By Cedelf P. Tupas
Philippine Daily Inquirer
KATHMANDU—There’s one person who isn’t a fan of the Philippine Azkals’ playing style in the AFC Challenge Cup here.
After watching his team get the boot from the Philippines Tuesday, Tajikistan’s Bosnian coach Kemal Alispahic quickly dismissed the Azkals as a title contender in the tournament the Tajiks won in 2006.
“No chance,” Alispahic told a couple of Filipino reporters Sunday night at the Everest Hotel where the teams playing in Group B are billeted.
“Turkmenistan is very good. The Philippines do not play football.”
Alispahic, who speaks little English, even went to the extent of gesturing hand signals to illustrate that the Tajiks are supremely above the level of the Filipinos in football.
The Bosnian coach, who is only 20 days into his job with the Tajik national team, didn’t give the Azkals credit for the win, saying his squad beat themselves.
“My players were tired,” said Alispahic, whose squad took a first half lead, before yielding two to the Azkals in the second half. “It would have been different if we had more rest.”
Alispahic took a swipe at the Azkals’ defensive and counter-attacking style: “The Philippines only knows how to play long balls.”
Azkals coach Michael Weiss said the Azkals are only starting to pick up their rhythm what with players coming in and out of the squad because of club commitments.
“We cannot play Barcelona football, but we can play very well tactically-disciplined football,” said Weiss in reference to the Spanish club, considered as the best team in the world because of its superb passing game and goal-scoring abilities.
inquirer.net
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Grouped with 3 former champions, we didn't have any chance of progressing to the semifinals, did we?
ReplyDeleteHeck, yes, we don't have a chance against Turkmenistan, and we like things that way! Go get another upset, guys!
It's so weird, was I the only one who thought that Philippines was sort of, well, set up? My reasons:
ReplyDelete1. They were grouped in group B, they are the lowest in FIFA rankings in group B.
2. Everyone else in group B were previous winners.
3. Pretty much everyone in group A is lower in FIFA ranking than Philippines.
4. Those unnecessary yellow cards given in the game against the tajiks, which put a dent in our defense by taking out james and angel.
5. The stronger of the two in group a, turkmenistan, has been matched with the Philippines instead of DPR korea.
6. That very controversial goal that was given the the tajiks at the end of the 1st half.
Please tell me I'm just being to paranoid. >__<
you are being paranoid!
DeleteFor me if there is a " DARKHORSE " there should be a "DARKDOGS" the AZKALS for your info coach of TAJIK..
ReplyDeleteThe ball is round..nobody knows but if you have the skills, talent, physically fit, deterioration to win ...GO AZKALS GO....
BIG WIN FOR THE FINALS... why not...
PREPARE FOR THE BIG GAME.. ANOTHER HISTORY HAD BEEN MADE IN AFC Challenge Cup 2012
Anyway I don't think we can beat Turkmenistan (I think they are a bit stronger than the Tajiks) and they are warned now how we can do.
ReplyDeleteAnd to the Tajik coach: ridiculous! his players were tired....all teams had to make 3 matches within 4 days, so all had the same conditions. Maybe they are not physical fit enough, but that's then the fault of the coach. They beat themselves because of making too many faults? Has he also considered that there can be a team who force his players to make mistakes?....Great to see they are out of the tournament....like a few years ago in Bacolod (were they advanced by some strange decisions and just by goal difference), they show that they are bad losers....ok, they can play good football, without any doubt, but on Tuesday we were better, just accept that.