Suzuki Cup 2012: Azkals-Thailand preview
I have one very fond memory of this fixture. It was the afternoon of December 16, 2004. I was with Ebong Joson, the man now known as The Blue Haired Fanatic, and my officemate Jerry Hizon.
Jerry and I had slipped out of our office in Ace Saatchi and Saatchi and met up with Ebong at Bistro 110 in Legaspi Village. Our mission: to watch the Philippines' last Tiger Cup match against Thailand on ESPN.
Before the game started a fight broke in the bistro out between two men apparently over a girl, and Ebong helped break it up.
As the three of us settled down to the game, over chicken quesadillas and beers, it seemed that the Philippines had plenty of fight in them as well, even though they, like Thailand, had already been eliminated from semifinal contention.
Coach Aris Caslib started Chieffy Caligdong two days after he came on as a late sub and scored twice to lead the Azkals to a 2-1 win over Timor Leste. That was our first-ever ASEAN Football Federation Championship victory.
27 minutes into the game Caligdong weaseled through the Thai defense just outside the six yard box and slipped the ball into the net.
The three of us erupted in joy. We were leading mighty Thailand!
But elation was short-lived. Fifteen minutes later Ittipol Poolsap equalized, and the Thais went ahead in the 56th with a goal from Sarif Sainui. The Philippines chased the game, moving men forward, and in the process allowed a third in the 89th minute from Suriya Domtaisong.
Flash-forward to today. Eight years on, the Philippines takes on Thailand in the same tournament, now known as the Suzuki Cup. Much has changed. Some has stayed the same.
Once again, Caligdong will probably start, and will need to add to his total of fifteen international goals if the Philippines will put up a fight.
The Philippines has not beaten Thailand in forty years, not since we defeated them 1-0 in Jakarta in 1972. That one goal by Caligdong has been our only score against them in five previous meetings.
Before that our previous strike against them was in 1998 when Navy's Loreto Kalalang found the back of the net, a score then-coach Juan Cutillas describes as an amazing feat.
Saturday will be a massive game for the Philippines in Bangkok's Rajamangala stadium, which will be filled to the brim with Thai supporters. The atmosphere could be as intimidating as the one in Jakarta's infamous Gelora Bung Karno.
With Neil Etheridge once and for all finally ruled out, it appears more likely than ever that Ed Sacapano will be our goalie.
The Army veteran will be overflowing with confidence after his career-defining game against Singapore in Cebu. But Thailand will be an even sterner test for Sacapano, who is skilled but a wee bit undersized for International play.
The four men in front of Sacapano will be under pressure from the opening whistle, and Rob Gier is the lynchpin of the defense.
Gier does the organizing for the Azkals D, and his leadership was evident at halftime of their Cebu scrimmage. Then I saw him gathering his troops and, using water bottles, explain tactics to his crew.
Aris Caslib, now the PFF Technical Director, scouted the Thai team and noted that they like to attack from the flanks. That makes the job of our wingbacks even more important.
We just might see Demit Omphroy at right back, either from the opening whistle or at the half. Michael Weiss may opt to start Ray Jonsson there and then replace him later on, as he has done lately.
Dennis Cagara will likely bump off Jeff Christiaens off at left back. If that happens Christiaens may slide up to left wing, meaning Caligdong may come on as an impact sub.
If Jonsson starts alongside Gier and Juani Guirado we will have three thirtysomething defenders. This match could hinge on how his bunch holds up against a youthful and speedy Thai attack.
If Weiss goes for a defensive 4-2-3-1, Jerry Lucena and Jason de Jong (or Paul Mulders) could augment the defense at holding mid.
In a bit of a surprise, Chris Greatwich returned to the mix just weeks before this tournament, and he brings a wealth of AFF Cup experience to the table.
The midfielder made his Philippines debut in the 2004 Tiger Cup and was instrumental in the 2010 campaign. Greatwich is a seasoned vet, and if there is one player who won't soil his underpants in the crucible of pressure at Rajamangala, it will be him.
However there might not be a place at the starting eleven for Greatwich with Paul Mulders there. Maybe he will even drop back in a defensive role?
Caligdong may start at left wing and Patrick Reichelt or Omphroy may show up at right wing.
If Weiss does indeed go 4-2-3-1 then who spearheads the attack? Phil Younghusband or Denis Wolf? If Phil is match fit, he is the obvious choice, although Phil is more of a withdrawn, or second striker, than he is a target forward. Phil might even be dropped back to attacking mid.
But whoever Weiss throws out onto the field will have a torrid time against the War Elephants.
Thailand may be ranked 152nd, nine slots below the Philippines, but that goes out the window on Saturday.
Thailand is Thailand. For so long they were the class of ASEAN Football. They have won this thing three times, tied with Singapore for the most of any country. They once won the SEA Games Gold Medal in Football eight straight times. Expect intricate passing patterns, regimented cohesion, and flawless control from all of their players.
Thailand may have underachieved at ASEAN level lately, but one imagines they have started to look beyond this region. Last year they were eliminated in the third round of World Cup qualifying, but not after losing two tough games 1-0 and 2-1 to Group D winners Australia.
Earlier in the year they entertained Norway, now ranked 26th in the world, and lost 1-0.
Lately they have beaten Malaysia 2-0 and Bangladesh 5-0.
Thailand's keeper is Sinthaweechai Hathairattanakool. I first saw him play in the 2005 SEA Games in Bacolod and he was very impressive then, with a preternatural ability to know just when to go out of his area and command aerial balls. Thailand's U23 beat the Philippines' U23 1-0 that day.
Thailand will also trot out a veteran centerback in the form of 35-year old captain Niweat Siriwong, who has 106 caps under his belt.
Datsakorn Thonglao is Thailand's engine in midfield. The 28-year old has spent some time with Kaiserslautern in Germany's Bundesliga, and he looks to feed Theerasil Dangda up top.
The 24-year-old Dangda has scored 23 times for his country in 48 games and recently hung up a hat trick in the rout of Bangladesh. The forward, who stands a shade under six feet, has had loan spells with Brugge in Belgium and Grasshoppers in Switzerland.
How good is Dangda? Watch him beat Aussie GK Mark Schwarzer with a sensational volleyed finish here.
No wonder English Premiership side Queens Park Rangers offered him a trial last year.
And then there is the coach. Thailand is managed by Winfred Schäfer. The 62-year old German has a glittering resume, having led Karlsruhe to a UEFA Cup semifinal in 1994 and mentored Cameroon to an African Cup of Nations crown in 2002. As coach of Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates, Schäfer won three trophies.
Weiss will do well to tactically outfox his fellow German on Saturday.
The Philippines will be a big underdog. But don't count out the Azkals just yet. Football is an underdog's game. And this dog just might be ready to bite a big chunk out from the visitors.
Possible Starting Lineups: (4-2-3-1) Study 1
Sacapano
Jonsson Gier JGuirado Cagara
Lucena Mulders
Omphroy Reichelt Caligdong
PYounghusband
Study 2
Sacapano
Omphroy Gier JGuirado Cagara
Lucena DeJong
Reichelt PYounghusband Christiaens
Wolf
Study 3
Sacapano
Jonsson Gier JGuirado Cagara
Lucena Greatwich
Omphroy Mulders Caligdong
Wolf
Tune into the game on Saturday, November 24. Live coverage is on AKTV on IBC or ESPNStar at 9pm.
Follow Bob on Twitter @bhobg333.
Editor's note: The blogger's views do not represent Yahoo! Southeast Asia's position on the topic or issue being discussed in this post.
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