FIFA World Ranking - Philippines up 8

New FIFA World Ranking . Philippines up 8 to number 158.


ASEAN :

114 Thailand +3
134 Vietnam -4
139 Singapore -3
140 Indonesia -1
151 Malaysia -4
158 Philippines + 8
170 Myanmar -2
176 Cambodia -2
181 Laos +1
197 Brunei +1
201 Timor-Leste -

Azkals arrive Hanoi

Philippines NT arrived Hanoi airport at 8 Pm today.


Vietnam FA

YouTube - Nakhon Pathom FC vs Philippines

Today : Nakhon Pathom FC 8-0 Philippines

Philippines played today against Nakhon Pathom FC who play in Thai Division 1 League (level 2)

They finished as number 5 in the League and will be playing playoffs for Thai Premier League from 4 december

Nakhon Pathom FC Website
Nakhon Pathom FC Wikipedia


Latest :

Philippines lost 8-0 (!) today ,half time result was 4-0.

Nakhon Pathom FC

Tune-up games await PHL eleven in Bangkok

The Philippine national men’s football team left for Bangkok on Wednesday to play tune-up matches before plunging into action in the preliminary stage of the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup 2010 in Hanoi, Vietnam.

The Suzuki Cup will be jointly hosted by Vietnam and Indonesia from December 2 to 9. Matches will be held at the Gelora Bung Karno and Gelora Sriwijaya stadiums in Jakarta and Palembang, and at Hanoi’s My Dinh National and Hàng Đẫy stadiums.

Despite encountering problems during their training, like lack of a regular practice venue, the Nationals’ American coach Simon Alexander McMenemy remains optimistic of their chances in the tournament AFF-organized tournament.

McMenemy said his wards face a tough campaign after being grouped with defending champion Vietnam, Singapore and Myanmar in Group B of the tournament that offers a total of $100,000 prize money.

"Realistically, we’re the underdogs, with Singapore and defending champion Vietnam in the group," said McMenemy. “But anything we achieve in this tournament will be a bonus. It will be difficult because they are stronger and most of their players are full-time professionals,"

"We can beat Myanmar. We can gain three points against them and if we can be competitive against Singapore, then we have a good chance," added McMenemy.

"That will be the gauge," said MccMenemy. "It has to be a continuation of the good that this team has done during the qualifier."

Veteran players Ali Borromeo and Anton Del Rosario were also optimistic about their chances.

"We have to make a big impact against Singapore. If we can do that, then we have a good chance to advance," said Borromeo.

"Actually, we can match up with them. Our team is very passionate and we really want to do well," added Del Rosario. – JVP/KY, GMANews.TV

Azkals get a boost for the upcoming Suzuki Cup

by rick olivares

The Philippine Men’s National Football Team got a nice send off yesterday November 23, 2010 at the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) House of Football as Gatorade, the world’s leading sports drink, came on board as a team sponsor on the eve of their participation in the Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup 2010 that will be held in Hanoi, Vietnam from December 1-19.

“Having Gatorade behind us is literally a big boost for us,” said an exuberant Dan Palami, the national team manager. “The press con, the media being present – I don’t think this team has ever seen so many media persons in one room interested in writing about them – and having the backing of a multinational like Gatorade definitely lifts up our spirits.”

“Football is one of our three priority sports for 2011,” underscored Gatorade Brand Representative Ton Gatmaitan. “We are excited to be able to be behind not just the national team but also Philippine football in general. Not only will we provide them with powered Gatorade to last them from Thailand (where the team will train briefly) all the way to Vietnam but we will also have equipment such as coolers, towels, water bottles, and next year even sweat tests to determine a hydration plan for all of the players.”

The Nationals qualified for the biennial tournament when they placed second in the Qualifying Stage last month in Vientiane, Laos. The Philippines beat Timor Leste 5-0 in its first match before they drew their final two matches against eventual group winner Laos 2-2 and Cambodia 0-0.

Laos and the Philippines will join the top six seeded ASEAN nations – Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand – in a battle for the AFF Suzuki Cup trophy and US $100,000. The Azkals, as the nationals are fondly nicknamed, are bracketed with defending champion Vietnam, dangerous Singapore, and Myanmar.

