BANGKOK – Matapos ang dalawang taon ay muling magkukrus ang mga landas ng Azkals at ng Vietnam sa group stages ng 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup.
Hangad ng Azkals na maduplika ang kanilang 2-0 paggulat sa Vietnam sa group stages ng naturang torneo noong 2010 na hindi kasama ang kanilang coach na si Michael Weiss na napatawan ng one-game suspension dahil sa kanyang ‘misconduct’ sa kanilang laban kontra sa Thailand.
Maglalaban ang Azkals at ang mga Vietnamese ngayong alas-6:30 ng gabi (Manila time) sa Rajamangala Stadium.
Yumukod ang Azkals, 1-2, laban sa Thailand War Elephants, samantalang nagtabla naman sa 1-1 ang laro ng Vietnamese at Myanmar sa Group A noong Sabado ng gabi.
“It’s a do-or-die game. Most likely, even a draw (today) and a win in the last game (sa Biyernes) might not be enough (para makasiguro ng semifinal seat) so it’s clear the loser tomorrow will go home,” sabi ni Weiss.
“The draw with Myanmar is not a good result (para sa Azkals),” wika naman ni Vietnam’s team manager Ngo Le Bang. “This game is very important. We want to win and we want to go further.”
“Both teams will be going for three points so it’s going to be a really tough game. I think we have the psychological advantage. And every little advantage helps. If that psychological advantage can help us going to the game against Vietnam, then we’ll certainly take it,” ani Azkals manager Dan Palami.
Ilan sa mga players sa naturang laro noong 2010 ay muling lalaro ngayon.
“It’s a different team, mostly. We have great memories of 2010 but when it comes down to the field, I don’t think it will really affect us. We’ll not be thinking about that, we’ll be thinking about the game, “ sabi ni Phil Younghusband, ang goal-scorer laban sa Vietnam kasama si Chris Greatwich.