Azkals join Vietnam, Indonesia in Group A of 2014 AFF Suzuki Cup
The path of the Philippines to football glory will pass through Vietnam as the Azkals will be in Group A for the 2014 AFF Suzuki Cup. This was formalized after the official draw held at the Sheraton Hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam.
The 2014 AFF Suzuki Cup will be staged from November 22 to December 20 by co-hosts Singapore and Vietnam.
The Azkals will compete in Vietnam for the Group Stage against the host country, Indonesia, and the second ranked team from the qualifying round. They will have a target on their backs for this tournament as the Philippines was recently installed as the top-ranked team in the Southeast Asian region by the FIFA.
Vietnam has an axe to grind against the Philippines after the last two editions of the regional competition. In the 2010 Suzuki Cup, the Philippines shocked Vietnam 2-0 in a game that would later on be remembered as The Miracle in Hanoi, which was the flashpoint of the Azkals’ popularity. Two years later, the Azkals continued their mastery of Vietnam with a 1-0 win in the Group Stage.
The Vietnamese will undoubtedly be more prepared to defend their home turf against the Philippines this time around.
Group B on the other hand is composed of host country Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and the winner of the qualifying phase.
Group: A - Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, QR Runner Up. B - Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, QR Winner #AFFSuzukiCup pic.twitter.com/jqWXU3MKM9
— Asean Football (@Asean_Football) August 5, 2014
The five teams in the qualifying stage are Brunei, Myanmar, Laos, Timor Leste, and Cambodia.
Azkals head coach Thomas Dooley and Philippine Football Federation head Nonong Araneta represented the Philippines in the draw.
Dooley is expected to return home on Wednesday or Thursday to address the resignation of Stephan Schrock and Dennis Cagara from the squad. The two Azkals said that they would not join the team if Dooley remains as the team’s head coach.
Dooley @PHI_Azkals coach, 'I want to make the game simple, similar to Barcelona' #AFFSuzukiCup
— AFF Suzuki Cup (@affsuzukicup) August 5, 2014
Dooley @PHI_Azkals coach, 'Plan for #AFFSuzukiCup 2014? Win every game.'
— AFF Suzuki Cup (@affsuzukicup) August 5, 2014
In the 2012 edition of the AFF Suzuki Cup, the Philippines dropped its opening match against Thailand. The Azkals rebounded with a 1-0 win over Vietnam and a 2-0 victory over Myanmar to qualify for the semifinals.
The Philippines held Singapore to a goalless draw at home but they lost 1-0 in the next match to bow out in the semis. Singapore defeated Thailand in the finals.
