Thailand 3, Azkals 0 postgame thoughts: a call for gratitude

Image courtesy Anton Sheker.

What’s on my mind in the aftermath of the Philippines’ elimination at the AFF Suzuki Cup semifinal stage.

I am so grateful and proud of this team. This heavy defeat will leave a bitter taste in the mouth for many Azkals fans. But it fails to erase the achievements of a fine year.

The Philippines reached a final of a serious competition for the first time in memory with the Challenge Cup. Coach Thomas Dooley installed a new system predicated on attractive possession-based football with passes on the ground.

A bunch of new, mostly young players were handed first caps, namely Daisuke Sato, Patrick Deyto, Simone Rota, Balot Doctora, Charley Pettys, Paolo Bugas, Kenshiro Daniels, Nick O’Donnell, Joven Bedic, Alvaro Silva, and Tomas Trigo. I have probably missed a few.

A third successive goalless semifinal exit might seem disappointing, but even making it back this far is an accomplishment.

There are also plenty of other entities that we need to thank. Kudos to the UFL for keeping the players fit and sharp. The Azkals management deserves praise for organizing more friendlies than many other serious footballing nations. Props to ABS-CBN and TV5 for continuing to air games even though football is far from being a lucrative property. Thanks to behind-the-scenes operators like Jeff Cheng, who is supporting our U22 side. Grazie to the PFF for organizing so many coaching seminars in the C, B and A levels, a vital building block to success.

A special thanks to all of the, clubs, schools, and ordinary people who courageously work towards youth development, often in the shadows. These are the true heroes of grassroots football in the Philippines. Entities like RIFA, the UFL youth teams, futsal competition organizers, and many more who remain nameless. They are the guardians of the Philippines’ footballing future.

Most of all I thank the players. They played out of their skin in this tournament. They didn’t make the finals, but in my opinion, when a team so clearly gives their all on the pitch, it’s more than enough. If only every fan could give each player a hug.

Even in the ashes of this tough setback, there is much to be thankful for.

I believe we have been spoiled by this team. They have performed so well over the last four years and we perhaps unrealistically expect them to gallop up the international football firmament unimpeded for years to come. But reality bites, and it did so hard on Wednesday.

This kind of heartbreak is a part of being a sports fan. And there could very well be more coming, with tough World Cup qualifiers on the horizon. Which brings me to my next point.

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We must be patient. Our rise has been so dramatic that we forget how difficult it is to improve on the world stage. We can move forward, but we must be prepared for incremental steps and not expect quantum leaps.

Our national team is competitive, but the infrastructure below is still very underdeveloped. Much work needs to be done. Not just in the level of refereeing, play, competitions, but in marketing and awareness too. Whose job is it to promote the game? I would like to think it’s all of ours.

Okay, now on to the game. Kawin’s save was the turning point. Thailand was magnificent in attack. But ironically it was a goalkeeping move that turned it around for them.

The Philippines’ best spell was right after the second half began. We really started to threaten. Down only 1-0 and with the away goals rule threat dangling over their heads like a sword of Damocles, Thailand must have been a wee bit uncomfortable.

That’s the time when Martin Steuble unleashes a vicious left-footer from outside the box. He just totally powders the ball, and it makes a beeline for the top corner.

Kawin Thamsatchanan springs to action and alertly bats the shot away.

And that was the game right there. Momentum killer of the highest order. Minutes later Kroekrit Thaweekarn blasts the ball in the net and Thailand are cruising to the final.

With their phalanx of attacking options like Chanathip Songkrasin, Adisak Kraisorn, Thaweekarn, and Prakit Deeprom, Thailand is a strong team. With Kawin on the gloves, they are a complete team.

My Azkals game ball goes to Amani Aguinaldo. While the Thai crowd booed him lustily, the Thai strikers put him in their crosshairs all night, attacking him with wild abandon. Amani’s centerback partner, Rob Gier, in contrast, practically sprouted cobwebs with the way he was ignored. Thailand obviously saw the youngster as a weak link and tried to break his will and spirit.

And they failed.

Sure they scored a goal on him, but for so many moments he manned up and fended off their sorties with strength, precision, and without the recklessness that he had shown in the past.

Amani is just nineteen. We can sort of build the team around him for the next ten years, as long as he stays the course and continues to grow. In a sense Aguinaldo is the Azkals’ version of June Mar Fajardo. Big lovable guy who may need seasoning but is a massive talent.

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Could this game signal the beginning of the end of a golden generation? Usually when I’m calling a game emotions are pushed aside. But then there was that image of Rob Gier sitting on the turf after the final whistle, dejected, with Juani Guirado consoling him. There was a catching in my throat. A lump that stayed there for a moment. A touch of the goose leather on the arm.

Gier is 33. Guirado, 35. Neither has expressed any thoughts about when they would call it quits with the team like Chieffy Caligdong has. Both have young children. I really wonder how long they will allow the grind of international football to be a part of their lives.

Paul Mulders is 33. Jerry Lucena is another veteran who at 34 will not be around forever. Chris Greatwich is still hale and hearty at 31. He might stick around for a while longer and could be a bridge between old and new.

We don’t know how long these thirtysomethings will soldier on for. Do they make themselves available for next year’s World Cup qualifiers or depart stage left now? Lots of questions. What is certain is that they have served with utmost distinction in their Azkals careers.

Thailand will likely face a red-hot Vietnam in the final. Barring a small miracle, Vietnam completes a two-legged semifinal win over the Harimau Malaya on Thursday night. They lead 2-1 after their away leg and look daunting at home.

The thought of Thailand and their wizardly midfield taking on Vietnam and Le Cong Vinh, their otherwordly striker, is lipsmacking. Please tune in to the match tonight on Sports + Action.

We love the Azkals, but this is part of the problem. We need to go beyond our national team and learn to love the beautiful game in its many iterations. The ASEAN version is pretty darn awesome right now, so do check it out.

Follow Bob on Twitter @PassionateFanPH.