Philippine Football

[rhk111]

Azkals versus Bahrain now, with Bahrain now up 2-0 with only 20 minutes left in the game. Bad game by the Azkals. From the start the team looked erratic, I felt the Midfield was not doing a good job of controlling the ball and feeding it forward. I think we really missed Schrock and Phil there instead of them being out front. But the problem is that if you put those two in middle, Patino isn't there as a target man.

[rhk111]

Full Time its Bahrain 2, Azkals 0. Three more games left for the Azkals in the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers, against Yemen and North Korea at Home and then Uzbekistan on Away. The Yemen game is supposed to be winnable, but the other two remaining games against North Korea and Uzbekistan are going to be tough.

I think practically we are out of the WCQ as only the top two teams in our group will advance. The team that will finish third will qualify for the Asian Cup, but I think we should put our expectations on the next big prize, which will be the 2016 Suzuki Cup ...

[rhk111]

Reality Check: Azkals-Bahrain Postgame Thoughts

The Philippines' hopes of qualification were dealt a serious blow against Bahrain. Here's a breakdown of what went wrong and what their qualification hopes look like now

Bob Guerrero
Published 9:26 AM, October 14, 2015
Updated 12:52 PM, October 14, 2015

MANILA, Philippines - Despite 2-0 loss, the performance was not too shabby. There is a big difference between a team's performance and the result of the game. The result was obviously not what we wanted but the performance was mostly alright.

The Azkals battled Bahrain to a fair stalemate in the first half, with Phil Younghusband and Stephan Schrock both having decent shots at getting the opening goal. Neither side dominated, and the play was fairly open and balanced.

But it all unraveled in that 10-minute spell when Isa Moosa was allowed to ghost into the 6-yard box unperturbed to dink in the opener. Mohammed Husain takes much of the credit for the goal. He makes a run behind Stephane Palla that draws Amani Aguinaldo to him. Palla chases him also, freeing up Moosa, who is not picked up by Daisuke Sato. Husain finds him and it's an easy finish, far too easy for this level.

Then 10 minutes later a free kick of jaw-dropping brilliance from Ismail Abdul Latif sealed the deal. The Philippines looked leggy and disoriented after that.

So in reality it was just one missed defensive assignment and one YouTube-worthy free kick that did us in. Was the game plan wrong? Hard to say so. Dooley played Schrock and Phil up top and they did look threatening. They just couldn't find the net. The change in the fullbacks (Palla and Steuble), and the switch to a more vanilla 4-4-2 might have raised some eyebrows, but in the end that wasn't the reason for our defeat. If anything, Dooley could be blamed for over-tinkering his lineup, but even that is a difficult call.

Bahrain did what a solid, experienced, veteran team does: punish you harshly for relatively small errors.

Maybe playing Phil Younghusband out of position for so long damaged his confidence a bit. Phil had 3 great chances to get his 43rd international goal on Tuesday. He hit a second-minute left-footer a bit dirty, headed wide later on in the half, and couldn't beat the keeper stretched-out for a looping ball in the second half.

For the first time in a while Phil was truly deployed in attack in this game. But maybe all of those games in central/defensive midfield blunted his poacher's instinct. When he's in form, Phil gets at least two of those three chances on frame.

The missed header also illustrates something about Phil Younghusband: he is really not a target striker. Phil likes to operate a bit deep in the formation, (as an attacking mid or second striker,) where he can create with his passing touch and vision. Phil has rarely scored with his head, and seems best playing off a guy who has aerial prowess, like an Ian Araneta or Javier Patiño.

We'd love to see Phil bounce back in the next game, but it appears it won't happen. A poor yellow card late in the game, along with a caution he received against Uzbekistan, means he should be in street clothes when we host Yemen on November 12. It's another tough blow.

