Azkals begin World Cup bid, this time without Younghusbands

Gilas Pilipinas isn't the only Philippines Men's National Team seeing action this week.

While June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez represent the country with pride in the FIBA Basketball World Cup in China, another group of Filipinos strive to qualify for a different World Cup — the 2022 FIFA Football World Cup — in Bacolod.

However, longtime followers of the Azkals could be forgiven if the 23-man line-up of the team seems to lack some familiar names.

The last time neither Phil nor James Younghusband were not in the Azkals consideration, Noynoy Aquino was still Philippine President and Hans Michael Weiss was still at the helm.

Out of the game and without a club until very recently, it comes as no surprise that both James and Phil Younghusband, mainstays of the Azkals and arguably still the face of Philippine football to most Filipinos, are not in the line-up.

The narrative of the next few games could have been the absence of brothers, but in reality, the coaching staff did the right thing by choosing form and fitness over reputation.

In their stead, a mix of old faces and new blood carry the aspirations of the Philippines in the FIFA World Cup journey. But even without the OG Azkals, the line-up feels like a throwback to the Azkals of yore.

The inclusions of old faces in the persons of Mark Hartmann, OJ Porteria and Angel Guirado are proof that hard work and good results at club level will not go unnoticed, albeit a bit overdue.

With the current local league, the Philippines Football League at a crossroads, most of the talented locals have made the Thai Premier League their home, and these are the players the Philippines will rely heavily on.

Iain Ramsay, Kevin Ingreso, Alvaro Silva, Daisuke Sato and Martin Steuble headline the Azkals players plying their trade in the Land of Smiles, together with goalkeepers Michael Falkesgaard and Patrick Deyto.

Along with the in-form Patrick Reichelt, who plays in the Malaysia Super League, and team captain Stephan Schrock, they will attempt to qualify not just for the next round of the FIFA World Cup qualification, but also for the Asian Cup 2023 in China.

First up is Syria, who are ranked 87th in the world but are no means unbeatable, especially with news reports that former Asian Player of the Year Omar Kharbin is unavailable to play for personal reasons.

With Philippine football going back to its spiritual home, playing under the floodlights in Panaad should be quite the spectacle.

With disappointing losses in recent days from Gilas Pilipinas, this could perhaps be a chance of the Azkals to reclaim old glory and bring pride to Filipino sports fans once again.

Awareness in Philippine football has plummeted from the heady heights of years past. This is a perfect time as any to start the ascent back up. —JST, GMA News