The Philippine national men’s football team, popularly known as the Azkals, is gearing up for their upcoming FIFA World Cup/AFC Asian Cup joint preliminary qualifiers later this year. In order to fine-tune their skills and tactics, the Azkals have scheduled back-to-back friendly matches against Nepal and Chinese Taipei at the Rizal Memorial Stadium next month.
The first match will be against Nepal on June 15, followed by Chinese Taipei on June 19, both taking place at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. These friendly matches hold significant importance for the Azkals as they aim to strengthen their preparation for the FIFA World Cup/AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.
As per the latest FIFA world rankings, the Azkals are ranked at No. 136, while Nepal holds the 174th position and Chinese Taipei is placed at No. 156. This indicates that the Philippine team has a slight advantage over their upcoming opponents.
The announcement of these back-to-back friendlies was made by Mariano Araneta, the president of the Philippine Football Federation (PFF), earlier this week. Araneta emphasized the importance of these matches in providing the Azkals with valuable experience and allowing them to assess their readiness for the upcoming qualifiers.
It is worth mentioning that the Azkals had previously played two friendly matches in the Middle East last March. However, they faced defeats in both matches against Kuwait and Jordan. Therefore, the upcoming friendlies serve as an opportunity for the team to learn from their past mistakes and make improvements.
Looking back at the history between the Philippines and Nepal, the Azkals have a favorable record. Out of the six matches played between the two teams from 1982 to 2017, the Philippines emerged victorious in four of them. Notably, during the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers in 2017, the Philippines defeated Nepal with an impressive 4-0 scoreline. Nepal’s only victory over the Azkals dates back to 1982, when they won 1-0 during the King’s Cup. Their most recent encounter, part of the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers in 2017, ended in a goalless draw.
In regards to their previous meeting with Chinese Taipei, it took place in 2017 during the CTFA International Tournament hosted by Chinese Taipei in Taipei City. However, further details about that match are not available at the moment.
The final lineup for the Azkals’ upcoming friendlies is yet to be announced. The coaching staff will carefully select the players who will represent the national team and ensure that they are in optimal form for these crucial matches.
In conclusion, the Philippine Azkals are eagerly preparing for their FIFA World Cup/AFC Asian Cup joint preliminary qualifiers. The back-to-back friendly matches against Nepal and Chinese Taipei will serve as crucial opportunities for the team to refine their skills, assess their readiness, and make necessary improvements. The Azkals are determined to give their best performance and continue their quest for international success.
