2012 AFF Suzuki Cup

And trying not to forget the other previous winners from before 2004:

2002: Thailand
2000: Thailand
1998: Singapore
1996: Thailand

 

Oh how can we forget about Thailand druryfire winning all those championships? Just kidding mate.

 

Hehe, seems a long time ago though. They really do need this championship to tell everyone they are back.

 

Iti is indeed a long time ago. This edition of the AFF Championship will I think be the most competitive yet. So they better bring their best team, if Thailand wants any chance of regaining it this time.

 

If we don't win it (on home soil) it don't matter, got the excuses ready.

I'm sure though, no one will want Phillipines in their group. Normally you can maybe pick the top two (host and other) to make semi's, but now we have a curve ball in their.

Going to be interesting.

 

The Philippines are aiming to do better than last time and at least make the finals, but considering that player's availability is always in question as well as my lack of confidence in our coach who I feel lacks experience, I am not quite sure we can get that far. One thing for sure though, they apparently are not going to bunker up like last time. They feel they have the players now to adopt a more attack oriented system.

Personally I think this is a mistake, as I am a big believer in the adage that defence wins championships. Of course, I do agree that bunkering at this point is no longer necessary, but maybe adopting a counterattacking style would be a more appropriate system for the personnel that they have at their disposal.

As for Thailand, as host I think they will be pressured to do well in this tournament, which considering their pedigree and their much higher FIFA ranking, it is understandable why their fans have such high expectations.

 

I hope that the final will be Indonesia - Philippines.

 

Why not dump some of that blame on the team manager? He was the one that was quick to come out and say that the target is to reach the final. The coach has never come out with such targets.

Highly unlikely.

 

As for the draw, it says that the teams are divided into four pots of two "based on the team rankings". Which rankings?

 

My personal favorites to reach the Suzuki cup final are the groups stage hosts Thailand and Malaysia, but anyone among Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines and Singapore will also have chances. The tournament is wide open and this edition promises to be the most competitive yet.

EVille

It is not only the team manager who has raised those expectations. The PFF and several of the players have also come out saying that they aim to improve their finish from the last time when they made the semifinals. Personally in my opinion if they don't make it that far, at least they will now have no choice but look for a more experienced coach which I think is a step in the right direction for Philippine football.

 

I find it very hard to get excited about the draw. There's only a handful of nations, and all tend to know everything about each other anyway.

Disappointed about the stadiums being used though.

In Thailand for example, they have grerat little stadiums propping up now, in Nonthaburi just north of Bangkok, Chonburi, just two hours east and Buriram a little further on. A oity these games can't be hosts aswell for the smaller games that don't have the host in action.

I don't think Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia at this moment would need to dual host. A pity two nations like Thailand and Malaysia are really, maybe if we need two hosts, it should be a Thai-Cambodia for example venture. A big nation helping a small nation in the region of football for example?

I know none of the organising FA's ever think to help a co-host but maybe it shouldn't be a requirement, a joint hosted competition should be jointly hosted, not like we currently have which seems two tournaments in one.

 

Group A is now officially the group of death in this competition, with the 3 highest ranked FIFA sides (June 2012) plus the qualifying group winner all playing in that group.

 

drury,

Well at least in the case of the Philippines and Thailand, they are not quite familiar with each other. The last time the men's teams met was in the 2007 AFF championships, a 4-0 win by Thailand and the rosters were very different then.

 

Philippines Add Singapore & Kuwait Dates To Busy AFF Build-Up

08/27/2012
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Thailand may be struggling to arrange friendly games before November’s AFF Suzuki Cup but group opponents Philippines have no such problems.​

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The Azkals already had a full schedule leading up to the regional tournament but have added more dates to the diary.​

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Games against Kuwait in October and Singapore in November will now give coach Michael Weiss even more of a chance to see what his players can do.​

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Philippines already have one match planned against Singapore on September, a game sandwiched between clashes with Cambodia and Laos – all three are away games.​

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There is also a tough task of a game against Bahrain in October. ​

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Philippines will be especially keen to defeat Kuwait and get some revenge for the fact that their quest to qualify for the 2014 World Cup was ended by the West Asians.​

http://www.kickoffasia.com/2/post/2...gapore-kuwait-dates-to-busy-aff-build-up.html​

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The Philippines are also facing Guam, Macau and Chinese Taipei in a mini tournament in Manila at the end of September as stellarboy listed above.​

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So far the results for the Azkals are ​

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Philippines 0-0 Cambodia​

Philippines 2-0 Singapore​

 

Jakarta Globe's Antony Sutton gives this short summary on the preparations by the different teams participating in the AFF Suzuki Cup focusing primarily on the teams that have already qualified for the tournament proper:

http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/thepitch/asean-football-teams-get-ready-for-next-months-cup/544440

As usual, he reserves the harshest criticism on the team he covers the most Indonesia.

 

RT @affsuzukicup: For those outside the region we are working with One World Sports (USA) and UStream/Youtube to provide live streaming.

 

Cambodia pick squad for qualifiers

http://www.affsuzukicup.com/news/cambodia-pick-squad-for-qualifiers

 

Timor Leste will win the qualifiers

Their players are far bigger in size & physical strength than all the teams in the grp.

Just watching Cambodia play them, it looked boys against men as they cnnt match the Timor Leste players who just push them aside.

Even Myanmar will hve a tough time matching the Timor Leste physical superiority

Indeed no need to send in corner or free kick or any cross as they will be clear away.