DESPITE THE absence of several stars from rival teams, including the late withdrawal of Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Thailand’s national coach Milovan Rajevac says retaining the King’s Cup will still be a tough task for his side.

The friendlies, which kick off today at 4.30pm with the game between Slovakia and the United Arab Emirates at Rajamangala National Stadium, have been hit by the withdrawal of several players. Aubameyang brought further bad news for the tournament when he cancelled his trip to Bangkok following the death of his grandmother on Tuesday.

Earlier, 2016 AFC Player of the Year Omar Abdulrahman and 2015 Asian Cup top scorer Ali Mabkhout were left out of the UAE line-up after they violated a team curfew prior to the January 5 Gulf Cup final defeat to Oman.

Then Slovak star Marek Hamsik of Napoli suffered a thigh injury during a game with Genoa in the Italian Serie A on Saturday, which ruled him out of the trip to Bangkok.

Nevertheless Thailand manager Rajevac refused to underestimate the visitors, especially Gabon who began training yesterday bolstered by the presence of Southampton central midfielder Mario Lemina. Thailand and the African nation meet today at 7.30pm in a game televised live on Thai Rath TV 32.

“Each team just lacks one or two players. Overall, they are all strong teams with good quality players. Gabon is one of the top teams in Africa with a fantastic coach and strong players,” said Rajevac, who insists the tournament remains highly competitive even in the absence of the high-profile players.

“It’s a good chance to see new players. New stars are always born in tournaments like this,” added the coach, who orchestrated Thailand’s 1-0 win over Kenya in a home friendly last year.

“To play [well against] a good team, you have to put a lot of effort into the match. I hope my players will put a lot of effort to defend the title.”

With or without Aubameyang, Gabon’s coach Jose Antonio Camacho will be seeking personal revenge against Thailand for the upset 5-1 defeat in a friendly five years ago when he was in charge of the Chinese national team. Thailand were at the time coached by Kiatisak Senamuang.

“It was a long time ago. Back then the Chinese team were mentally not good and they were just the youth team. It’s unfortunate that Aubameyang cannot join us but we will try to make it very difficult for Thailand to beat us,” said Spaniard Camacho.

Martin Skrtel 

Slovak captain Martin Skrtel, who played for Liverpool in an exhibition with Thai Premier League All Stars here in 2016, hopes to see a big turnout.

“This time it will be different as I’ve come to play for the Slovak national team. I still remember the good reception I got from fans during my last visit. I hope to see a lot of people come to the stadium,” said Skrtel, who now plays for Fenerbahce in Turkey.

The Arsenal striker was supposed to arrive Bangkok this morning for the King’s Cup football tournament. Gabon and Thailand will square off on Thursday at 7.30pm at the Rajamangala National Stadium.

However the African team still have two EPL players:  Watford midfielder Ndong Didier Ibrahim and Southampton central midfielder Mario Lemina.

The Real Madrid star made the comments as he accepted the Portuguese player of the year award in Lisbon.

“We should always believe we are the best,” said Ronaldo, who led Portugal to the Euro 2016 title and who is now turning his gaze to the 2018 World Cup.

“You need to think big. I always believe that nobody is better than me, out on the pitch at least,” he said.

“On a personal and collective level I have had a dream year. I won five trophies (Champions League, UEFA Supercup, World Club Cup, Spanish league title and the Spanish Supercup), the Ballon D’Or and the FIFA ‘Best’ title.”

Ronaldo, who has been voted Ballon D’Or winner five times, is currently in Lisbon with the Portugal squad who play fellow World Cup qualifiers Egypt on Friday and the Netherlands three days later.

The 33-year-old has scored 79 goals in 147 games for Portugal and will lead the reigning European Champions to the 2018 World Cup, fitness permitting, where they will face Spain, Morocco and Iran in the first round.

The former world number one has been beset with an elbow injury that sidelined him for six months after he was forced to retire at the quarter-finals of Wimbledon last year.

A return to action at the Australian Open with a modified serving action resulted in a fourth round defeat while a limp exit at Indian Wells last week only heightened doubts that the 30 year-old would ever add to his total of 12 Grand Slams.

Yet as the Serbian star fine tuned his attempt to win in Key Biscayne for a record seventh time, he spoke of finally putting an end to the injury torment which has blighted his efforts to return to the form which saw him become the first man since the legendary Australian Rod Laver to hold all four majors at once less than two years ago.

“I actually started playing pain-free in the last two days. It’s quite refreshing because everything else had pain involved,” Djokovic said.

