THE Philippine national men’s football squad seems on the rise but actually, the Azkals have slipped four spots in the world rankings and two spots on the Asian table.
Losses to lowly teams cost the Philippines and from 151, the Azkals are now ranked 155th with 104 points, just a point ahead of the tiny Pacific island nation of Fiji in the April’s world leader board topped by World and European champion Spain.
Quake and tsunami-stricken Japan, with action in the J-League set to resume next week, remains the Asian Football Confederation’s top country while No. 2 Australia, No. 3 Korea, No. 4 Iran and No. 5 China are also nonmovers.
The Philippines, meanwhile, slipped from 27th to 29th.
After scoring a 2-0 upset in December over Vietnam (then ranked 21st in Asia and 136th in the world) in a Group B match in the Asean Cup, the Philippine football team climbed two spots in the Asian standings but have never actually posted any impressive win after that, probably the reason it failed to hold or improve its No. 150 ranking in December.
“Tinalo kasi tayo ng Mongolia [1-2] then we were held to a draw by Palestine [0-0] na mababa ang ranking sa atin kaya sa tingin ko we dropped from the ranking,” said Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta.
Mongolia is 179th in the world and 41st in Asia while Palestine is ranked 170th in the world and 36th in Asia.
“Pero hindi namin iniisip ’yan. What is important is we have a team that is more prepared now to compete,” he added.
Araneta said the team is now focusing on the 2014 World Cup qualifying match against Sri Lanka, ranked No. 173 in the world and 37th in Asia.
“We are seeded No. 44 in the World Cup qualifying sa Asia kasi matagal na tayong hindi sumasali sa tournament na ’yan,” said Araneta. “Kaya talagang nasa ibaba tayo ngayon sa qualifier.”
The Azkals will play away to Sri Lanka in Colombo on June 29 for the first leg of their 2014 World Cup Asian qualifying matchup.
The Philippines will host the second leg on July 3 at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.
“I am happy to announce that we are ready,” said Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia after the Department of Public Works and Highways inspected the stadium on Thursday.
“Kaunting leveling off na lang kasi matagal nang hindi nagagamit,” Garcia added.
The national squad hosted Mongolia in the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup qualifier at Panaad Sports Complex in Bacolod in February, winning, 2-0. The venue is also being considered by the PFF for the July match.
Garcia said picking the Rizal football field is a wise choice financially, and with San Miguel Corp. promising to help PFF in renovating the field, it will be more than ready to host the match.
“It will just be repainting of the stadium, including those chairs. It will run into a couple of millions pero it’s something na kayang-kaya ng San Miguel Corp.,” said Garcia.
In Photo: Ian Araneta and co. need to work harder.
