Battle powerhouse Viets today: Make or break for Azkals

BANGKOK – The last time the Azkals crossed paths with Vietnam in the AFF Suzuki Cup, it was more a nothing-to-lose, everything-to-gain match that the Pinoy booters made the most out of.

Everyone knows what happened in that 2010 group stage encounter: a king-size 2-0 upset by the underdogs over the then titleholders and from there, triggering football renaissance back home.

Two years since that fateful entanglement, the Azkals go at it against the Vietnamese again today at the mammoth Rajamangala Stadium, gunning for a similar result as they fight for dear life in the 2012 edition of Southeast Asia’s premier bootfest.

The Azkals dropped their first assignment, 1-2, to a rough Thailand War Elephants side while the Vietnamese were held to a 1-1 draw by Myanmar on opening day, making their 5:30 p.m. (6:30 p.m. in Manila) Group A duel with Vietnam even more interesting and must-win for both.

“It’s a do-or-die game. Most likely, even a draw (today) and a win in the last game (on Friday) might not be enough (to secure a semifinal seat) so it’s clear the loser tomorrow will go home,” said Azkals coach Michael Weiss, who however, will have to be creative in giving out instructions from the stands as he serves his suspension for “misconduct” in their last match.

“The draw with Myanmar is not a good result (for us),” said Vietnam’s team manager Ngo Le Bang. “This game is very important. We want to win and we want to go further.” 

More than its importance to the ongoing tournament, the match looms as a battle for pride between a Phl side that looks to ride on their “psychological advantage” from that 2010 upset to do an encore and a Vietnamese squad aching for a payback.

“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,” said Azkals manager Dan Palami.

His Vietnamese counterpart noted that the “Ghost of 2010” still haunts them.

“We have a not so good memory of 2010. How it ended 2-0 is a lesson we hope we overcome. We hope to play better against the Philippines,” said Ngo.

Some of the players in that 2010 tussle are back, but they insist this will be a different game altogether.

“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, “ said Phil Younghusband, goal-scorer against Vietnam, along with his current teammate, Chris Greatwich.

Weiss is barred from coaching on the bench for throwing the ball to a Thai player so he will bank on his assistant Diding Cabalida and the players themselves to execute their gameplan, all the while seeking to rectify  what went wrong in the Thailand loss.

“We have experienced players and we’ll also find a way to communicate, even if I’m not on the bench,” said the German mentor.

The Azkals, he said, will be up against what he noted are “technically skilled” players.

“The have efficient offense-oriented players, they are very fluid in passing, very skillful. They will cause us problems if we allow them to play. We have to look for early pressure from the midfield and not allow them to do their thing,” he said.