(Article intentionally cut, to read more go to: http://www.rappler.com/sports/by-spo...-reality-check)

[rhk111]

This is not accurate, even from the perspective of the rest of the world taking notice (not Filipinos) your chances of being noticed or being appreicated are greater in a sport where you make an impact , even if the sport is not as big or popular as the other. Gilas making the world cup has definetly more well recognized recognition globally than the Azkals winng a Suzuki cup (or whatever you call it) or even if the Azkals medal in the Asian games , people in Europe , Australia or Amercias would care less, who cares if a SEA team places 3rd in Asia. That won't be news to anyone outside of Asia. But Gilas making the World cup or Olympics will indeed be noticed by many people outside of Asia. And BTW the chances of the latter happening (Gilas making the WC) are actually greater than the former (Azkals being 3rd in Asia)

How can Gilas' achievements in the FIBA World Cup or the Olympics be recognized more in Europe when people there don't care as much about Basketball? Dirk Nowitzki won the MVP Award a couple of years ago and Germany just shrugged it off.

Gilas will reach the FIBA WC simply because:
- Less countries take Basketball seriously;
- MVP spends hundreds of millions of pesos per year on it;
- And because it has an import in Gilas.

Take away one of those and Gilas will be back fighting for 5th to 7th place.

[rhk111]

It's not simply a case of priorties or being satisfied with being a big fish in a small pound as you suggest, but it is also about strategically focusing our resources on where we have a better chance being competitive globaly. And our chances our indeed greater in basketball. the whole point in why I bring this topic up is there is indeed this myth or false sense of thinking that because of our lack of size football is more suitable for the Philippines to be competitive globaly , this is actually false (not true)

How can you promote globally when Basketball is clearly the less popular sport in the world than Football? No matter how much promotion you put in it, in the end it won't matter as much simply because more people around the world care about Football than Basketball. Are you goig to deny that Football is a LOT more popular than Basketball?

[analyzed]

^^
It's about impact and leaving an impression in people's minds , despite the given the Football is more popular than basketball globally. It's not news outside SEA if the Phil wins the Susuki cup, or is news that a SEA team (AzKals) win the bronze medal in the Asian games for football. (it's not something new or news worthy for people outside the region, it's like Ginebra winning the PBA all Filipino cup, no one outside the Philippines really cares) But Gilas qualiying for the world cup or Olympics , while not as popular a sport as football, does leave a lasting impression on people's mind outside of the region, people in Spain took notice when the Philippine played in the WC, so did basketball fans (however small) in the US (we were signthed in their press) , Aus and NZ take notice. Now tell me do you think a football Real Madrid fan wll even know or care if the Azkals win the Suzuki cup nope i don't think so

[rhk111]

^^
It's about impact and leaving an impression in people's minds , despite the given the Football is more popular than basketball globally. It's not news outside SEA if the Phil wins the Susuki cup, or is news that a SEA team (AzKals) win the bronze medal in the Asian games for football. (it's not something new or news worthy for people outside the region, it's like Ginebra winning the PBA all Filipino cup, no one outside the Philippines really cares) But Gilas qualiying for the world cup or Olympics , while not as popular a sport as football, does leave a lasting impression on people's mind outside of the region, people in Spain took notice when the Philippine played in the WC, so did basketball fans (however small) in the US (we were signthed in their press) , Aus and NZ take notice. Now tell me do you think a football Real Madrid fan wll even know or care if the Azkals win the Suzuki cup nope i don't think so

Basketball fans will only care about what happens in Basketball, in the same vein that Football fans will only care about Football. If Real Madrid fans care less about what happens with the Azkals in the Suzuki Cup, how much less what happens to Gilas in the FIBA WC?

As for the Azkals' achievements in the Suzuki Cup, you can be sure it has an impact on the entire SEA. On the other hand, no matter how many times Gilas wins the SEA Basketball title, nobody in SEA cares about it. The Azkals' achievements in the Suzuki Cup will reverberate across the entire SEA while the same is never true whatever Gilas' achievements are in any major SEA Basketball tournament.

