Rampaging Fullback: Previewing the Azkals’ Group A match against Vietnam AFP The Azkals have qualified to the semifinals of the 2014 AFF Suzuki Cup with one game to spare, disposing of fellow Group A opponents Laos and Indonesia by a combined aggregate score of 8-1. The Azkals can finish top of the group if they can draw Vietnam or better. Vietnam can ensure progression to the semifinals themselves with a draw. A win over the Azkals means Vietnam tops the group. For the Azkals, the motivation is clear: getting a result against hosts Vietnam will ensure we play the second leg of the semifinals at home – a massive advantage we missed out on in 2012. Getting a result against Vietnam extends our positive streak against the 2008 champions. Vietnam has lost to the Azkals in the past two editions of the Suzuki Cup and a win yet again in their home field will deal a massive psychological blow against the Red Warriors should we face them in the final. Furthermore, the Azkals would want to maintain the momentum going to the semifinals on the first week of December. For the Vietnamese the incentive of playing the second semi-finals game at home is important, but the issue of revenge, however downplayed by their players and coaching staff, will be in their minds. Vietnam Coach Toshiya Miura has begun mind games as he surprisingly played down their chances of qualification, despite having a healthy goal differential against third placed Indonesia. “In football anything can happen. We never know the future. I am not optimistic about the next round,” he said in the official AFF Suzuki Cup website. The talismanic Le Cong Vinh will want to cement his place in AFF Suzuki Cup history by scoring a record-equaling 12th goal in the tournament. He will be the danger man for the Azkals. The motivation of winning the group in order to avoid Group B’s looming group winner Thailand in the semi-finals is also a major incentive. Azkals coach Thomas Dooley will be faced with a pleasant dilemma: does he field a full strength squad or give some of his other players a rest? This will be the Azkals third game in seven days, and with qualification secured, this might be an opportunity for him to give some players a chance and make use of his deep bench. With the absence of Patrick Reichelt, Mark Hartmann could be given another chance to prove his worth; Paul Mulders could be given a run out without any significant drop in quality, as with Chris and Simon Greatwich and James Younghusband. Whatever happens, it is imperative that the Azkals avoid any more injuries in this game. Before the tournament draw was made, PFF president Nonong Araneta was asked by InterAksyon which group he preferred playing in. He answered unequivocally, “Vietnam’s group.” On Friday, the hope is that Araneta made the correct choice. Ryan Fenix is InterAksyon’s resident football analyst. His football column Rampaging Fullback appears exclusively on the site. He runs the football blog The Prawn Sandwich Brigade and covers football for Sports5. For more football discussion, follow him on Twitter.
Posted on: Fri, 28 Nov 2014 01:28:34 +0000
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