“I’m expecting three very very tough games where we’re the underdogs in every match.” said head coach Simon McMenemy who had one international cap with Brunei as a contracted foreigner and was a former assistant manager with non-English Premier League team Worthing Football Club. “Being here is already achievement but were certainly not satisfied with that. We’re in for a tough fight but if we start out well against Singapore in our opening match then who knows how far we can go? Anything we achieve in the tournament is a bonus. We know we are capable of beating the other teams. Whether that works in our favor on game day or not, without wanting to be very cliché-ish about it, football is a very strange game where the ball is round and anything can happen. The way the lads have been training, we are certainly capable of doing things.”

“None of the other countries are expecting anything from us,” noted team captain Alexander Borromeo. “We always play better when we’re underdogs and we’re in high spirits now so that has to be a good combination.”

The composition of the national team is a balance of veterans like Emelio “Chieffy” Caligdong, Borromeo, Ian Araneta, Anton del Rosario, Phil and James Younghusband, Neil Etheridge, Matthew Hartmann, and Eduard Sacapaño; and newcomers Michael Atienza, Jerry Barbaso, Yanti Barsales, David Basa, Christopher Camcam, Jose Alfe Caminos, Joel Ballo-Allo, Jason de Jong, Mark Anthony Ferrer, Roel Gener, Robert James Gier, Peter Jaugan, Ray Anthony Jonsson, Manuel Ott, Ray Mark Palmes, Jose Paolo Pascual, Gino Angelo Pavone, and Kristoffer Relucio.

Assisting McMenemy is former Ateneo High School and Air Force coach Edwin Cabalida, Edzel Bracamonte, and Rolando Piñero as well as physiotherapists Walfred Javier and Josef Malinay.

The Philippines sees its first bit of action on December 2 when they go up against Singapore at 5pm at the My Dinh Stadium.

They play hosts Vietnam on December 5 at 730pm once more at the My Dinh Stadium before they close out their group stage assignment Myanmar of December 8 at 5pm at the Hang Day Stadium.

Bleachers' Brew

Press Conference

Press conference for the Philippine Men's National Football Team this coming Tuesday, November 23, at the PFF House of Football in Pasig City


Bleachers' Brew

The national team will head to Thailand next week

For their preparations for December's Suzuki Cup, the national team will have a training camp in Thailand starting on the 24th of November up to the 30th. They will then head straight to Hanoi, Vietnam for their group matches against Singapore, Vietnam and Myanmar during the Suzuki Cup championships.

Usapangfootball

aseanfootball (AFF website)

Indonesia friendly is cancelled

Indonesian media reported today that the friendlies against Philippines and Cambodia has been cancelled. Indonesia will try get other teams for friendlies but difficult now.

bolaindo

Just a few days since PFF President gave his word to Indonesia Gen Secr that Philippines will be going...

Indonesia friendly - latest news

Jakarta Post reported yesterday that the friendly was cancelled , but Indonesia FA website reported today that the match will go as planned.

The match will take place at Bung Karno Main Stadium (SUGBK) in Jakarta.

Philippines are expecting to arrive Jakarta on 14. November.

Indonesia Gen Secr : "Last night PFF President Martinez contacted me and told me it`s ok , all Air Force players have been released and Philippines can come as planned." He denied that they had problems because of Mount Merapi.


Indonesia Fa websiteJakarta Post

Indonesia friendly

Indonesia FA website reporting today that Indonesia will play a friendly against Philippines on 16. November in Jakarta as previously reported here.

Indonesia will also play a friendly against Cambodia on 21. Nov and Taiwan on 24. Nov. If Philippines staying longer in Indonesia it could be possible to also play them in Indonesia ?

Indonesia FA website

Indonesia friendly cancelled ?

Indonesia friendly on 16. November is probably cancelled. Philippines are missing 4 foreign based players Ott, De Jong , Etheridge and Gier. Air Force players are also doubtful for Jakarta trip.

Indonesia friendly in Jakarta

Philippines will play a friendly against Indonesia on 16. November confirmed Indonesia FA.

The match will be played in Jakarta.

goal.com

RP football team off to Hanoi tilt

The Philippines will compete in the Asian Football Federation Suzuki Cup main tournament next month in Hanoi, Vietnam. Previously in Laos, the Filipino football team routed Timor Leste, 5-0, before posting a draw with Laos and Cambodia to bag a qualifying berth in the eight-nation tournament. Team manager Dan Palami is implementing a rigid training routine to prepare his squad, which will play in a tough bracket that includes defending champion Vietnam, Singapore and Myanmar.

“We may not have the strongest team compared to other squads in Hanoi but we can assure you we will prepare the team the best way we can,” said Palami, noting the coaching staff, would be flying to Hanoi on November 4.