[analyzed]

You're mistaken , Real Madrid football fans won't care about the Azkals in the Suzuki cup becuase it has no relevance to the league and players they follow, a Spaniard basketball fan on the other hand will and has taken notice of Gilas, because Gilas actually played in the same tournament and place (Spain) where their idols who they follow played ( world cup) . Here is a clear example good friend from Madrid Spain Sergio Ronas is an avid Real Madrid football fan, he knows nothing about or cares about the Azkals despite being a football fan, but because of Gilas playing in the world cup he is now an avid Gilas fan , check his twitter post https://twitter.com/s9rgio/status/65...51877037989888

However small in numbers ( basketball fans in Europe do take notice of other national teams (Gilas) that play in the world stage or major leagues ( Clarkson etc), but practically no (zero ) real Madrid or European fan will ever follow the Azkals unless they enter the world stage or relevance. (it's that simple)

I agree however on you point of the impact Azkals can make within SEA, it's simple logic anytime you win in the region or level, in a popular sport fans follow in the region, you make an impact. but since it's regional competion and low level (not world) it's impact is limited within , not outside

[rhk111]

You're mistaken , Real Madrid football fans won't care about the Azkals in the Suzuki cup becuase it has no relevance to the league and players they follow, a Spaniard basketball fan on the other hand will and has taken notice of Gilas, because Gilas actually played in the same tournament and place (Spain) where their idols who they follow played ( world cup) . Here is a clear example good friend from Madrid Spain Sergio Ronas is an avid Real Madrid football fan, he knows nothing about or cares about the Azkals despite being a football fan, but because of Gilas playing in the world cup he is now an avid Gilas fan , check his twitter post https://twitter.com/s9rgio/status/65...51877037989888

However small in numbers ( basketball fans in Europe do take notice of other national teams (Gilas) that play in the world stage or major leagues ( Clarkson etc), but practically no (zero ) real Madrid or European fan will ever follow the Azkals unless they enter the world stage or relevance. (it's that simple)

I agree however on you point of the impact Azkals can make within SEA, it's simple logic anytime you win in the region or level, in a popular sport fans follow in the region, you make an impact. but since it's regional competion and low level (not world) it's impact is limited within , not outside

Well the last time I checked, Real Madrid has obviously has more than just "one" fan, in fact they have hundreds of millions around the world, so one guy definitely cannot speak for the entire Real Madrid fanbase in terms of following Gilas.

Also to me it doesn't make sense when you say that Real Madrid fans would rather follow Gilas than the Azkals. I understand that is your opinion and not necessarily based on logic, but its a sweeping statement that to me is clearly wrong. Real Madrid conducted a Football Clinic here in the Philippines just last month, and that act clearly puts not only the Philippines but the Azkals itself on the Philippine map.

[analyzed]

You read wrong: Didn't say Real Madrid fans will follow Gilas. I said basketball fans in Spain or outside SEA would follow a team (e.g. Gilas) if they become relevant to the competiton ( World cup of basketball) where the fans follow the game . That's simple logic. If an Estonian player somehow played in the PBA , yes PBA fans would follow or notice him.
In the same way the Azkals will only be followed by football fans outside of SEA if they become relevant to the competition that the fans follow (e.g. World cup qualifications, La Liga or whatever) , as of now while football is the # 1 most followed sport, no fan outside of their competition wil follow or care about teams that are not relevant to them. You're a football fan, but do you follow football in some remote country that is unranked or has no significance to the leagues you follow? say a football team from Kiribati a coutry in the pacific ocean? I don't think so, why would you, they're not relevant , even if you're a football fan. How logical is that

Yes you're correct the Azkals are in the Philippne map, but not in the world map of football or anywhere in the minds of fans in europe , they're irrelevant outside of SEA. While Gilas is indeed in the world basketball map, (however small the population size of the global hoop fans are compared to soccer)

[rhk111]

How can European Football fans be not aware of the Philippines and the Azkals when there are so many opportunities for them to do so?