“The last few days have been first in a long, long time that I could actually be focused on the game rather than have something in my mind and be worried about whether I am going to have pain or not.”

Asked by AFP to clarify his injury situation, Djokovic added: “Actually it’s the first time in years (he has been injury free).”

Djokovic’s physical problems have clearly affected his once seemingly impenetrable mental strength.

He swatted away a question about how he could challenge current world number one Roger Federer, the Miami Open reigning champion, preferring to concentrate on the lessons learned during the most arduous of comebacks.

“I have learned a lot about myself,” he said. “It’s been a great, great blessing to go through this. I’ve been very successful in this sport over the course of the last six, seven years and I’ve been very grateful to go through that.

“But I obviously have had to face different circumstances, situations that I’ve never faced before. Ever since I started professional tennis my trajectory was always going in the right direction and that has changed.

“So I had to open up and figure out things, how to move forward and get inspired and be the best version I can be.”

– Every day a process –

Djokovic, who will play in the second round here on Friday, underwent a “small medical intervention” following his defeat in Melbourne and has been seen in the build up here simulating a baseball pitch to ensure his right elbow stands up to the test.

“It’s one of the ways to warm up and get my body and my mind synchronized with a certain motion that I would like to have with my serve because that’s where I kind of compromise my elbow,” he said. “So I’m trying to strengthen the muscles and get into a certain motion that would support the best possible serve.

“I am not yet at my best. Every day is a process for me and it’s an opportunity to learn, to grow and get better after the two years of injury and trying to figure out ways how to play pain free.

“I have had to modify a lot of things in my game to accept it. When I made this intervention, obviously it’s pretty invasive and unfortunately in the end it had to be done.

“It also carries certain consequences but right now, I’m not playing with the pain which is the most important thing.

“All I can do now is to try to embrace the process every day.”

The south Florida showcase got an additional boost on Sunday when Del Potro saved three championship points to hand world number one Roger Federer his first loss of 2018 in a thrilling 6-4, 6-7 (8/10), 7-6 (7/2) victory at the Indian Wells Masters.

With the win, combined with injuries to Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, it is now looking like Del Potro is the biggest threat to Federer’s rule over the ATP Tour.

“It’s time to celebrate this, because I made the big effort to win it,” Del Potro said. “And then be ready for Miami. It is one of my favourite tournaments on tour.

“Many Latino-American people are expecting my game there. That make me feel special. I would like to keep surprising myself and see how far I can go.”

Del Potro, 29, captured his second ATP title in a row and recorded his biggest victory since his comeback from multiple wrist surgeries.

Federer was 17-0 on the season heading into the Indian Wells final which was a personal best for him.

Del Potro said the first order of business when he gets to south Florida is to do some celebrating with his team.

“I cannot tell you,” he joked of his party plans. “It will be Miami, maybe tomorrow, but that’s enough.”

Del Potro also won the title earlier this month in Acapulco, where he beat three top eight players in a row to clinch his 21st singles crown.

He is back in the top ten rankings this season for the first time since 2014. He dropped to No. 1,045 before beginning his comeback from the left wrist surgeries in 2016.

On Monday, Del Potro moved up to No. 6 in the rankings.

“I don’t care about the numbers. I just want to keep winning titles,” he said.

Del Potro said something changed for him in his career when he upset then world number one Djokovic in the first round of the 2016 Rio Olympics.

“After the Djokovic match, my tennis life changed,” he said. “I feel happy again with my tennis life.

“I won the Davis Cup and I say, ‘Okay, I don’t have any more pressure to play tennis because I won everything that I what.'”

– ‘Happy again’ –

But there was still one thing missing on his resume and that was a Masters 1000 title which he earned by beating Federer.

“I have everything that I want, and I want to keep improving my game to see what can I do,” he said.

Federer goes to Miami licking his wounds after losing his fourth of six career finals to Del Potro. Overall he holds a commanding 18-7 lead but in finals it’s a different story, including the 2009 US Open which Del Potro won 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2.

“Should I have won the US Open final I don’t know,” Federer said. “I could have. Should have. I didn’t. Same today.

“I am not sure why the final record is what it is. Most of them have gone the distance. It’s been tough against him.”

Federer said he spent too much time second guessing himself during Sunday’s match.

“I let an opportunity like this go by. Having him hit something past me, that’s very uncomfortable for him, and you pick the wrong side and you are like ‘Why am I picking the wrong side?’ Is it him or me? You just don’t know.

“Next thing you are shaking hands. Okay, too good. You move on.”

For Federer that means to Miami as well, where he is the top seed. He said Sunday he won’t decide whether to play in the French Open until after he plays Miami.

