PH Azkals drawn in tough Group A in AFF Suzuki Cup

The Philippine national men's football team will be facing some tough competition after it was pooled in Group A  for the upcoming 2020 ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup.

In a draw held Tuesday, the Philippine Azkals were grouped with heavyweights Thailand, Myanmar, Singapore, and the qualification winner between Brunei and Timor-Leste.

Thailand is a five-time AFF champion after having won the titles in 1996, 2000, 2002, 2014, and 2016 while Singapore is a holder of four titles. Myanmar was a semifinalist in the 2004 and 2016 editions.

Azkals team manager Dan Palami said they are hopeful to assemble the best team possible in order to beat the best squads in the tournament.

"The draw doesn't really matter as we still need to beat the best teams to win the Suzuki Cup. Hopefully, we get the best players available even though the tournament is outside the Fifa international window," Palami said.

The Philippines has had good showing at the Suzuki Cup, reaching the semifinal stage in 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2018, where the country was also pitted against Thailand, Singapore, and Timor Leste.

Azkals head coach Scott Cooper noted that Thailand is the strongest team but stressed they will look at the tournament just like they did in the past.

"I think we take it how it is and ironically the last time we played in the Suzuki Cup, we had Singapore, Timor-Leste, who could be there, and Thailand with the only difference is Indonesia, which is in the other group. It’s almost like a replay of 2018. It’s an interesting one," he said.

"You have to look at Thailand as the strongest team in the group and Singapore are always well organized and Myanmar always has talent, and you have both Brunei DS and Timor-Leste - two teams that will fight."

In Group B, meanwhile, defending champion Vietnam will face Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Laos.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News