Neil Etheridge played for Fulham in the English Premiere League while Stephan Schrock played for Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga. Are you going to tell me that people were not the least bit curious about the Azkals when they were there?

David Alaba carried the Philippine Flag around his waist when Bayern Munich won the UEFA Champions League a couple of years ago, you think European fans didn't care about the Philippines at all after that?

Chelsea has an OFFICIAL Football School here in the Philippines run by the Younghusband brothers. Manchester United has done some Football Clinics here, while Real Madrid and FC Barcelona conduct Football Clinics in the Philippines on an ANNUAL basis. Sandro Reyes was taken in by FC Barcelona's La Masia School a couple of years ago.

There are so many ways for major Football Clubs in Europe have participated in the Philippines, so it is absurd to insist that Gilas is more famous to Football fans in Europe than the Azkals, LMAO.

[analyzed]

Again you read wrong: never said "football" fans in Europe would follow Gilas more than Azkals, I said there would be more Europeans interested in Gilas , simply because however small the number of basketball fans there are in Europe, they will find Gilas relevant to world basketball. As popular as football is in Europe , Azlals are not relevant to the average European football fan. Yes they may be curious , just like they are curious to any SEA country or low ranked country , but it's simply not relevant enough to follow. I consider myself huge global basketball fan, but at most i probably would only follow or be interested in basketball for about 50 countries tops. Why would I care what the basketball league in Myranmar does, it's irrelevant to me. Same way Philippine football is irrelevant to the average Global fan outside of SEA.
Like i said do you follow the football scene Kirbati? why would you? you might be curious at the level of play , just like a soccer fan in Europe would be curious with the Azkals but certainly not follow it.

The Lakers might hold a clinic in Thailand to expand it's brand and awareness. but does that mean the average Laker fan follows Thailand basketball, Nope ! Being in the Philippines I can understand why you would like to think, football fans around the world follow pinoy soccer, sorry to burst your pride in the Pinoy game. they don't !

[judasmartel]

Simply put, a sports nation needs to put good teams and win many games in international tournaments to get their brand of sport recognized throughout the world.

Nobody would ever follow Philippine basketball if the Gilas program hasn't been successful all these years. Now we have finally climbed our way back to the top of Asian basketball and giving some of the best teams in the world quite the scare in the Worlds last year, more basketball fans around the world are starting to follow the Philippine brand of basketball.

Likewise, the fastest way for the Philippine brand of football is for the Azkals to qualify for the World Cup, plain and simple as that.

[analyzed]

^
Exactly, to put it in simple terms Philippine basketball is more recognized globally than Philippine football , despite Football being much more popular globally. You can go anywhere in the world to see the Philippines is associated to basketball. (that's what we're known for)

I live in NZ, where Football is actually the most participated sport (yes even ahead of Rugby) in terms of popularity it probably is 2nd to rugby (yes ahead of cricket and netball), Basketball is not in the picture as a major sport. But if you did a quick survey and asked any random person (I actually did this) , What do you think of Philippine football? Then you ask another question what do you think of Philippine basketball? For the 1st question , even football fans normally say I don't know anything about Philippine football. they're clueless. Now as to the 2nd question : the common answer is : Philippine basketball must be popular cause i always see many pinoy kids playing the game. Now for the NZ / Kiwi basketball fan, there is instant awareness and recognition. They will say stuff like you got fast guards, they did pretty well in the World cup I heard, or doesn't Blatche play for them?
You see simple fact: Philippine basketball is more popular than Philippine football globally (period)

[kerouac82]

And just like that, Yemen might just have blown the Azkals' World Cup dreams into smithereens. PYH's quality midfielding was sorely missed, as well as Etheridge's alertness between the posts. If they continue to have those deficiencies in finishing possessions, we might not even see them in the Asian Cup.