Azkals have solid crack at Final Four

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Football Federation technical director and former national coach Aris Caslib yesterday expressed confidence the Azkals will have a greater shot at the semifinals in this week’s AFF Suzuki Cup than the unheralded side that stunned Southeast Asia’s top teams two years ago.

“Mas maganda ang team natin ngayon, maraming variations, ang options maganda. Tingnan na lang natin kung paano ima-manage (We have a better team than in 2010, offers more variations, good options for the coaching staff. It’s just a matter of managing the group),” said Caslib.

The Azkals return to the Asean meet optimistic that the progress they’ve enjoyed over the last two years – an offshoot of their surprise semifinal finish in the 2010 tourney – will go on and bear fruit, initially against Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar in the Nov. 24-30 group stages in Bangkok starting Saturday. 

“Ang tingin ko (The way I see it), we have a greater chance right now to go back and play in the semis,” said Caslib.

The Azkals arrived in the Thai capital yesterday, looking to fine-tune their game before kicking off their campaign against the Thais on Saturday. 

In the group are Joshua Beloya, Ian Araneta, Jeff Christiaens, Marwin Angeles, Nestorio Margarse, Phil and James Younghusband, Jason de Jong, Juani Guirado, Anto Gonzales, Chieffy Caligdong, Denis Wolf, Patrick Reichelt, Demit Omphroy, Chris Greatwich, Ed Sacapano, Misagh Bahadoran, Carli de Murga, Ray Jonsson, Jason Sabio, Rob Gier, and Ref Cuaresma.

Expected to join them later are Fil-Dutch Paul Mulders and Fil-Danish Dennis Cagara and Jerry Lucena. Last-minute negotiations are still on for the release of Fil-Spanish Angel Guirado and goalkeepers Neil Etheridge and Roland Muller.

Caslib personally scouted the pre-Suzuki friendlies of Thailand and Vietnam and noticed very cohesive teams that could give the Azkals headache, especially in the wing.

“Thailand is very cohesive, matagal na sila magkakasama. Ang atake nila parating nasa gilid kaya kailangan malakas ang depensa natin sa gilid (Thailand is very cohesive as a fruit of playing together for so long. They usually attack on the wings so it’s imperative we strengthen our defense against their wingers),” he said.

Vietnam is as tough, according to Caslib.

“Malakas sila (They’re strong, too), cohesive. Yung atake nila sa parehas na side (They attack on both sides) and they’re very fluid when they attack. This means our midfield must be very strong,” he said, banking on de Jong, Greatwich and the Fil-foreign midfielders from Europe to rise to the occasion.

Aside from the hosts and the Vietnamese, the Azkals will also face Myanmar in Group A action. The Burmese topped the qualifiers and should not be taken lightly, too.