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Post by cjeagle on May 29, 2021 15:25:04 GMT 8
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Post by cjeagle on May 30, 2021 21:27:09 GMT 8
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Post by cjeagle on May 31, 2021 19:41:20 GMT 8
THE upcoming joint qualification of the 2022 Fifa World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup where the Philippine Azkals will be playing has been moved from Suzhou, China to Dubai, according to multiple reports. The Chinese Football Association (CFA) made the announcement, Reuters reported, after members of the Maldives and Syria national squad were infected with COVID-19. Titan Sports Plus, meanwhile, reported Maldives and Syria are still in Dubai as they were not cleared to enter China by authorities. Reuters also reported authorities have required Maldives and Syria to undergo quarantine, which will make them unavailable to play their matches in China. www.spin.ph/football/fifa/philippine-azkals-now-heading-to-dubai-after-fifa-qualifiers-moved-out-of-suzhou-reports-a795-20210531?fbclid=IwAR3v6rI9Jeg8nhJ5SF9IkIqsM5XBHIUisfp8WUWhAysLMF11Y_4s1aw1QUMThis kind of benefits the Philippines since they don't have to play an away game in China but they are still missing key players and as China's dominant 7-0 game against Guam proved, their naturalized players(3 of which participated in this game) from Brazil, Spain and England proved to be a class above their opponent with Brazilians Elkeson and Carvalho scoring 3 goals between them. Interestingly China allowed 30,000 fans to watch the China-Guam game without any spacing. If Syria and Maldives are placed under quarantine, that probably means a postponement as well for those matches between them and the rest of the group.
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Post by cjeagle on May 31, 2021 19:48:37 GMT 8
www.facebook.com/TheAzkalsPH/photos/a.291788334336999/1805556656293485/As for the Philippines, the players themselves were negative but several Philippine team officials were also not given permission to enter China. They were negative on 2 PCR tests. However they were positive for IGM antibodies due to recent vaccination. “As a requirement before taking that flight, the delegation underwent two RT PCR tests in the last 72 hours, the results of which all returned negative,” read the federation’s statement. Although no one tested positive in the RT PCR tests, complications occurred when four individuals from the Azkals camp were barred from taking the flight. Two members tested positive in the IGM Antibodies probably due to their recent vaccinations while another duo was told to not enter China because of their recent history as COVID-19 survivors. GM Dan Palami said "every member of the delegation plays an important role and we would have been left severely short handed in China if the games pushed through there". "The developments will allow us to get more training time before these important matches. The Philippines will explore every possibility to further strengthen the squad that we have now. Our priority remains the health and safety of every individual in the team."
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Post by cjeagle on May 31, 2021 22:30:10 GMT 8
The PFF stated that it is awaiting details from the Asian Football Confederation for a decision as to where the Azkals will accomplish their remaining Group A fixtures although earlier reports stated that the neutral venue in question is set to be Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. “While the PFF remains hopeful for an agreement among the Participating Member Associations (PMAs), China PR, Guam, Maldives, and Syria on the venue as well as the schedule of the matches, the federation stresses the importance of the health and safety of everyone involved in the competition,” it said. “The cancellation of the Group A matches in China PR has left a huge financial impact on the PFF as it needed to cancel the chartered flight at the last minute,” lamented the PFF. The Azkals were scheduled to face Guam on June 3, China on June 9 and the Maldives on June 15 before the sudden change of plans happened. As it stands, the Philippines are third in Group A with 7 points and are targeting three wins to have a chance to make it through the next qualification phase. If there is a silver lining in this situation, it is that coach Scott Cooper has more time to gel his squad and maybe even re-invite players who have initially been cut from the lineup due to injury or lack of paperwork. “We urge the fans to remain patient as we wait for a fair and reasonable decision on the venue and schedule of our matches,” concluded Palami. tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/azkals-to-stay-put-in-doha-after-fifa-world-cup-qualifier-changes/209476
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Post by cjeagle on Jun 2, 2021 0:55:20 GMT 8
The remaining AFC Grp A WC qualifying matches will be moved to the UAE although it looks like the Philippines will have China as their first oppponent without facing Guam first which is unfortunate since they haven't played an official FIFA sanctioned game together(not even friendlies) in nearly 2 years.
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Post by xyz1000 on Jun 6, 2021 12:14:56 GMT 8
Next game scheduled. The time below is local for UAE. If anyone has suggestions on how to watch... Monday, 7 June 2021 PRELIMINARY ROUND 2 UPCOMING China PR 13 : 00 Philippines Sharjah Stadium (Sharjah)
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Post by dan17808 on Jun 6, 2021 16:02:29 GMT 8
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Post by xyz1000 on Jun 6, 2021 19:51:16 GMT 8
You're right. Good catch.
