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Post by jandrew87 on Sept 6, 2011 1:03:37 GMT 8
The Azkals has finally found someone to face in a friendly! It will be October 7th in Singapore. We might also face Pakistan on the 9th! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D filipinofootball.blogspot.com/2011/09/full-bodied-azkals-play-sporeans-in.htmlFull-bodied Azkals play S'poreans in friendly MANILA, Philippines - A Philippine Azkals side that will parade a full complement will play higher-ranked Singapore in a Fifa friendly match next month. Philippine Football Federation president Nonong Araneta said Singapore (129th in the world) has agreed to meet the Azkals (162nd) on Oct. 7 at the Lions’ turf, giving the Pinoys a chance to test their skills and possibly improve their world ranking. “Singapore has agreed to do a friendly but instead of having it here, they want it held in Singapore since they have a scheduled Fifa World Cup Asian Qualifiers third round game on Oct. 11,” Araneta said of Singapore’s positive response to the PFF’s invitation. “We at the PFF and Azkals coach Michael Weiss are both okay with it so we’ll finalize the arrangement with the Football Association of Singapore,” he added. The PFF has invited higher-ranked countries like Singapore, Oman, Qatar, and Bangladesh, to play the Azkals anytime from Oct. 6-11, the period designated as “Fifa match calendar days.” During those dates, clubs all over the world will release players to their respective national teams, allowing the likes of Europe-based Neil Etheridge, Stephan Schrock, Paul Mulders, Jerry Lucena and Dennis Cagara to join the Azkals. “All the players based in Europe will be available, so we’re excited to see the full squad play against a higher ranked team like Singapore,” said Araneta. Pakistan, ranked 170th, has offered to come over to Manila to tangle with the Azkals on Oct. 9.
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Post by stellarboy on Sept 6, 2011 1:18:21 GMT 8
Finally! Something that we will look on after those invitations that were turned down. And also a chance for OFWs in Singapore to cheer for the team! Hopefully, just hopefully, Cagara could finally be capped for the team.
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Post by cjeagle on Sept 6, 2011 2:24:06 GMT 8
Dan Palami just posted on facebook that the game against Singapore is on October 6 now.
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Post by Wiking on Sept 6, 2011 7:58:57 GMT 8
Another excellent development! No doubt Singapore is going to be prepared and give its best to hand us their "revenge" from last years surprise tied match. I surely hope we get our full complement of our "Germanics"! I just hope we have enough practice time. And, for God' sake dont play Mulders as left back again coach!! Here are the scheds of our europlayers: Lucena(AGF) last game Oct 3 Cagara(Lyngby) last game Oct 2 Mulders(ADO) last game Oct 2 Jonsson(Grindavik) last game Oct 1 Schrock(GF) last game Oct 1 Ott(Ingolstadt II) has game Oct 3 and 7(out?) de Jong(no club/probable?); Gier(out); Ingreso(out/injured) My main concern was practice time with the team. Hopefully these players, if they go, can have at least 2 days of practice. Go Azkals!
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Post by Wiking on Sept 6, 2011 8:31:05 GMT 8
BTW, here are the last 2 paragraphs of the article above. So we arent sure yet about Pakistan? “It will be up to Weiss and team management if they would want to play Pakistan after the friendly with Singapore,” Araneta said. The Azkals are back in training after bowing out of the World Cup Asian preliminaries. They are set to hold camp in Bacolod City this week before competing at the Long Teng Cup in Chinese-Taipei from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4. www.philstar.com/SportsArticle.aspx?articleId=724232&publicationSubCategoryId=69&keyword=sp_football
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Post by cjeagle on Sept 6, 2011 8:33:58 GMT 8
Unfortunately practice time for the first team playing in Singapore will be minimal as they will spend a lot of time flying. Some of the Azkals will still be playing on Oct. 4 in the Long Teng Cup in Taiwan. They will then fly to Singapore to join the first team for the game on Oct. 6. Then if plans push through if Coach Weiss thinks its doable, they will return home to play possibly Pakistan at home on Oct. 9. Very tiring schedule for some of the starters who played in Taiwan. A lot of the alternates will see some time with this schedule.
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Post by Wiking on Sept 6, 2011 8:53:36 GMT 8
I figured it'd be more prudent for them to just fly straight to Singapore. Right after I posted my comments above, I thought about the LT games! I suppose the best we can hope for is that at least we've got fresh legs from whoever is showing up from Europe, given the few days of no games for them and they have played for Weiss before(except Cagara).
With Carli, Jerry and Cagara, the defence, even on paper, is way above what we ever had! Ahhh, the possibilities.
