2012 AFF Suzuki Cup Azkals babangga na sa Thais
BANGKOK--Bubuksan ng Philippine Azkals ang kanilang kampanya sa pagharap sa bigating Thailand sa pagsisimula ng group stages ng 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup dito sa Rajamangala Stadium.
Lalabanan ng Azkals ang mga Thais ngayong alas-9:20 ng gabi (Manila time).
“We’ve been thinking about this for several months already, we’ve been looking forward to really fielding a very strong team,” sabi ni team manager Dan Palami sa pagpapanalisa nila sa 22-man roster ng Azkals.
Nalagay ang Azkals sa “Group of Death” kasama ang Thailand, Vietnam at Myanmar. Sina Ed Sacapaño at Ref Cuaresma ang tatao sa goalkeeping post katulong sina Ray Jonsson, Rob Gier, Juani Guirado, Dennis Cagara, Carlie de Murga, Jason Sabio at Jeff Christiaens sa backline.
Pupuwesto naman sa midfield sina James Younghusband, Jerry Lucena, Paul Mulders, Chieffy Caligdong, Demit Omphroy, Jason de Jong, Angel Guirado, Patrick Reichelt, Marwin Angeles at Chris Greatwich.
Sina Phil Younghusband at Denis Wolf ang aasahan ng Azkals sa opensa.
Ang mga Thais ang naghari sa AFF Suzuki Cup noong 1996, 2000 at 2002.
“This game will determine the mood and where we stand, but again, we’ll take it one game at a time, and one plan at a time for every opponent and we’ll see,” sabi ni Azkals coach Michael Weiss.
Sina Teerasil Dangda, tinapos ang Thai league season bilang joint top-scorer sa bisa ng kanyang 24 goals, at Muang Thong United star Datsakorn Thonglao ang mamumuno sa Thailand.
Anim na beses natalo ang mga Pinoy sa Thailand simula noong 1996.
Samantala, hindi matutulungan ni goalkeeper Neil Etheridge ang Azkals para sa AFF Suzuki Cup, ngunit ang kanyang Swiss goalkeeping coach na si Pascal Zuberbühler ang siya namang gigiya kina Sacapaño at Cuaresma.
“I was coach of Neil for three years in Fulham and I met him there. Unfortunately, he’s not here,” wika ni Zuberbühler, dumating noong Huwebes at kaagad na kinausap sina Sacapaño at Cuaresma para sa ilang video sessions.
Sumama siya sa training ng Azkals kahapon bago ang kanilang laban ng Thailand ngayong gabi.
“The situation is like this. The tournament is now and they play tomorrow (today). I’m not coming here to say move here, or dive like this. I can’t change that and I won’t. For the goalkeeper, it’s very important he has confidence in himself,” wika ni Zuberbühler.
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