FILE–Philippine males’s soccer nationwide staff. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.internet
The Philippines will as soon as once more face Vietnam and Indonesia earlier than the top of the 12 months after being drawn alongside their two World Cup Qualifiers opponents for the Asean Mitsubishi Electrical Cup.
The boys’s soccer staff previously generally known as the Azkals are additionally joined by Myanmar and Laos in Group F of Southeast Asia’s main match following Tuesday’s draw ceremony held in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Thailand, winner of the final two editions, is in Group A with Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia and both Brunei or Timor-Leste, that are going to dispute the ultimate slot in a two-legged qualification spherical.
READ: PH males’s soccer staff World Cup bid suffers blow with 5-0 loss
A house-and-away format can be used for the third time within the Asean Championship (previously the Asean Soccer Federation Championship) slated Nov. 23 to Dec. 21. The highest two groups in every group advance in semifinals with the winners dealing with off for the title.
Coach Tom Saintfiet’s aspect is at the moment in the identical group as Vietnam and Indonesia within the second spherical of the World Cup Qualifiers, with the Philippines slated to face each groups in a pair of away matches subsequent month.
Final 12 months’s qualifying window, then dealt with by coach Michael Weiss, noticed the Philippines lose a slim consequence to Vietnam and accept a draw with Indonesia in each video games performed earlier than massive dwelling crowds at Rizal Memorial Stadium.
The Filipino footballers are hoping to make a return journey to the semifinals after disappointing early exits within the pandemic-delayed 2020 version and in 2022, the latter noticed the then-Azkals produce only one win.
It was within the Azkals period the place the Philippines had its greatest kind, reaching the semifinals 4 occasions within the memorable 2010 run that started with a shock win over co-host Vietnam within the group stage, 2012, 2014 and 2018.
