by Olmin Leyba
MANILA, Philippines – Their chances to progress in the Fifa World Cup qualifiers may now be slim but that wouldn’t discourage the Philippine Azkals from giving it a shot.
“We’re not yet buried; we’re still alive and we keep on,” said a defiant midfielder Stephan Schrock.
The Azkals missed an opportunity to close in on leader North Korea (13 points) and second-running Uzbekistan (nine) as they bowed to Bahrain in Manama, 0-2, and remained stuck with seven points.
The Pinoy booters face the tough task of sweeping their last three games against Yemen (Nov. 12 at Rizal Memorial Stadium), Uzbekistan (Mar. 24 in Tashkent) and North Korea (Mar. 29 also in Manila) to get a chance for at least a second spot in the Group H.
“There’s still a lot to play for. We have three big games (in the WCQ) coming up, and the next one’s coming up in Manila, which we always look forward to, and there’s still the Asian Cup qualification (after the WCQ),” said veteran Rob Gier.
The group winners and the four best runners-up will advance to the third round of the World Cup qualifiers as well as the final round of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. Those that will be eliminated from the WCQ will contend in the next stage of the Asian Cup qualifiers.
Phl booters went their separate ways after the gruelling trip that had them play away games in Pyongyang and Manama in a period of 11 days. The Nationals are expected to return to camp next month in time for the Yemen outing at Rizal.
“We lick our wounds, everyone goes back home, think about this and we all make up when we come out again in three weeks and we really hit it hard again,” said Gier.
they have games until march next yr.
ReplyDeletethats the beauty of football every clubs and have equal chances of winning...unpredictable ang outcome ng mga matches.
it is hard to give forecast kung sino ang mananalo o hindi.
kaya naman favorite ang Nokor & Uzbekistan na makaka advance sa next round dahil very experience and establish sila bilang national squads...
intact ang rosters nila for decades unlike sa Pinas na may new recruits like Ramsey,Ingresso,Palla and Woodland.
maliit pa rin ang national pool ng Pinas we have few reserves..quality homegrown players are scarce kaya malaki pa rin yung gap ang hahabulin ng Pinas sa Asian neighbors.
pinoy futbol ay nasa process of development stage.
ang good news we have more new facilities and pitches na umuusbong yung pinaka latest yung grant ng Fifa sa construction ng bagong stadium sa Tacloban.
merong mga bagong fifa standard stadiums sa Cavite,Laguna,Cebu and Mindanao...soon yung sa roofdeck ng SM Mall of Asia sa pasay.