Four-time major winner McIlroy has moved up six places to seventh in the rankings, after playing the last six holes in five-under par to claim the Arnold Palmer Invitational title.

It was the Northern Irishman’s first win since the 2016 PGA Tour Championship.

His fellow former world number one Woods moved to the brink of a return to the top 100 after posting successive top-five finishes for the first time in nearly five years.

The 14-time major champion was ranked outside the top 1,000 just last year, but despite falling out of contention on the final stretch on Sunday, moved up 44 spots to 105th.

The return to form of both McIlroy and Woods has come ahead of the start of the Masters on April 5.

McIlroy will be bidding to complete the career Grand Slam at Augusta, while the 42-year-old Woods is hoping to win a first major since the 2008 US Open.

American Dustin Johnson maintains a healthy lead at the top of the rankings from his compatriot Justin Thomas, with Spanish rising star Jon Rahm in third.

World’s top 20

1. Dustin Johnson (USA)         10.31 average pts

2. Justin Thomas (USA)           9.37

3. Jon Rahm (ESP)                8.45

4. Jordan Spieth (USA)           8.10

5. Justin Rose (ENG)             7.59

6. Hideki Matsuyama (JPN)        6.87

7. Rory McIlroy (NIR)            6.52 (+6)

8. Rickie Fowler (USA)           6.25 (-1)

9. Brooks Koepka (USA)           5.77 (-1)

10. Sergio Garcia (ESP)          5.70 (-1)

11. Jason Day (AUS)              5.56 (-1)

12. Tommy Fleetwood (ENG)        5.49 (-1)

13. Paul Casey (ENG)             5.39 (-1)

14. Henrik Stenson (SWE)         5.11 (+1)

15. Marc Leishman (AUS)          4.93 (+1)

16. Tyrrell Hatton (ENG)         4.75 (-2)

17. Alex Noren (SWE)             4.69

18. Phil Mickelson (USA)         4.45

19. Pat Perez (USA)              4.29

20. Matt Kuchar (USA)            4.12

Selected:

105. Tiger Woods (USA)         1.41 (+44)

“Welcome to the world our little boy! We are so happy,” the footballer wrote on his Instagram account beneath a snap of the baby’s feet, which look tiny beside the couple’s hands.

The 30-year-old, who won the French Open in 2008, posted a snap of a bedroom with the walls painted blue and featuring blue teddy bears.

“Words can not describe the joy and the happiness we feel in our hearts,” she wrote beneath the photo.

The pair have been married since 2016 and announced the pregnancy in November.

The couple live in Chicago where 33-year-old Schweinsteiger, a former Bayern Munich and Manchester United midfielder, is playing for Major League sooccer club Chicago Fire.

The Serbian assembled his squad for the first time on Monday, although four senior players competing overseas have yet to return home.

“This is the first tournament of the year for the national team,” said Rajevac. “I want all the players to be glad to be part of the team as this is a good opportunity for them to compete against world-class players.”

Thailand will take on a star-studded Gabon team featuring three Premier League players – Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Watford midfielder Ndong Didier Ibrahim and Southampton central midfielder Mario Lemina.

“As this tournament is very important, we must play our best to defend the title. Whether we can do it or not depends on us,” added Rajevac, who has replaced the injured Adisorn Promrak and Manuel Bihr with Mika Chunuonsee and Nitipong Selanon.

Under Rajevac’s supervision, Thailand beat Belarus 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out to win last year’s tournament and Thai football boss Somyot Poompanmoung says he is expecting nothing less than a third straight triumph.

They will certainly be the stronger for the return home of Kawin Thammasatchanan of OH Leuven, Chanathip Songkrasin of Consadole Sapporo,  Teerasil Dangda of  Sanfrecce Hirsoshima and Teeranthon Bunmathan of Vissel Kobe.

“Nowadays we have more Thais playing overseas,” added Rajevac. “The experience from playing international leagues should benefit us in the King’s Cup.”

The Thai team had their first training session yesterday evening at Kasetsart University near Chatuchak.

The 29-year-old handed Federer his first defeat of 2018 with a 6-4, 6-7 (8/10), 7-6 (7/2) victory on Sunday, extending his own win streak to 11 matches including a title run earlier this month at Acapulco.

Federer himself reclaimed top spot just a month ago and remains marginally ahead of his eternal Spanish rival Rafael Nadal, who missed the American tournament with a leg injury.

Del Potro, once one of tennis’ hottest young talents before his career was derailed by injuries, won the Indian Wells Masters on Sunday two years after almost quitting in frustration.

