Azkals up vs Chinese, Koreans in AFC Cup

MANILA, Philippines — With a powerhouse team that once dealt them a sound beating in China and a two-time champion side in Korea Republic as group mates, the Philippine Azkals face tremendous odds when they debut in next year’s AFC Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

In Friday night’s draw ceremonies, the Azkals got bracketed with the Chinese, who gave them a 1-8 bashing in a 2017 friendly, the Koreans, the 1956 and 1960 Asian kingpin and fourth placer in the 2002 Fifa World Cup, as well as fellow debutants Kyrgyzstan in Group C of the Continental showpiece.

“No easy group for a debutant in the competition. We will have to be in our best form and for this, I think the best preparation is needed,” said Azkals team manager Dan Palami, who attended the draw in Dubai with skipper Phil Younghusband.

Of their groupmates, Kyrgyzstan presents the best chance for the Azkals to extract precious points as they had previously upset the former in two friendlies, 2-1 and 1-0.

“We’ve played against China before and got a bad result but we know now how to prepare against them. Korea will always be a tough nut to crack. And Kyrgyzstan, we played against them. I’m sure they’ll prepare as well so it would be a tough match. But hopefully, we’ll get a really good preparation, that’s all we need to do,” said Palami.

The Azkals, coach-less at the moment after the contract of Thomas Dooley expired last March, look to arrange friendlies and training camps abroad to gear up for their milestone appearance in the Asian Cup.