THE PHILIPPINE Azkals, now the top-ranked national team in Southeast Asia, get to gauge their level against one of the strongest teams in the continent Saturday night when they clash against the United Arab Emirates at Zayed Sports Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Facing a foe ranked No. 71 in the world, the Azkals are heavy underdogs in the first of their two matches of their final training camp this year. The national side will also face India on Nov. 15 in Chennai.
The Azkals will miss influential midfielder Stephan Schrock, Neil Etheridge and Javier Patino, leaving forwards Patrick Reichelt and Phil Younghusband, midfielders Chris Greatwich and Jerry Lucena and goalkeeper Ed Sacapano to carry the fight.
“I’m not scared but we have to be careful with our approach,” said Azkals coach Michael Weiss. “My concern is how we would be compact and not concede a lot of goals. We don’t want to get hammered.”
The Azkals are coming off a 3-1 win over Pakistan in the Philippine Peace Cup last month, but the UAE side definitely play at a higher level, having qualified for the final stages of Asian Cup Qualifying and winning the Gulf Cup of Nations earlier this year against the likes of Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Iraq.