SHORT on manpower, the Philippine Azkals national men’s football team promises to do a better job when they clash with Yemen in their 2016 FIFA World Cup qualifying match at 8 p.m. today at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.
The Azkals come into the fight sporting a 2-1-2 win-draw-loss record for seven points in Group H.
Unfortunately, they will play without team captain Phil Younghusband, defender Luke Woodland and goalie Neil Etheridge.
Younghusband is suspended after he was penalized with his second yellow card in their match with Bahrain, while Woodland won’t make it because of his commitment to his club in England.
Etheridge, on the other hand, is nursing a thigh injury and will sit out the game.
“It’s been four weeks since our game with Bahrain and North Korea. This will be exciting tomorrow. It’s a game we have to win,” said coach Thomas Dooley during a press conference yesterday at the Manila Hotel.
Because of the multiple positions that he can play inside the pitch, Fil-German striker Stephan Schrock will take the place of Younghusband as team captain.
On the other hand, Roland Muller will assume Etheridge’s position in front of the net.
Woodland’s position can be filled up by Javier Patiño, Rob Gier, Simone Rota and Juani Guirado.
Also suiting up against Yemen are Amani Aguinaldo, Misagh Bahadoran, Kenshiro Daniels, Patrick Deyto, Kevin Ingreso, Jerry Lucena, Paul Mulders, Manny Ott, Stephan Palla, OJ Porteria, Iain Ramsay, Patrick Reichelt, Daisuke Sato, Stephan Schrock, Martin Steuble and Dennis Villanueva.
Schrock said he felt honored at having taken the role of team skipper for the first time.
“It’s the highest honor, having to lead the Azkals at the pitch. It’s priceless,” said Schrock.
The Azkals are at third place in their group behind North Korea (4-1-0) with 13 points and Uzbekistan (3-0-1) with nine points.
Bahrain (2-0-3) is at fourth with six points and Yemen (0-0-5) is in fifth, being the only team still without a point and is already eliminated for the World Cup.
The top two teams from each group advance to the next round of the joint qualifiers with the rest will seek out slots in the Asian Cup.