The Philippine National Football Teams (Azkals, etc.)

[rhk111]

Mods, I hope you allow this. I don't want to post anymore on that "Philippine Football" thread, let it just fade away. I you allow this, I promise to take of this this thread and post as often as I can ....

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Quirino Stadium hosts game between PH, Aus

July 4, 2016 | Posted by: Tempo Online


BANTAY, Ilocos Sur – The provincial government of Ilocos Sur is preparing to host an international football game at the newly repaired state-of-the-art sports facility named after former President Elpidio Quirino here.

Gov. Ryan Luis V. Singson said that officials of the Perth Glory Footbal Club of Australia were here to inspect the President Quirino Stadium recently.

The team is set to play against the Philippine Azkals national football squad in an exhibition match at the President Quirino Stadium football on July 27.


(Article intentionally cut, go to http://tempo.com.ph/2016/07/04/quiri...etween-ph-aus/ to view the entire article)

[rhk111]

Thomas Dooley: ‘It Takes a Lot to Push Football to the Next Level’

REAL SPORTS SCENE By Anthony Suntay (The Philippine Star) | Updated July 12, 2016 - 12:00am

More fun in football: “They need to have fun first, second is to develop skills that make their appreciation of football even more fun,” says national team coach Thomas Dooley.

Football is the world’s most popular sport, and slowly our country is beginning to join the rest of the globe in enjoying the beautiful game!

It is my belief that a solid national team is essential in the total framework of developing and strengthening a sport in a country, and the Azkals are doing an excellent job of being at the top of the pyramid.

At the helm of our national squad is Thomas Dooley, whose contract was recently renewed by the Philippine Football Federation, who will make sure that the gains we have had in the previous years will continue to grow.

Let’s get to know the gentleman tasked with bringing the Azkals to greater heights.

PHILIPPINE STAR: Your contract to coach the national team was recently renewed, what are your immediate plans for the Azkals?

THOMAS DOOLEY: I’ve structured our team playing against some strong teams to continue to improve, and getting into the finals for the very first time in the Suzuki Cup is a priority!

What else are you planning for the team within your new term as coach?

(Article intentionally cut, to read more go to: http://www.philstar.com/health-and-f...all-next-level)

[rhk111]

Azkals Dip to Rank 135

Posted on July 18, 2016

THE PHILIPPINE national men’s football team, or the “Azkals,” saw its world ranking drop because of its long spell of inactivity.

In the recent world rankings released by international governing body FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) last week, the Philippines dropped 15 places to 135th.

The last time the Azkals were in action was in late March when they came from behind to beat North Korea in their final World Cup qualifier game. Despite already out of the Cup prior to the start of the game, the Philippine team played spirited football and rose to the challenge with timely goals in the homestretch to salvage the win, 3-2.

(Article intentionally cut, to read more go to: http://www.bworldonline.com/content....-135&id=130518)

[rhk111]

Azkals Put New Recruits to the Test vs Perth FC

By: Cedelf P. Tupas
@inquirerdotnet
Philippine Daily Inquirer
03:00 AM July 21st, 2016

EXPANDING their pool of players for the AFF Suzuki Cup late this year, the Philippine Azkals will parade a new-look side against Australian club Perth Glory FC when they clash Tuesday at Quirino Stadium in Vigan.

Azkals coach Thomas Dooley, who is in the United States to attend to personal matters, has tasked chief deputy Aris Caslib to call the shots for the team that is using the match as part of its preparation for the Suzuki Cup in November.

Caslib has called up the likes of Jim Ashley Flores and Fitch Arboleda of Stallion, Shirmar Felongco of Kaya, Camelo Tacusalme of JP Voltes and Jess Melliza of Green Archers United.

“The general framework of the game is to test some new players, especially those who were part of the U-23 team before,” said Caslib, who watched Global hold Perth to a scoreless draw in a friendly last night at Rizal Memorial Stadium.

“We wanted to have all the players, but with the situation now, we just have to make do with the best players available.”

(Article cut, to read more go to: http://sports.inquirer.net/216868/az...st-vs-perth-fc)

[rhk111]

Azkals Train for Suzuki Cup in China, Spain

By Olmin Leyba (The Philippine Star) | Updated July 22, 2016 - 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines - A pair of overseas training camps with tough friendlies, first in China then in Spain, will highlight the Philippine Azkals’ build-up for the 2016 Asean Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup the country is co-hosting in November.

Team manager Dan Palami said a showdown with regular customer North Korea in the Chinese capital on Sept. 2 or 3 is in the offing before the Azkals head to Kyrgyzstan to face the Snow Leopards in an away friendly on Sept. 16.

“We’ll start with a friendly against DPR Korea in Beijing. We’ll be flying to Kyrgyzstan so on the way, instead of just staying over in Beijing as a layover, we’ll do a couple of days training and play a match against North Korea and from there, we go to Kyrgyzstan,” he said.

In October, he said the Azkals are looking to go to Spain and play Canada and Costa Rica.

(Article intentionally cut, to read more go to: http://www.philstar.com/sports/2016/...up-china-spain)

[rhk111]

Azkals Looking for Good Draw

by Jonas Terrado

The Philippines will get to know its opponent for the group stage of the AFF Suzuki Cup when organizers of Southeast Asia’s biggest football competitions hold a draw today in Yangon, Myanmar.

