AFF Suzuki Cup: Can this be the Azkals’ time?

The AFF Suzuki Cup has always been a special tournament for the Philippines.

After all, it was in this biennial event that the Azkals burst from obscurity into national consciousness, propelling the sport from anonymity in the country up to dizzying heights.

However, a combination of subpar results and the subsequent disinterest from the public has seen the euphoria subsequently die down in recent times.

But it cannot be denied that when it comes to December of every other calendar year, hope springs eternal for the Azkals and their loyal fanbase.

Entering this year’s edition which will be held in a bubble setting in Singapore, the Azkals may well and truly be considered the dark horses of the tournament.

After being tagged as one of the favorites to win it all in 2014 and 2016, the low-key Azkals enter this edition of the Suzuki Cup under the radar -- with high hopes but with arguably minimal expectations.

With a young squad boosted by an experienced core, the Azkals will have a solid lineup, albeit missing key names in their lineup.

Manny Ott, Carli de Murga, Jarvey Gayoso, and Patrick Deyto are but some of the notable names unavailable to play for Coach Scott Cooper.

While not necessarily striking fear into the hearts of the opposition, the Azkals may yet still have the pieces to do well.

The focus will be on captain and former Bundesliga star Stephan Schrock to provide leadership to this team.

But all eyes will be on the newly naturalized United City FC striker Bienve Maranon to provide the threat up front.

Scoring goals has been an issue with the Azkals in years past, and with the AFC Cup’s all-time leading scorer in the fold, that now looks to be a source of strength for the team.

Notwithstanding their youth, nine players from the Azkals Development Team have been selected in the squad, but the team will have veterans Patrick Reichelt, Iain Ramsay, Mike Ott and Kevin Ingreso to steady the ship if need be.

Amani Aguinaldo, Martin Steuble and Daisuke Sato should provide stability at the back, while fans will hope that much-heralded defender Jesper Nyholm will make his much-awaited debut for the team.

In goal, newly crowned Malaysia Cup champion Kevin Ray Mendoza should continue the long line of excellent Filipino goalkeepers.

Preparation has been extremely far from ideal, with the team hardly getting any game time as a team.

But then again, it will be difficult to recall a time when the globe-trotting Azkals ever enjoyed good preparation before a major tournament.

On a very personal note, that we have failed to win this trophy is a great source of frustration.

While we celebrate 2010 as the year of Philippine football’s rebirth, and 2012 to 2016 as period of sustained excellence in the Southeast Asian stage, history books will be harshly brutal in its documentation, with heady praise for the winners, and commiserations for the losing finalist, but hardly ever a mention to the unfortunate semi-finalists.

We can perhaps take consolation in the likes of Indonesia, who, while being a football mad country, have never lifted the cup themselves.

But ultimately, we are judged by the trophies we take home, and in that regard, the Azkals unfortunately come up short, for now.

Bracketed in Group A together with Thailand, Myanmar, Singapore and Timor-Leste, the Philippines may not even be considered clear cut favorites to emerge as one of the group’s top two teams.

Five times champions Thailand, boasting of players plying their trade in the J league like team captain Chanathip Songkrasin and Theerathon Bunmathan, must be hands down the favorites to top the group.

The battle for the second semis slot could well boil down between the Philippines and Singapore, which makes the December 8 clash with the hosts even more important, as the winner will have the inside track to the knockout rounds.

It is never wise to look past Timor Leste in the second game, especially with a matchup against powerhouse Thailand looming.

Myanmar will then provide the final test for the Azkals, by which time it is hoped that the team is poised for qualification to the next round.

After the heartbreak and the disappointment in the past few editions, can this be the Azkals’ time?

If we are being brutally honest, the odds are stacked against the team.

We can always claim that we perform better when expectations are low, and backs against the wall, and that may well be the case this time around.

One thing I am most sure of, come kickoff, is that fans who have craved for regional success for so long will be cheering on the team.

And praying that one day, the trophy that has eluded the great Philippine players of years past will be finally in the hands of the Azkals.

—JMB, GMA News