Because the Philippines needs to win tomorrow to advance in the WC qualifiers, I don't think they are going to park the bus but I believe they are going to employ a counterattacking strategy to help contain China's Brazilian reinforced roster while still providing them chances to score. I am bit concerned about the goaltenders they have in camp though since they are all brand new to the team and untested in international competition at the men's level especially since they haven't had a friendly in 2 years in order to test them. The reliable Birmingham FC starter Etheridge is not available this time due to injury so they will have to make do with what they have. It has been a tumultuous preparation time for the Philippines to say the least. A lot of players originally listed in the 25-man pool(including 8 potential starters) were not able to make it in the team’s training camp in Doha, Qatar, while a few new members were added recently so close to the games. Additionally, the matches are set to take place now in Sharjah, UAE, instead of Suzhou, China.
They are going to be playing their game in the late evening at 9 PM local time though in the UAE because of how hot it can get there during the middle of the day around 45 degrees Centigrade/113 degrees Fahrenheit today. The conditions might play a factor on how the game unfolds and a counterattacking strategy would help them conserve their energy. On the positive side they don't have to deal with a home China crowd rooting for their opponent anymore as originally scheduled. In fact if fans are allowed in the UAE match, the fans will likely be predominantly be in favor of the Philippines because of the expatriate Filipino workforce in the area.
The goalkeeping will be a factor, especially if they let in goals early against China. When was the last time a keeper other than Etheridge played in a competitive match? Don't forget the schedule change where Philippines now face China first instead of Guam, and four days between matches instead of six.
Etheridge is usually not available during tournaments that don't fit the FIFA calendar(like the Suzuki Cup and SEA games) as his teams in England(at Premiership or Championship level where he starts) usually doesn't release him so they have had the opportunity to try other goalies but none of those players(particularly older veteran players like Falkesgaard and Muller) are here on this roster so we don't really know what to expect from this new crop of younger goaltenders.
Well at least the only coach to lead China to the WC finals Bora Milutinovic(also the first coach in the modern era to lead the US in the WC finals back in 1994 after a drought of nearly 50 years) thinks the Philippines is dangerous. 2 days to go before China vs Philippines: Bora Milutinovic, the only coach masterminded China national team to the FIFA World Cup Finals so far, gave suggestions to Li Tie and the NT: 'Don't think too much about Syria. Philippines is dangerous. It will be a very difficult game.' pic.twitter.com/qIaVPndVTi— Titan Sports (@titan_plus) June 5, 2021 I guess he doesn't know how many starters are missing from the Philippine roster at the moment. Nevertheless it will be a major embarassment for China to lose to a lower ranked team like the Philippines considering how much money they have poured into their football program and after purposely naturalizing 5 Brazilian and English players(without any Chinese ties) to join their national team to help them get to the World Cup.
Updated Philippine national team roster 1. Schipmann 2. Mendoza 3. Kammeraad 4. Steuble 5. Woodland 6. Silva 7. Baas 8. Tabinas 9. Diano 10. Kempter 11. De Murga 12. Reichelt 13. Schröck 14. Mike Ott 15. Daniels 16. Gayoso 17. Manny Ott 18. Bias 19. Baldisimo 20. Winhofer 21. Guirado 22. Hartmann
TELECAST DETAILS - Watch the China PR vs. Philippines match LIVE! One Sports on channel 41 on free TV, channel 6 on Cignal TV, and channel 59 on Sky Cable) and One Sports+ on channels 261 and 91 on Cignal LIVESTREAM: Via One Sports and One Sports+ facebook page. One Sports+ FB: https://www.facebook.com/OneSportsPlusonCignal One Sports FB: https://www.facebook.com/OneSportsPHL
"We got three wins in us if we get it right. It'll be difficult, but I'm comfortable with the fact that these players will give their everything and that our long term future is set for us as we move forward." - Coach Scott Cooper https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=890236244865384
I am not sure why Baldisimo was not listed in the above roster since the team is allowed 23 players registered instead of just the 21 listed above. It might be a misprint since I saw him in the video with the rest of the squad where Coach Cooper was being interviewed. The 2 experienced veterans added at the last minute Manny Ott and Carli de Murga were already registered so they were easy to call up although Manny Ott is coming back from injury and de Murga who was initially denied a Chinese visa could now join with the change of venue to the UAE. The squad is a mixture of veterans and young players playing for the first time on the national team with an eye to building the squad for the future. In the latter case Coach Cooper gave special mention in his interview to young pros Kempter and Bias who have already played for the respective national youth football teams at various age levels of Switzerland and Germany, Jefferson Tabinas who plays pro league in Japan and Winhoffer who recently graduated with honors from Yale University where he was named the Ivy League Offensive Player of the year ranking 6th overall in the US Division 1 NCAA with 6 goals and 11 assists the last time they had a full season.
In my opinion the key to making the game competitive against China are the goaltenders. They are all brand new and untested at the international level although most of them are seasoned pros. With their usual starter Etheridge(who has experience playing in the English Premiership) there is always the possibility they can steal the game based on his outstanding shot blocking skills alone(he kept the game 0-0 the last time they played China) but he is not here because of injury.
Hopefully the 21 listed are just for today's match against China, and not for all three matches. Isn't the maximum 23? That would be disappointing for Baldisimo to go all that way and not even be listed as a reserve. Match about to start; it's rare to catch a Philippines game live because most of them happen when I'm asleep. Go Azkals!
Halftime: CHN 0 – 0 PHI Surprising scoreline, but I'll take it. From what I've been seeing (a stream set aside while I'm working), the Philippine defense is absorbing chance after chance, with opportune counter-attacks that have some quality. There is a possibility (remote, but it's there) for the Azkals to steal the three points from this match.
Link https://www.facebook.com/OneSportsPlusonCignal A counter attacking strategy was what I thought was the best plan for the Azkals. They need a win to advance though so hopefully they can steal a goal while not allowing one.
Unfortunately China just scored on a penalty kick. China 1-0 Philippines 55' China 2-0 Philippines 65'
FT China 2-0 Philippines Decent result for a very young Philippine team missing a lot of starters. They had some chances in the first half that could have turned the tide for them if they converted them but they seem to have lost the initiative after giving up that penalty. Among the new players 22 y/o Tabinas at centerback proved to be a revelation and should be a rock in defence for the Azkals for years to come. 5 other players(Bias, Kempter, Winhoffer, Schipmann and Gayoso) also earned their first cap.
Missed most of the second half; I did listen in on the commentary during injury time, and one of the commentators mentioned the same: decent scoreline given the squad and no matches since the last match in qualification. The young players should be able to form a good squad going forward (continued qualifying for 2023 Asian Cup, 2026 WCQ, future AFF Championships). Qatar have also won their group, which means fifth-best second-place finisher is now in play with regards to moving on in WCQ. China with their win are currently in that fifth spot.
The experience many of the young players got during the current WC qualifying tie should help them not only for the men's team(AC qualifying and Suzuki Cup which is what the AFF Championship is called) but also at the U23 team level(Olympic qualifying, Asian Games and SEA Games).
Well there's still Asian Cup qualifiers but also 2026 to consider especially since 2026 it will be a 48 team tournament
I agree. I think they will do well in the Asian Cup if they qualify once they have all their players available.