07 Jun 2015 Bahrain’s national football team arrived in Manila, Philippines after concluding their one week training camp in Bangkok, Thailand, which was held in preparation for the 2018 World Cup and 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers where Bahrain were placed in Group H along with Uzbekistan, Philippines, North Korea, Yemen, and Bahrain. Two training sessions will be held daily during the morning and evening periods starting tomorrow at the Shangri-La Hotel’s gym and University of Makati Stadium. Bahrain will be playing their first match against the Philippines on Thursday while Doha will be hosting Yemen and North Korea’s match on the same day.
This group is actually exciting to me, as I don't know who will finish first between Bahrain, North Korea and Uzbekistan.
What about the Philippines? We would like to crash everyone's victory party as well. Kidding aside, I know that the Philippines need to earn respect first before being mentioned in the same sentence as those other teams but I am confident that the Philippines will make an impact in this group of death, even if they don't make it to the 3rd round of WC qualifying.
That's why it makes it so interesting. It will go down to the wire.. But I do feel Yemen will fall off the pace with playing at neutral venues and an unstable country.
One advantage that I hope the Philippines will have is the sizeable expatriate population they have in the Middle East. Previous friendlies have been well attended by Filipinos in the past and should give them a boost when they travel for their away games to play Yemen(in Doha, Qatar) and Bahrain.
Bold statements by the Philippine Coach Dooley: Even though Dooley is expecting an opponent he knows little of tactically, he stresses that the Filipinos need to impose themselves and force Bahrain to adapt to their own way of play. "We have to play our game the way we want to play," said Dooley. "I would rather have them play our game, the way we want to play and they need to adjust to us."
I bet on Uzbekistan and North Korea making to the next level. 1. Uzbekistan 2. North Korea 3. Bahrain
2-0 Philippines Patino scores his 3rd goal in 4 caps It is pretty much all Philippines in the 2nd half so far. Bahrain under siege.
Thanks. Our best player Schrock was subbed out in the 1st half due to injury, so I think we could even do better if we had him on the field. It look liked they flipped a switch in the 2nd half and were instructed to attack resulting in 2 goals so far.
It looks like the Philippines are now putting in defensive subs trying to keep the lead and shifting to a defensive formation. Nice job of killing the game by the Azkals, while continuing to keep most of the possession.
Great play leading to Bahrain scoring. Don't think there's enough time for them to get a draw. Speaking of draws, India just got level with Oman
Game ended. Bahrain's reaction was too late. I liked how they tried to get a fishy penalty Great results for the Philippines. Seems like Bahrain hasn't been the same since their loss to New Zealand?
If anybody is going to be in Doha, Qatar on June 16, please note that the Philippines-Yemen game will have free admission. Venue will be at Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha (Qatar)