Team captains Aly Borromeo and Chieffy Caligdong believes their squad can pull off an upset in Hanoi Palami said Indonesia has extended an invitation to play in a friendly match with the RP team in Jakarta on November 15.
JOSEF T. RAMOS

Manila Times

Limpag: Azkals show their grit

WAS ready to write off the Philippine team’s campaign in the Suzuki Cup when, as recently as two months ago, I learned the team still had no coach.


The funds mess that the PFF has found itself in, which has resulted to the CFA filing a case of falsification of public documents against the PFF president, also made me wonder if the morale of the RP team has been affected.

I shouldn’t have doubted the squad, thanks to Dan Palami and Simon McMenemy.

While the PFF president was making palami with the perks of his office, Palami, the team manager who’s bankrolling the team, had the Azkals train seriously for the Suzuki Cup qualifiers, not that rushed two-week training the team usually has.


They went to Leyte and when they got McMenemy, had a series of friendlies with Taiwanese teams.


The team’s fighting attitude, so different from the let’s-not-lose-by-much of the past, showed in their 2-2 draw against Laos.

After getting down 2-0, this team, unlike those of yesteryears, fought back.

I saw a clip of that game in YouTube and it makes you proud to be a Pinoy football fan.

After Phil Younghusband (Yep, it’s a weird name but there are Butts and a Buffon in the World Cup) equalized with a penalty in the 74th minute, you could clearly hear one of the Fil-Brits scream:

“WE NEED ONE MORE GUYS!!!”

They got it in the 94th minute. Yep, four minutes past full time.

Showing they were ready to take a gamble, Neil Etheridge, the goalkeeper, took the free kick, just before the halfcourt line.

Etheridge, the former England U16 keeper who’s riding the bench for Fulham FC in the Premier League, connected with James Younghusband, who headed past the Laos keeper for the equalizer.

After that game, the Philippines held Cambodia, 0-0, while Laos beat Timor Leste, 6-1, to take the first qualifier’s spot.

McMenemy credited the team spirit and their hard work for the past 10 months, which was made possible under Palami.

He told affsuzukicup.com. “When I arrived in the Philippines in August, the team’s preparations for the Suzuki Cup were already well under way… what I found was a group of good players who play together but not necessarily for each other. We had to work hard to get the team to gel…But the effort that they put in during the last few days was fantastic and they fully deserved to advance in the competition.”


The last time the Azkals advanced, they got hammered in the finals, losing to Thailand, 4-0, with captain Ali Borromeo getting injured. They also got hammered by Malaysia, 4-0, and a clip of that match was shown on CNN after a striker scored a wonderful bicycle shot.

But in their last game, when they had nothing to gain, they thwarted Myanmar’s dream of a semifinal spot by holding them to a 0-0 draw.

This early, I am upbeat of the RP team’s chances, even if it is in Group A with Vietnam, Singapore and Myanmar. A semifinal spot is unlikely but not impossible.

And I also like McMenemy’s attitude.

“Once we get to the final rounds, every game will be tough. But the tougher the opponents, the more I think the boys can rise to the occasion.”
Now that’s the Azkal spirit.


P.S. What the team achieved in Laos makes you wonder what the boys—or RP football—could achieve had we had a president who is really concerned about the sport, doesn’t it? (Why, you think I could resist letting this one go?)

(www.football.cebunetwork.com)

Sun Star Cebu

Villaflor: Azkals 2.0

GIVEN up for dead many months ago, the Philippine Men’s National Team wrote its resurrection story and advanced to the AFF Suzuki Cup, Southeast Asia’s premier tournament slated this December.

A point against Cambodia last Tuesday was enough for the Philippines to secure its spot in Vietnam along with host nation Laos, which took the top spot in the qualifying tournament that was decided on goal difference.

The results of the qualification, however, were cause for both celebration and concern.

Azkals to us fans, the Philippines dumped doormats Timor, 5-0, with an Ian Araneta hat trick in the first match, drew the hosts 2-2 in a feisty comeback punctuated with a James Younghusband goal deep into injury time, and held desperate but dangerous Cambodia, 0-0, in the last game.


The result of the first match was expected, since the Azkals were facing a team ranked nearly 50 places lower. The game produced a thing of beauty: the lone second half goal triggered by 20 uninterrupted two-touch passes, save for the final run that unleashed the decisive cross for Araneta’s hat trick off James’ headed pass.


