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Sports
Notes - Real Madrid 2 - Thailand 1 - FIFA TOP 10 - Cambodian
Football
James Loving - National Radio Text Service Real Madrid Defeats Thailand - FIFA TOP 10 - Cambodian Football - David Beckham - Ronaldinho REAL MADRID 2 - THAILAND 1 Hey what can you say other than Thailand's national team gave a spirited performance in their 2-1 loss to Real Madrid this past Sunday August 10th. Yea, yea, sure, sure… it was a friendly. You can ad that the best team in the world was coasting as this was their fourth and final match of their Asian tour. If it was a match they were looking for… the got it in Thailand. On their Asian tour the Spanish squad effortlessly won their previous three matches defeating the China Dragons 4-0, FC Tokyo 3-0 and Hong Kong XI 4-2. Let's get down to business and be real about this. A club team is better than a national squad because they play more games and put in more practice together. Agree or not? The nine time European champions have multi millionaire players that just one of their salaries could pay the salaries of the entire Thai squad for 50 - 100 years. Agree or not? Real played three games together in the past two weeks and the Thai's assemble and practice with part of the squad that flew in from Singapore 1-3 days prior to the match. Real should have the advantage having been together and played together while the Thai squad is scattered all over. Agree or not? The 29-time Spanish champions Real have better players. Agree or not? Given all of these gems of information does a 2-1 result equate to a spirited Thai performance that they should be proud of…or what? Think so eh? Are you going to take the position that Real played at half speed and tried to avoid injuries so they could be healthy for the start of their season? Okay, Ok…cool…BUT LISTEN UP!!! Thailand's coach Peter Withe continues to keep the Thai squad competitive in their biggest matches, well… ah… except for their 7-0 drubbing at the hands of Brazil in 2000. They had their A squad that included Rivaldo, Carlos, Emerson, Cafu, Ronaldinho etc... they were all there. You know they are basically the same squad minus Ronaldo that won the World Cup. You know what I'm saying? Withe is getting the most out of a squad that he didn't choose. Tawatachai Sajakul is now making the choices. Withe must weld them into a competitive squad. This group is not as talented as the older squad but Withe makes it work. Agree or not if the situation should exist is becoming a moot point. The relationship seems to be working as Thailand demonstrated on the pitch Sunday. The gritty little Thais were like pit bulls snapping at the heels of a squad of stallions that arguably have six of the best players in the world and possibly five players that will be remembered by some as being the best of all time. The likes of The star-studded side who boast superstars like Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Luis Figo Raul Gonzalez, Roberto Carlos and David Beckham didn't matter when they whistle blew to get down to business on the pitch. Real's starters included David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane, Fernando Morientes and stand-in captain Guti. Ronaldo and Figo didn't play due to injuries. Thailand, started members of their older squad that included veterans Kiatisak ``"Zico'' Senamuang, Tawan Sripan, Dusit Chalermsan and Choktawee Prommarat. The 2-1 result came about with the Thai's tenacious pursuit of the magnificent men of Real fighting tenaciously on defense. The Spanish side scored first in the 30th minute when Morientes fed Portillo who easily tapped in past goalkeeper Kittisak Rawangpa. The Thais trailed 1-0 at the half. Thailand is now focusing on developing the under 23 squad. After the break substitutes were made using the younger players to replace the veterans. Thailand drew even in the 63rd minute when 22-year-old forward substitute Sarayut Chaikamdee after receiving a pass from Issawa Singtong. The tie lasted only three minutes when Real Madrid's Morientes tapped the ball in near the goal. Though they work hard Thailand's offense doesn't have the flow it had with the former national squad that with only nine men defeated South Korea in the 1998 Asian Games. They followed with a victory over Arsenal in the spring of 1999 and a charismatic 2-1 loss to Manchester United in July 2001. They Thai's have also experienced 3-1 losses to Liverpool in July 2001 and last month with the new squad. The match was called to an end early at 89:55… no extra time. The result was invigorating and a valuable learning experience for the Thais and a good sweat and workout for Real. ``It was a great experience for the young players. This shows that they can cope with pressure in big games,'' the Bangkok Post reported Peter Withe as saying after the match.
MATCH NOTES: The Madrid club rested four of their superstars in the starting lineup including Brazilians Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Spanish forward Raul Gonzalez and Portuguese midfielder Luis Figo who was suffering from an injury. Strange camera work by Thailand's Channel 7. Their camera's never focused on the coach's bench of either squad. Seems strange when they used to go into Thailand's locker room during the break. Singer RICKY MARTIN was in attendance at the match. Well…ahh…not exactly Posh Spice but, ahhh …well ah…you know what I'm saying. FIFA TOP TEN 1 Brazil 848 1 0 1 0 2 France 824 2 0 2 0 3 Spain 755 3 0 3 0 4 Netherlands 750 5 1 6 2 5 Mexico 749 11 6 8 3 6 Argentina 746 4 -2 5 -1 7 Turkey 738 7 0 9 2 8 Germany 736 6 -2 4 -4 9 United States 731 9 0 10 1 10 England 726 8 -2 7 -3
LIFE WITHOUT BECKHAM: It seems David Beckham's departure hasn't put a dent in Manchester United's bid to remain on top of the Premiere League. With the little bit of time I've spent around Sir Alex Ferguson I get the impression he's a no nonsense guy. Beckham's celebrity status could have been a distraction Ferguson didn't want thus the transfer. At this point it seems like a good move for all. RONALDINHO When Ronaldinho came to Thailand in 1999 with Brazil to play the Thai national squad, he was touted as Brazil's next big thing. He has achieved that status following the current stars Rivaldo and Carlos. What he has over them is a vibrant personality that could make him popular with the teens and marketing. You've got to love his happy face. Where are the T-shirts? CAMBODIAN FOOTBALL: While the Cambodia national squad has been taking a drubbing in friendly competitions this year their former star striker Hok Sochetra had been coaching and playing with his company team in Cambodia's Premier league. They are league leaders during the first half of the season. His team then played in the ASEAN Club football competition in Indonesia. They won one match and lost two. The national side is preparing for the Sea Games to be held in December in Vietnam. The competition is for under 23 squads. Sochetra was given an offer an offer from a club squad in Vietnam. It wasn't enough money thus Sochetra remains with his job and company team. He is now married and has a child. With this responsibility football is more than a game it's a job. CAMBODIAN NATIONAL TEAM The Cambodian under 23 squad had only six players that competed in the Tiger Cup in December 2002. One of the reasons for the lack of interest is the players are not being paid. They are owed money. © Copyright: National Radio Any use of these materials, whole or in part, is prohibited unless authorized in writing by National Radio. Contact: nationalradio@yahoo.com
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