Tough road ahead for Azkals

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president Mariano (Nonong) Araneta Jr. said yesterday several tournaments are being lined up for the Azkals regardless of the outcome of their second round World Cup Asia qualifying series against Kuwait on July 23 and 28.

There will be no respite for the Azkals as the PFF makes sure the national team is kept in razor-sharp form after thrashing Sir Lanka, 5-1, on aggregate, to advance to the second round of the World Cup qualifiers for the first time ever since 1934. Before the victory over Sri Lanka, the Philippines was winless in nine World Cup qualifying contests.

Araneta said plans are underway for the Azkals to compete in the four-team Long Teng Cup in Taiwan in September against Hong Kong, Macau and the host nation. In October, the PFF will host a four-team pocket invitational tournament with Malaysia and Singapore confirming participation and the last slot going to either Thailand or Vietnam. Then, coach Michael Weiss will pilot the Philippines under-23 team in the Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia on Nov. 11-22.

The Philippines is one of eight countries that survived the first round of the World Cup Asia qualifiers. The others are Nepal (over East Timor, 2-1 aggregate), Myanmar (over Mongolia, 2-1 aggregate), Vietnam (over Macau, 13-0 aggregate), Palestine (over Afghanistan, 3-1 aggregate), Bangladesh (over Pakistan, 3-0 aggregate), Malaysia (over Chinese-Taipei, 3-2 aggregate) and Laos (over Cambodia, 8-6 aggregate).  The second round pairings are Philippines vs Kuwait, Nepal vs Jordan, Myanmar vs Oman, Vietnam vs Qatar, Palestine vs Thailand, Bangladesh vs Lebanon, Malaysia vs Singapore and Laos vs China.  Additionally, the second round will feature seven duels involving seeded teams – Iraq vs Yemen, Saudi Arabia vs Hong Kong, Iran vs Maldives, Indonesia vs Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates vs India, Uzbekistan vs Kyrgyzstan and Syria vs Tajikistan.

The 15 winners of the second round move on to join five seeded teams – No. 1 Japan, No. 2 South Korea, No. 3 Australia, No. 4 North Korea, No. 5 Bahrain – in the third round where the contenders are split into five groups of four. The winners and second placers of each group then play in the 10-team finals where the top two teams in both groups earn outright tickets to the 2014 World Cup and the third placers clash in a home-and-away series for the last slot.

Araneta said the Azkals who are signed to live contracts with clubs abroad will be allowed by their mother teams to compete in the World Cup qualifiers because the event is sanctioned by FIFA. He said goalkeeper Neil Etheridge will be given a leave of absence by Fulham to play in the Kuwait series and ruled out defender Stephan Shrock being recalled by his German club.

Araneta said last Friday, the PFF formally made an appeal to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) disciplinary committee headed by Lim Kia Tong of Singapore to lift the suspension of Shrock and skipper Aly Borromeo who accumulated two yellow cards in the Sri Lanka series, resulting in a carryover sit-out in the opener of the Kuwait tie. AFC secretary-general Alex Soosay of Malaysia replied yesterday, referring Araneta to the FIFA disciplinary committee.

“It’s a simple appeal,” said Araneta. “We don’t lose anything by trying. We based our appeal on the fact that Kuwait didn’t play in the first round unlike us so the penalty isn’t on even grounds. It would be different if Kuwait played in the first round and subjected to the same circumstances. Personally, I don’t think it’s fair that we are being penalized for playing in the first round and advancing. We’re asking to play with a full lineup to even the competition.”Araneta said the fact that the AFC advised him to appeal directly to FIFA means there is a chance the suspension may be withdrawn. “At least, the AFC didn’t turn down our appeal,” he said. “Instead, we were advised to bring up the matter to FIFA. We understand that FIFA makes a special ruling on cases like this. We’re expecting to receive a response from FIFA before the end of the week. We’re hoping for the best.”

Among the 45 countries ranked in the World Cup Asia qualifiers, the Philippines and Laos are the lowest seeds, occupying joint No. 44-45. Sri Lanka is ranked joint No. 33-34 with Vietnam. Kuwait is ranked No. 17.Araneta said in case the PFF appeal is turned down, Weiss will bring in defensive specialist Jason de Jong and Patrick Hinrichsen of the German club Eintracht Oberursel to fill the gaps. “It’s coach Weiss’ call, not the PFF’s,” said Araneta. “Coach Weiss knows best how to adjust the lineup if Stephan and Aly won’t play. I was informed that Jerry Lucena, who played for us against Bangladesh in the Challenge Cup qualifiers, may also be tapped.”

Araneta said defense will be the Azkals’ priority in the first match in Kuwait. “We expect a hard and physical match against Kuwait and our defense will be severely challenged,” said Araneta. “Our defense must hold up. Kuwait just beat Lebanon, 6-0, in a friendly and the match ended in a free-for-all with security forces firing gunshots into the air to stop the brawl.”