BANGKOK – The draw for the 2012 Suzuki Cup took about 15 minutes to complete but it will take another five months before every nation can settle some old scores or to find out where they stand in Southeast Asia’s most prestigious football competition.
The Philippines, described by draw host Premsuda Santiwattana as “fast improving,” is in Group A with host Thailand, Vietnam, and whichever nation will top the qualifying stage in Yangon, Myanmar.
The five countries participating in the single-round qualifiers in Yangon, Myanmar from October 5-13 include the host nation, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos,and Timor Leste.
The second placer of the qualifiers joins the “Group of Death” that is Group B with defending champions Malaysia, 2010 runner-up Indonesia, and three-time champion Singapore.
As the Philippines made it to the semifinals of the 2010 tournament, the national team is automatically seeded to the group stages.
“I think that's the most difficult outcome that could have been possible. But if we want to show how far we've come and we want to win the competition we have to beat the best teams,” said Azkals striker Phil Younghusband.
"Dami na kaming dinaanan. Kahit sino matapat sa amin sa Suzuki Cup we'll show them that we are now a better team," added Ian Araneta.
There are all sorts of sub-plots heading into the biennial tournament. In Group A play, Thailand, also three-time winners of the Suzuki Cup, were unable to advance out of the group stages in Indonesia. Vietnam, the champion four years ago, was beaten by the Philippines, 2-0, in a match that inspired the current growth of football in the former regional whipping boys. The historic win over Vietnam also gained notoriety when former Vietnam head coach Henrique Calisto refused to shake former Azkals head coach Simon McMenemy’s hand after the match. Calisto alleged that the Philippines parked the bus throughout the whole game. McMenemy denied that and said that Vietnam’s offense forced them to defend more than they would like. The Azkals scored with goals coming from Chris Greatwich and Phil Younghusband.
Thailand has been a longtime tormentor of the Philippines and of all the regional powers, the Thai booters have been the only one who have not been able to test the rejuvenated Azkals. Thailand also lost 3-2 on aggregate to Vietnam in the showdown for the AFF Suzuki Cup four years ago.
Malaysia, who beat Indonesia 4-2 on aggregate two years ago to be crowned kings of Asean football for the first time, will clash with Indonesia, which has been desperate for a major trophy. With the warring factions in Indonesian football finally at peace, the Merah Putih expect to put on the pitch their best team and not the young squad that was decimated 10-nil by Qatar several months ago or the one held in check, 2-2, by the Philippines in a recent friendly.
In the recent Causeway Challenge, Malaysia drew with Singapore, 2-2, in a match that saw the Lions dominate the Tigers but it was the former who scored the first two goals before the host salvaged the match with late strikes.
Malaysia coach K. Rajagobal, who steered the Tigers to victory in 2010, was upbeat about the blockbuster draw.
“It is a really interesting draw” he said. “We are in the same group as Indonesia. I think it is good for our nation – it is going to be electrifying. I am excited about the challenge – Indonesia and Singapore are strong teams. My first priority is to go to the knock-out stages. We want to do well but I cannot guarantee anything. But the mind-set must be that we want to be there (champions) again.”
Winfried Schafer, the former coach of Cameroon who replaced ex-England captain Bryan Robson at the helm of Thailand, said it was crucial that the team prepare well for the AFF Suzuki Cup.
“It is a very interesting draw and I am looking forward to the tournament,” he said. “All the teams are very strong, there are no favorites. I have seen both Vietnam and the Philippines play and they are very strong. We have to train really hard and prepare well for the tournament so we can put a good team on the field. This tournament is very important for me and Thailand – we are trying to make it to the final.”
The 2010 tournament saw more than 750,000 spectators flock to the stadiums with over 192 million viewers tuning in to live broadcasts.
Two of the most iconic stadiums in Asean, the 49,000-capacity Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok and the Bukit Jalil Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, will be the main venues for the group stage.
Both stadia have witnessed some epic encounters in the AFF Suzuki Cup.
The Rajamangala Stadium was the stage for the 2000 showdown when Thailand won the trophy for the second time with a 4-1 victory over Indonesia and close to 90,000 fans at Bukit Jalil Stadium cheered on Malaysia to a 3-0 win over Indonesia in the first leg of the 2010 final.
Supachalasai Stadium in Bangkok, which holds 34,000 spectators, and the 70,000-capacity Shah Alam Stadium, near Kuala Lumpur, will each stage one match in the group stage.
The venue for the qualifying tournament will be the Youth Training Centre in Yangon.
The semifinals of the AFF Suzuki Cup will be held on December 8-9 (first leg) and December 12-13 (second leg) with the home and away final on December 19 and December 22.-The Philippine Star (July 11, 2012 9:04PM)
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