach Yooyen as captain and Kakana Khamyok among the forwards. FIFA reports that Jonathan Khemdee was ruled out on the eve of the tournament after a knee injury in training, and that more than one hundred places separate the two sides on the men’s world ranking.

Three sides Harimau Malaya know well

Group B is worth a Malaysian glance because three of its four teams played Harimau Malaya only weeks ago, at the ASEAN Championship.

Harimau Malaya beat the Philippines 1-0 in Kuala Lumpur in the group stage and lost 2-0 to Thailand in Bangkok. Vietnam then ended the campaign in the semi-finals, winning 2-0 in Kuala Lumpur and 2-0 in Hanoi.

FIFA notes that Vietnam are without their captain Nguyen Quang Hai through injury, and that the midfielder Nguyen Hoang Duc is an injury doubt. The Philippines side, under the Spanish coach Carles Cuadrat, has European-based players to call on, among them Sandro Reyes and the Dinamo Zagreb defender Paul Tabinas.

The group turns round quickly

The Philippines play Pakistan and Thailand play Vietnam on 29 September, with the last Group B matches on 2 October.

Related

• The tournament’s opening match
• Indonesia’s win over Singapore in Group A