Scouting Report: An early look at the Azkals' opponents in Suzuki Cup group

 

The Philippines has been drawn into Group A for the Asian Football Confederation Suzuki Cup, which means that the Azkals will fly to Vietnam in November to face the hosts, as well as Indonesia and another country -- the runner-up from the qualifying rounds.

 

It's a group with a lot of history for the Azkals, even before going into the fact that they will be competing once more in the same city where they began their Cinderella run in 2010 — a surge since dubbed by local football fans as "the Miracle of Hanoi."

 

But how does the Philippines stack up against their fellow challengers in Group A?

 

Indonesia: A shot at revenge for the Azkals?

 

In 2010, after the Philippines got out of the group stages, fans were shocked after then-Philippine Football Federation president Mari Martinez announced that the country couldn't host the home leg of its semifinal tie against Indonesia. As a result, the Azkals booked two legs in the semifinals at the 88,000-seat Gelaro Bung Karon Stadium in Jakarta.

 

Indonesia won both games 1-0, with naturalised Uruguayan Cristian Gonzales grabbing both goals. The result left Philippine fans wondering: What if the Azkals were able to play at home? 

 

Since that series, Indonesia has racked up two more wins against the Azkals. That pushed Indonesia's all-time record against the Philippines to 19 wins, two draws, and zero losses. Indonesia remains the only Southeast Asian country with an unbeaten record against the Philippines.

 

But the 2014 draw offers the Azkals their best shot at revenge, in what would likely Gonzales' international swan song. But for the Philippines to get revenge, the Azkals need to be on top of their game.

 

Indonesia are looking to recapture past glory after dispute between their domestic leagues, the Indonesia Super League (ISL) and the Indonesian Premier League (IPL), was resolved. For a time, only players in the IPL could be selected for national team duties as their FA refused to acknowledge the ISL. It was during this period that the Philippines managed its most recent draw against Indonesia. 

 

Now reunited, they've had ten different scorers in their 10 international goals this year. 

 

Facing tough opposition, they've lost twice in seven games this year — 1-0 against both Cuba, ranked 95th in the world, and Saudi Arabia, 78. Draws against the Dominican Republic (135) and most recently Qatar (86) underline impressive performances in 2014 with wins over Andorra, Pakistan, and Nepal. 

 

Vietnam: Former champs try to recapture form

 

The Azkals began their climb up the rankings with a victory over Vietnam in 2010. It was the Philippines' first-ever victory over Vietnam, a shocking result against the 2008 champions playing on home soil.

 

Last month, the Azkals became the top-ranked side in Southeast Asia after Vietnam fell in the rankings. The Vietnamese are slowly slipping down the regional pecking order after they finished bottom of their group in Asian Cup Qualification, winning just one game. 

 

With only three wins in their last ten games, Vietnam are a team trying to recapture the form that took them to the top of Southeast Asia. 

 

In the past, top scorer Lê Công Vinh has been the engine for Vietnam's offense. But the Vietnamese forward was in a prolonged slump, striking just once since 2011, until he hit a hat-trick in the 6-0 thrashing of Myanmar in a friendly last July. 

 

But Vietnam could be dangerous as they look for their own revenge in front of their own fans.

 

The last spot: Myanmar, Laos favored

 

The final spot in Group A will be taken by the runner-up from qualification. Myanmar and Laos are favored to be the final countries to qualify for the Suzuki Cup against Timor-Leste, Cambodia, and Brunei. 

 

The Philippines beat Laos for the first time ever in the 2014 Challenge Cup, while the Philippines' only victories against Myanmar came in the 2012 Suzuki Cup group stage and a friendly in 2013.

 

They are two countries the Philippines has leapfrogged in its rise from the bottom to the top of the pile, and two countries who will be looking to get one back should they make up the final spot in Group A. — JST, GMA News