“I couldn’t imagine this moment. I mean, everybody knows I was really close to quitting tennis before my third surgery on my left wrist,” said Del Potro after upsetting world No. 1  Federer.

“I made a big effort to come back. I have everything what I want, and I want to keep improving my game to see what can I do.

“I had very bad moments a few years ago and I don’t want to think about that anymore. I am just enjoying my life and playing around the world. I am exited to see what is next.”

World number eight Del Potro is back in the top ten rankings this season for the first time since 2014. He dropped to No. 1,045 before beginning his comeback from the left wrist surgeries in 2016.

The 29-year-old from Argentina says he is not thinking about his ranking and just wants to keep up the pace as long as he can.

“Well, it’s so big. I cannot believe I won this tournament, beating Roger in a great final and level of tennis,” he said of his first win in an Indian Wells final and second straight ATP title in a row.

“I don’t care about the numbers. I just want to keep winning titles like this if I can.

“But the first thing is try to be healthy during the whole year and play where I like to play. Now I have to do a smart schedule on clay to feel 100 percent for the rest of the season.”

Del Potro will now head to south Florida with the other ATP players to compete in the Miami Masters.

He wants to stay silent on his celebration plans but did say he has is saving something special for when he gets to Miami.

“I cannot tell you,” he joked of his party plans. “It will be Miami, maybe tomorrow, but that’s enough.”

Del Potro also won the title earlier this month in Acapulco, where he beat three top eight players in a row to clinch his 21st singles crown.

Asked on Sunday if beating the world number one in Indian Wells and winning consecutive finals is a sign that he is back, Del Potro said, “I don’t know. Maybe I’m in better shape, because few years ago I never win a title like this.

“I’m surprising myself. I don’t like to compare this time with few years ago, but I’m just enjoying what I have to do every day.

“And it’s like a surprising life to me, and I’m so happy for that.”

 Los Angeles – South Korea’s Park In-bee stormed to victory in the LPGA Founders Cup on Sunday, firing a bogey-free five-under par 67 for a five-stroke triumph over Ariya Jutanugarn, Laura Davies and Marina Alex.

Park, a seven-time major champion, birdied four straight holes on the back nine and finished with a 19-under par total of 269.

England’s Laura Davies, 54, headed a group sharing second on 274, her bid to become the oldest winner of an LPGA title ending with a final-round 69 at Wildfire Golf Club in Phoenix, Arizona.

Davies was tied with Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn, who closed with a two-under 70, and American Marina Alex, who carded a 68.

“I love my day today, especially play with Laura. I mean, just like my dream come true. I love how she plays. She’s like my idol and I had so much fun. I’m not really concentrated on my score at all. I just had so much fun. It’s a pleasure to play with her.

Park captured her 19th LPGA Tour title, and her first since March 2017 at the HSBC Women’s Championship.

She teed it up this week for just the second time since a seven-month break, during which she contemplated retirement.

“It feels great, especially after the long break I didn’t know how I’d be able to compete,” Park said. “Being able to contend and win is a great feeling.”

Ariya Jutanugarn 

Park played the weekend without a bogey. She was in the lead after a 63 on Saturday, and opened with a birdie at the first.

She then parred her next 10 holes as Davies pulled to within one stroke.

But Park pulled away with birdies at 12, 13, 14 and 15 to take command.

She moved into a tie for 28th on the all-time LPGA wins list and now has a win in six of the last seven seasons. The year she didn’t win – 2016 – was the same year she won Olympic Gold in Rio de Janeiro.

Davies, who powered into contention with a 63 on Saturday, was seeking her first LPGA title since the 2001 Rochester Invitational.

In her 32nd LPGA campaign, Davies admitted she was feeling the nerves on the first tee as a long-awaited win beckoned.

“It’s about as nervous as I’ve ever felt,” she said. “I nearly shanked it.

“It was a bogey, but then I chipped in for eagle at the second and it calmed me down.”

Davies would add three more birdies before a bogey at 18 cost her sole possession of second place.

Nevertheless, she was more than pleased with her week.

“It would have been huge,” she said of a win. “Not having won for God knows how many years on the LPGA, it would have been huge.

“But I’m actually quite pleased. It’s a great finish for me. I was four-over after six (holes) on the first day, so just to get into this position is amazing.”

Davies’ tie for second was her best finish since the 2007 Honda LPGA Thailand, where she also finished second.

“Maybe now people will ask me when I’m going to retire,” joked Davies. “I can just tell them I finished second last week.”