Defending champion Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam could end up as some of the Azkals’ chief rivals in the group stage which the country will co-host on Nov. 19 at the Philippine Sports Stadium in Bocaue, Bulacan.

The country has been placed in Pot 1 together with Myanmar, which will host the other group stage matches in Yangon.

(Article intentionally cut, to read more go to: http://www.mb.com.ph/azkals-looking-for-good-draw/)

[rhk111]

The Azkals ends up with the "Group of Death" in the 2016 Suzuki Cup, with former Suzuki Cup winners Thailand and Singapore. Thailand even won the last Suzuki Cup in 2014.

Indonesia has been off-form lately, mainly due to their main Football bodies being suspended by FIFA, but you can never count out a major Footballing country like them ...

13923790_1357117987650665_5865373889096881506_o.jpg

[judasmartel]

The Azkals ends up with the "Group of Death" in the 2016 Suzuki Cup, with former Suzuki Cup winners Thailand and Singapore. Thailand even won the last Suzuki Cup in 2014.

Indonesia has been off-form lately, mainly due to their main Football bodies being suspended by FIFA, but you can never count out a major Footballing country like them ...

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What is at stake here exactly? Prestige? Qualification step for Russia 2018?

[interxavierxxx]

What is at stake here exactly? Prestige? Qualification step for Russia 2018?

Ranking points?

AFF is like a sub-zone championships like AFC.

Russia 2018? Lol too early. We should focus on qualifying for the AFC first and being as good as the best in Asia.

[judasmartel]

Ranking points?

AFF is like a sub-zone championships like AFC.

Russia 2018? Lol too early. We should focus on qualifying for the AFC first and being as good as the best in Asia.

Oops. I meant Qatar 2022. Out na nga pala ang Azkals sa WC 2018.

[interxavierxxx]

Oops. I meant Qatar 2022. Out na nga pala ang Azkals sa WC 2018.

Given our current form, I don't see us qualifying for the Qatar 2022 either. Our skills are simply far below those of the top five teams in Asia.

[rhk111]

What is at stake here exactly? Prestige? Qualification step for Russia 2018?

Basically it is South East Asia's version of the World Cup.

Mainly prestige, because a Suzuki Cup title is a big deal among all the SEA countries involved. The 2010 Suzuki Cup managed to draw in 192 million viewers in the region, and that's only the TV viewers ...

[rhk111]

Given our current form, I don't see us qualifying for the Qatar 2022 either. Our skills are simply far below those of the top five teams in Asia.

None of the SEA countries have qualified for the World Cup so far. But that has not stopped them from treating Football as their number one sport. Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, etc. regularly fills up their 50-100k stadiums despite never having to have stepped on the WC ...

[rhk111]

Oops. I meant Qatar 2022. Out na nga pala ang Azkals sa WC 2018.

Yeah. I often envy the fact how Gilas at least made it to Basketball World Cup with their import Andray Blatche and a Homecourt advantage ...

[rhk111]

An article by the prestigious Singapore Football website Four-Four-Two on the Azkals ...

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Rivals Beware: Five Reasons to Fear the Philippines at the Suzuki Cup

14 hours ago

This week’s 2016 AFF Suzuki Cup draw put three powerhouses of the ASEAN region, Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore, in the same Group A as the Philippines. Not that long ago, the men from Manila would have been expected to finish fourth, but not any more. The Azkals are now a force to be reckoned with and here are five reasons the other three nations should be wary of the co-hosts...

1 Revenge is a dish best served very cold

Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand are not just the three teams that have been grouped with the Philippines this November. They are also the three countries that have knocked the Philippines out of the tournament at the last three editions. In 2010 it was Indonesia. Two years later it was Singapore and last time around it was Thailand.

All three eliminations came at the semi-final stage. It shows that the Azkals have not only been just one step away from making the final but, just as importantly, it gives the country and their fans a real source of motivation.

The Philippines have never progressed past the last four, but they have the opportunity this year to do that and prevent two out of their three past tormentors from doing the same.

2 The Philippine scene is improving all the time

A decade ago, few would have been wary of a trip to Manila, but things have changed. After years of being something of a regional whipping boy, the international evidence that things were starting to change came in 2010.

A new generation of players born and playing in Europe with Philippine parentage were drafted in and made a big difference.

The success six years ago made waves in the country. The professional United Football League also gave the country a professional league to build upon.

It took a while but club-wise the standard has been rising – just look at the success of Ceres La Salle and Kaya in this year's AFC Cup. Ceres finished above Tampines Rovers and Selangor, giants of the respective scenes in Singapore and Malaysia, in the group stage of the 2016 edition.

Fear when facing other ASEAN sides has been replaced by confidence befitting a team that, until recently overtaken by Thailand, had spent months as Southeast Asia's number one ranked side.

3 Indonesia and Singapore have issues

These two nations are mainstays of the regional scene, but neither are going through the best of times heading into the competition.

(Article intentionally cut, to read more go to: http://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/featur...nes-suzuki-cup)