The whole sequence on the 57th minute provided a glimpse of a team’s capacity to mesmerize opponents. But as for beautiful goals, that was it. The Philippine team would score only twice in the scrappiest of ways after that, and it came at the expense of the host nation, which lost a 2-0 half-time lead to settle for a draw.

Scrappy the result against Laos might be, the match revealed character and maturity from the Azkals. It did so against Chinese Taipei in an invitational tourney early this month and repeated the feat against the host nation last Sunday: on the brink of losing, the Azkals clawed for an equalizer until the dying seconds and got one.

The result, of course, made life easier for Coach Simon McMenemy. A draw against Cambodia, which needed a win or an improbable loss by Laos to Timor to advance, would suffice, and most likely McMenemy’s game plan was to carry a defensive mindset, keep errors to a minimum, and stick to counter attacks.


Still delirious from the results of the first two games, the fans wanted that, too, and then some. But what we saw during the last game against Cambodia forced us to come to terms with the truth: the Philippine team is far from becoming the dominant force we imagined it to be.


In its last game, the Philippines allowed Cambodia to harass its defense with an excess of chances. Cambodia was a goal post or a crossbar away from scoring. The Azkals, on the other hand, wasted its counter attacks with absent-minded positioning, a laggardly pace, and terrible finishing. The “better” Azkals team, perhaps the imagined one, would have finished off the Cambodians with ease. Instead, the mediocre version was lucky to get away with a draw.


When it heads for the finals of the biennial tournament in the first week of December, the Philippine team will find itself playing on a different level of football against co-host and defending champion Vietnam, Singapore and Myanmar.


In the last AFF Suzuki Cup, powerhouses Vietnam, co-hosts Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia crushed the much weaker qualifying teams (Laos and Cambodia) by four-, five- even six-goal margins. This time, the Philippines faces a similar thrashing.


Among fans and pundits, this is no time for foolish optimism, as the team’s real chances of making an impact are slim. Then again, stranger things have happened in football. Let’s just hope the Philippine team that would show up this December tournament is not the version that plodded against Cambodia but the one that mesmerizes, the one that hungers for goals, the one that claws its way against the toughest of odds, the one we love to imagine.


(nsvillaflor@gmail.com)

Sun Star Cebu

IAN HATTRICK SEALS FILIPINO ROUT

VIENTIANE (22 Oct 2010) – Two years ago, the Philippines struggled to edge Timor Leste 1-0 in the AFF Suzuki Cup qualifying tournament. Today, in the same qualifying event at the National Sports Complex Stadium here, the Filipinos were four-goals up at the break. By the end of the match, the Philippines celebrated a convincing 5-0 win over Timor Leste in the opening game of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 Qualifying Round.

Striker Ian Boyana Araneta led the Filipino charge today and blasted a hattrick while Philip Younghusband and Anton Del Rosario helped complete the rout. The Philippines have come here very well prepared and aiming to make the final cut. After today’s solid performance, their dream could well become a reality when this tournament ends next week.

However, the Philippines will have to secure good results against hosts Laos in two days and Cambodia on Tuesday, if they are to advance to the Finals in December. And the truth is the matches against laos and Cambodia will be their toughest here. “It was a good start and I was pleased with their performance. We created chances and did not allow them the chance to move forward,” said Philippines coach Simon McMenemy. “We have to prepare for the second match which will be a lot harder.”

Like Philippines, Timor Leste’s remaining matches are against Laos and Cambodia. The Timorese will have to get their act together if they hope to keep alive their chances, which at this stage are very slim indeed.

Even before the game kicked-off today, the Philippines looked confident and it showed soon after the game began. The Filipinos charged up and started looking for ways through the defence. It did not take long as nine minutes into the game, the lanky James Younghusband saw his header saved and his ensuing shot pushed out by the keeper.

A freekick from James in the 20th minute found skipper Alexander Borromeo, whose solid header struck the crossbar. The inevitable happened six minutes later when Ian Araneta nailed a rebound from a shot from teammate Emelio Caligdong.

Under pressure to keep the Filipinos at bay, the Timor Leste players grew desperate and a heavy tackle from a defender saw referee Leow Tham Hoe award a penalty in the 30th minute. Philip Younghusband, brother of James, saw his thundering shot hit the underside of the crossbar and bounce into goal.

Philippines were not done yet and reeled in two more goals through Anton Del Rosario and Ian in the 32nd and 41st minutes.