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Post by cjeagle on Jun 6, 2021 23:42:36 GMT 8
Azkals resume WCQ bid against China SHARJAH, UAE – Notwithstanding the challenges in competing amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the sudden change in venue and schedules, the Philippines looks to deliver a strong performance as the Azkals resume their campaign in the joint qualifying tournament for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup here. The Azkals face China at 9 p.m. on Monday (Tuesday, 1 a.m. in Manila) in their first match since a 0-1 defeat to Syria in November 2019. Sitting in third spot in the group with seven points, the Azkals have an outside chance to reach the third round of the WCQ and an outright Asian Cup spot, although a place in the next round of Asian Cup qualifying is a more realistic and doable task. The team has added veterans Carlie De Murga and Manny Ott to the current lineup with the defender joining the squad in training last Saturday. Due to limited flights from Kuala Lumpur, Ott will be arriving Monday to link up with the team that has newcomers in Jeff Tabinas, Bernd Schipmann, Michael Kempter, Oliver Bias, Oliver Bias, Matthew Baldissimo and Mark Winhoffer. Captain Stephan Schrock and Patrick Reichelt have taken on the leadership role with a relatively younger squad for the competiton. “Right now the team is upbeat, we’re very motivated,” said Azkals manager Dan Palami. “We’re aiming for nine points here. Of course, there have been some major health concerns that we have raised to AFC and Fifa but we’re trying to cope with it and trying to focus on the game on Monday. We’re quite optimistic and the players are motivated to perform.” The Azkals earlier noted the change in the sequence of matches as Guam was supposed to be their first opponents at the resumption of the centralized competition only for the AFC to switch it to China. Palami also raised concerns over the supposed bubble here in Sharjah, which was only put in place a day after the Azkals arrived. The matches were supposed to be played in Suzhou, China, but due to challenges encountered by teams entering the country, the AFC moved the tournament to the UAE. The Philippine Football Federation had to cancel the chartered flight from Doha to Shangai at the last minute. “Certainly in the past 10-11 years, this has been one of the most difficult (competition) that we had understandably because of the COVID protocols,” said Palami. “These are just challenges that we need to overcome so we can focus on the game.” Despite the challenges faced by the Azkals, Palami sees no reason they can’t play their hearts out here. “They’ll be fighting really hard and make sure the country is represented very well,” he said. “It is what it is and we have to push through no matter what.” theazkals.com/news/azkals-resume-wcq-bid-against-china/
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Post by cjeagle on Jun 7, 2021 0:22:15 GMT 8
They are going to be playing their game in the late evening at 9 PM local time though in the UAE because of how hot it can get there during the middle of the day around 45 degrees Centigrade/113 degrees Fahrenheit today.
The conditions might play a factor on how the game unfolds and a counterattacking strategy would help them conserve their energy. Because the Philippines needs to win tomorrow to advance in the WC qualifiers, I don't think they are going to park the bus but I believe they are going to employ a counterattacking strategy to help contain China's Brazilian reinforced roster while still providing them chances to score.
On the positive side they don't have to deal with a home China crowd rooting for their opponent anymore as originally scheduled. In fact if fans are allowed in the UAE match, the fans will likely be predominantly be in favor of the Philippines because of the expatriate Filipino workforce in the area.
I am bit concerned about the goaltenders they have in camp though since they are all brand new to the team and untested in international competition at the men's level especially since they haven't had a friendly in 2 years in order to test them. The reliable Birmingham FC starter Etheridge is not available this time due to injury so they will have to make do with what they have.
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Post by cjeagle on Jun 7, 2021 1:17:59 GMT 8
Well at least the only coach to lead China to the WC finals Bora Milutinovic(also the first coach in the modern era to lead the US in the WC finals back in 1994 after a drought of nearly 50 years) thinks the Philippines is dangerous.
I guess he doesn't know how many potential starters(around 8 or 9) are missing from the Philippine roster at the moment.
Nevertheless it will be a major embarassment for China to lose to a lower ranked team like the Philippines considering how much money they have poured into their football program and after purposely naturalizing 5 Brazilian and English players(without any Chinese ties) to join their national team to help them get to the World Cup.
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Post by cjeagle on Jun 7, 2021 1:35:33 GMT 8
Updated Philippine national team roster
1. Schipmann 2. Mendoza 3. Kammeraad 4. Steuble 5. Woodland 6. Silva 7. Baas 8. Tabinas 9. Diano 10. Kempter 11. De Murga 12. Reichelt 13. Schröck 14. Mike Ott 15. Daniels 16. Gayoso 17. Manny Ott 18. Bias 19. Baldisimo 20. Winhofer 21. Guirado 22. Hartmann
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Post by dan17808 on Jun 7, 2021 14:33:43 GMT 8
They are going to be playing their game in the late evening at 9 PM local time though in the UAE because of how hot it can get there during the middle of the day around 45 degrees Centigrade/113 degrees Fahrenheit today. The conditions might play a factor on how the game unfolds and a counterattacking strategy would help them conserve their energy. Because the Philippines needs to win tomorrow to advance in the WC qualifiers, I don't think they are going to park the bus but I believe they are going to employ a counterattacking strategy to help contain China's Brazilian reinforced roster while still providing them chances to score. On the positive side they don't have to deal with a home China crowd rooting for their opponent anymore as originally scheduled. In fact if fans are allowed in the UAE match, the fans will likely be predominantly be in favor of the Philippines because of the expatriate Filipino workforce in the area. I am bit concerned about the goaltenders they have in camp though since they are all brand new to the team and untested in international competition at the men's level especially since they haven't had a friendly in 2 years in order to test them. The reliable Birmingham FC starter Etheridge is not available this time due to injury so they will have to make do with what they have. Seems like this will be close door game to avoid Covid spread...I couldn't find any tickets being sold online or any news regarding the game. Although sports activities are already allowed here in UAE for covid vaccinated spectators (2500pax limit). Wish the game will be held here in Dubai instead.
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Post by dan17808 on Jun 7, 2021 14:36:35 GMT 8
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