Photo by Richard Pacana
MANILA—From the looks of it, scoring isn’t going to be a problem for the Philippine football team.
As the Azkals turned their preparations for the 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifiers up a notch in Duren, Germany, skipper Aly Borromeo and star striker Phil Younghusband believe the team’s attacking play is at its strongest.
The Azkals are toughening up for the first round qualifying match against Sri Lanka on June 29 and July 3. The winner of the tie will meet powerhouse Kuwait in another two-leg tie in late July.
“I think going forward we are very confident at the moment,” Younghusband said in a message to the Inquirer. “We have a lot of speed and good technical ability.”
Borromeo, the acknowledged leader in the squad who spent time as striker early in his international career, agreed.
“Attacking-wise, we’re more of a threat than ever,” said Borromeo, whose last goal came in the 2009 Suzuki Cup Qualifiers inCambodia.
Filipino-Spanish striker Angel Aldegeuer Guirado’s creative play at the middle has also proven to be a boon for the Azkals.
Guirado’s pace and trickery were in full display in the AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers in Myanmar in March and he seems to have continued his excellent form in the 4-1 win over Duren selection last Wednesday.
Aside from Younghusband’s return to form and the threat presented by his older brother, James, and Chieffy Caligdong on the flanks, the Azkals have been boosted by the presence of Filipino-Germans Stephan Schrock and Manuel Ott and Fil-Dutch Paul Mulders.
“We have players who can create something out of nothing with a pass or a skill,” Phil Younghusband said. “The understanding improves each time we play together.”
“We just need to work on cohesion,” Borromeo added.
The Azkals were scheduled to play the Under-19 team of Bonner Friday night in their second test match.
Meanwhile, Mulders, whose father died early in the week, will return to the Azkals camp on Monday to play in the two remaining test matches against FC Ingolstadt and Darmstadt.
“Paul has found a new appreciation of the game as his father was a big influence in his life and football career. With that said he will be playing in Sri Lanka and Manila,” Mulders’ adviser, Jerrold Alcantara, said.