Philippine Azkals look to pick up the pieces
FOLLOWING its elimination in the 2016 ASEAN Football Federation Suzuki Cup, the Philippine national men’s football team now looks to pick up the pieces and work for future challenges ahead of the team.
Succumbing to Thailand, 1-0, in a crucial match last Friday at the Philippine Sports Stadium in Bocaue, Bulacan, the Philippine Azkals saw their fourth bid for a semifinal appearance in the biennial regional tournament come to an end.
They needed to win in said group stage match to book a spot in the next round which begins on Dec. 3 but left disappointed after bowing to the War Elephants to finish outside of the top two in Group A behind Thailand and Indonesia.
Eliminated along with the Philippines in Group A in this edition of the Suzuki Cup was Singapore. It marked the first time in four stints that the Azkals did not advance to the final four after making it there in 2010, 2012 and 2014.
“Sorry for the loss. This was not what everybody expected. It is something that happens in football. We created a number of good chances. It is sad that we are not going to the next round. It’s part of the game. You just have to learn from losses,” an apologetic Azkals coach Thomas Dooley said minutes after the team’s tough loss.
While they bowed to Thailand, the Azkals played spirited football throughout the match with Phil Younghusband, Misagh Bahadoran, Pika Minigeshi and Stephan Schrock having solid shots at a goal and goalkeeper Roland Muller gallantly and efficiently holding his own on defense.
But the Azkals would run into a counter from Thailand with forward Sarawut Masuk finding the bottom of the net in the 81st minute for the go-ahead and eventually the winning goal that spelt the end for the Philippines’ Suzuki Cup campaign.
In defeat, Mr. Dooley remained upbeat and gave credit to his players who he said gave everything they got during their Cup run.
He also expressed satisfaction on the play of 17-year-old Marco Casambre who Mr. Dooley installed as the starting center back against Thailand.
“Marco showed in training that he deserves to play. He has a good left foot and makes less mistakes passing out of the back and he’s good in the air as well. I thought I had to give him a chance to play tonight and he proved himself well,” he said of University of the Philippines’ Casambre who helped the Fighting Maroons to the University Games title this year.
Now out of the running in the Suzuki Cup, Mr. Dooley said they will rest for a while and soak everything then start preparing for the 2019 Asian Cup qualifiers set for early next year.
“We will rest for now and then start planning for the Asian Cup. We need to prepare well, maybe four weeks for the Asian Cup qualification in March. We may play two friendly games before, but definitely the team needs four weeks of constantly training to be ready and competitive,” the coach said.
Meanwhile, the two-leg, homeand-away semifinal round of the AFF Suzuki Cup begins on Dec. 3 with Group B top seed Vietnam taking on Group A number 2 team Indonesia. Group A top seed Thailand, meanwhile, faces off Group B no. 2 Myanmar the following day.
Winners of the semifinal round advance to the two- leg, homeand-away finals beginning Dec. 14. —