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Post by Katipunero on Sept 6, 2011 12:18:32 GMT 8
This will be a good gauge of where we are in terms of the SEA region. We last played them in the 2010 edition of the Suzuki Cup. They dominated most of the game and we luckily managed to sneak in an equalizer in stoppgae time. the Suzukip Cup for Singapore was a dismal one with players said to be distracted with incidents such as playing cards late into the night. This resulted in a dismal finish resulting in their failure to move on to the semis as expected.
But we won't be facing the same stagnant Singapore team, their coach has added a dash of youth to the squad and rejuventaed the SEA powerhouse. This cuminated by their reaching of the 3rd round of the WC Qualifiers, they beat Suzuki Cup champions and fierce rivals Malaysia to do this.
While this will be a tough game, I don't expect them to dominate us like they did during the Suzuki Cup epecially with a complete and full-strength lineup. Hopefully we will send a message to our neighbors that the Philippines is here to stay!
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Post by fadzki on Sept 6, 2011 13:57:20 GMT 8
It will be a very good match... I hope no one from our European base will decline in joining our NT.... now if the azkals have a full squad for this game... can we expect to see coach Wiess dream team play...
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Post by Caz on Sept 6, 2011 14:15:16 GMT 8
Oh this has certainly gotten me excited! I wonder if the match will air on cable now? Star Sports does like to broadcast Singapore's games. I do foresee the senior team concentrating on this match. The younger players will probably be fielded for the LT Cup and perhaps against Pakistan. I'm really interested to see how well the U-23 side will fare and it'll be outstanding preparation for the SEA games. Even losses will yield priceless education on our weaknesses. Against Singapore, what do you guys think? Both teams are completely different from what they were in the last Suzuki Cup. And even the Azkals have a whole new playing philosophy. Really really interested to see what happens here.
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Post by Wiking on Sept 6, 2011 14:56:43 GMT 8
Same here, very curious which player will show up first though. I think pure skill wise we've go them beat(with the europlayers included) but soccer's a team sport and the Singaporeans have played together a lot more than ours. BTW, their best player Alex Duric(the guy that got their only goal against us) is 41yo and still starring in their NT team. We might have enough firepower to play the way the coach wants if everyone shows up. And even without Gier around, the full backs are going to be stronger than last year I think.
If we want to really win some FIFA points like the PFF leadership wants, we better win this one. Go get'em boys!!
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Post by cjeagle on Sept 6, 2011 15:54:34 GMT 8
Yes, we have good players on paper, but football is a team sport and lack of cohesion and defensive discipline can easily cost a team a game, so Coach Weiss will also play a big part in how we do against Singapore. With our more experienced backs and mids, hopefully the team can maintain their defensive shape and not lose their composure.
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Post by Caz on Sept 6, 2011 18:28:56 GMT 8
Agreed, team cohesion will be the key factor that'll make or break this match for us. Any slip ups in passing will be taken advantage of by the Lions.
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Post by Wiking on Sept 6, 2011 18:39:31 GMT 8
Same here, very curious which player will show up first though. I think pure skill wise we've go them beat(with the europlayers included) but soccer's a team sport and the Singaporeans have played together a lot more than ours. BTW, their best player Alex Duric(the guy that got their only goal against us) is 41yo and still starring in their NT team. We might have enough firepower to play the way the coach wants if everyone shows up. And even without Gier around, the full backs are going to be stronger than last year I think. If we want to really win some FIFA points like the PFF leadership wants, we better win this one. Go get'em boys!!
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Post by Wiking on Sept 6, 2011 19:19:12 GMT 8
Now it getting really interesting... Neil, Schrocky may lead Azkals vs Singapore in friendlyabs-cbnNEWS.com Posted at 09/06/2011 5:47 PM | Updated as of 09/06/2011 5:47 PM MANILA, Philippines – Key Azkals players Neil Etheridge and Stephan Schrock will be free for their team’s friendly game against Singapore in October. Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president Nonong Araneta confirmed that the likes of Etheridge, Schrock, Paul Mulders, Jerry Lucena and Dennis Cagara may play versus Singapore because their October 7 playdate falls under FIFA calendar. “Yes, the date falls under FIFA calendar,” he said in a text message sent to abs-cbnNEWS.com. The Singapore Lions agreed to play against the Azkals, giving the Nationals the opportunity to hone their skills. The game will also give the Azkals a chance to improve its FIFA World ranking. Singapore is currently 129th in the world, while the Philippines is ranked 162nd. www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/09/06/11/neil-schrocky-may-lead-azkals-vs-singapore-friendlyWasn't the game on Oct 6th??
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