Azkals vs Kuwait: Dream of An Upset
Posted by cebloggerJul 22
After a historic first round win over Sri Lanka in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifier, the Azkals will now face a formidable opponent in the 102nd-ranked, Kuwait. Do you believe the Philippines can beat Kuwait in this round? Ahhh, ehhhh…
Azkals vs Kuwait
Kuwait is a ten-time Gulf of Nations Football Cup winner. They’ve been to the World Cup finals in 1982. They were also winners in the 1980 AFC Asian Cup. It is a team tougher than any other Asian team played by the Philippines so far. And they are not taking the Philippines for granted. There were reports saying that they sent scouts when the Azkals played against Sri Lanka.
The Philippines, whose team is famously (only recently) called Azkals, is a football minnow and ranked 159th in the world. Despite being affiliated with FIFA since 1930, and the oldest national team in Asia, the Philippines have never qualified for the Asian Cup and the World Cup. Unbelievable! But the current roster of Fil-foreigner players and the current string of victories put the team in the hearts of many Filipinos.
In the first leg encounter, the Azkals may play without 2 vital players who got suspensions after getting two yellow cards. The team is still appealing the cases of team skipper Aly Borromeo and Fil-German midfielder Stephan Schrock, and it is now up to the FIFA disciplinary committee to decide on the matter.
The Azkals, in their preparation, played two tune-up matches against Bahrain’s under-23 Olympic team. The Philippines lost both but it’s a good step since they need to get used to Kuwait’s scorching climate.
The 1st leg will be held at the Mohammad Al Hamad Stadium, Qadsia on Saturday, July 23, 2011. The 2nd leg will take place at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium on Thursday, July 28, 2011. ABS-CBN is reported to air the games live.
Can the Azkals upset Kuwait?
Now back to the question: Can the Azkals upset Kuwait? The dream is not just to beat Kuwait but to qualify for Brazil in 2014. It’s a tough route. The team should believe they can do better in each round. The Filipinos too should rally behind their team. It is not impossible, right Azkals fans?
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