There was no stopping Ian and he went on to complete his hattrick in the 57th minute.

Timor Leste has a few breaks but they failed to take their chances. In the 74th minute, Timor had a great chance when Eusebio Almeida split through the defence. He tried but failed to beat English Premier League keeper Neil Etheridge who plucked the ball from Eusebio’s feet.


TEAMS

Timor Leste: Diamantino Leong (GK), Lamberto Gama, Miguel Soares, Helder Ricardo (c), Eusebio De Almeida, Joao Pereira, Emilio Da Silva, Chiquito Do Carmo (Cipriano, 62nd), Zeferino Martins, Anggisu Barbosa, Vicente Freitas (Marcelino, 70th).
Subs: Leonel Da Silva Araujo (GK), Elijeu Soares, Juvitu Da Silva, Salvador Carlos, Cipriano Branco, Marcelino Fernandes, Carlo Ximenes
Coach: Pedro Correia De Almeida
Scorers:
Yellow: Helder (63rd), Cipriano (65th), Lamberto (72nd), Emilio (91st), Joao (92nd)
Red:

Philippines: Neil Etheridge (GK), Robert Gier, Anton Del Rosario, James Younghusband (Joebel, 72nd), Manuel Gelito Ott (Nestorio, 80th), Philip Younghusband (Yanti, 65th), Alexander Borromeo (c), Emelio Calidong, Jason De Jong, Ian Araneta, Ray Jonsson
Subs: Eduard Sacapano (GK), Roel Gener, Yanti Armentia Barsales, Mark Ferrer, Nestorio Margase, Joebel Bermejo, David Basa
Coach: Simon Alexander McMenemy
Scorers: Ian Boyana Araneta (27th, 41st, 57th), Philip (30th-pen), Anton Del Rosario (32nd)
Yellow: Jason (53rd), Robert (83rd)
Red:

Referee: Leow Tham Hoe (S’pore)
Assistant 1: Preecha Kangram (Thai)
Assistant 2: Loung Lath Somphayanh (Lao)

affsuzukicup

Filipino-Brit goalie to play for RP team

By Cedelf P. Tupas
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippine football team got a massive boost before it left for the Suzuki Cup Asean Football Championship Qualifiers set from Oct. 21 to 26 in Vientiane, Laos.

Neil Etheridge, the Filipino-British goalkeeper, has been allowed by his London-based club Fulham to join the RP team for the four-nation meet.

The 20-year-old Etheridge has cracked the Fulham first team this season after a four-year stint with the reserve squad, and is already the second-choice keeper behind Australian Mark Schawrzer.

It’s the closest a Southeast Asian player has come to making an appearance in the English Premiere League this season.

Etheridge, who kept a clean sheet in his first three matches for the national team, said he would miss only one English Premiere League game to play for the Suzuki Cup.

The Philippines kicks off its campaign against Timor Leste on Friday, before playing Cambodia on Oct. 24 and Laos on Oct. 26.

Midfielder Manny Ott, who plays in the German second division for FC Ingolstadt 04, is also among the notable additions to the RP team that is coming off a third place finish in the Long Teng Cup in Taiwan last week.

Team for AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 Qualifiers in Laos

Team for the AFF Suzuki Cup qualifiers in Laos

Araneta, Ian

Atienza, Michael

Barbaso, Jerry

Barsales, Yanti

Basa, David

Bermejo, Joebel

Borromeo, Alexandre

Caligdong, Emelio

Camcam, Christopher

Caminos, Jose

de Jong, Jason

del Rosario, Anton

Etheridge, Neil

Ferrer, Mark

Gener, Roel

Gier, Rob

Jaugan, Peter

Jonsson, Ray

Margarse, Nestorio

Ott, Manuel

Palmes, Rey

Pavone, Gino

Relucio, Kristopher

Sacapano, Eduard

Younghusband, Phil

Younghusband, James

Usapangfootball

Etheridge to play in Laos

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (UFNews) - Neil Etheridge will be the country's first choice keeper in the Suzuki Cup qualifiers in Laos, a source tells Usapang Football.

He will meet with the squad during their Bangkok stopover on Monday night and will be with them when they fly to Vientiane for the qualifying stages of South East Asia's premier football tournament.

Meanwhile, our source can also confirm that Stephan Schrock will play no part in the qualifiers as he is still processing his documents. A stint in the actual Suzuki Cup in December, if the team qualifies, is more likely as of this moment.

Usapangfootball