Azkals to face Sri Lanka in opening round of World Cup qualifying

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV The Philippine Azkals begin their ambitious bid of clinching a spot in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil when they face Sri Lanka in the first leg of the Asian qualifying round on June 29. The International Football Federation (Fédération Internationale de Football Association, FIFA) has allotted four guaranteed spots for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), with the team that will survive the qualifying phase earning the final berth. AFC Asian Cup champion Japan and runner-up Australia, as well as 2002 World Cup semifinalists South Korea and Bahrain, already occupy the top four seeds in the tournament. Sri Lanka hosts the opening match of the home-and-away playoff, with the Azkals hoping to earn an early advantage in the two-game series where the aggregate scores will determine which team will advance further in the tournament. The second game will be played on July 3 in the Philippines, with the winner of the pre-qualifying matches to meet Kuwait in the second round on July 23 and 28. In a telephone interview with GMA News, team manager Dan Palami said that aside from the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod, they are looking at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMSC) as another possible venue for the second leg of the Azkals’ match against Sri Lanka. Panaad hosted the National team’s first home game after its semifinals stint in the ASEAN Football Federation Suzuki Cup. However, Palami said RMSC still needs to be renovated. "The pitch is in good condition, but the grandstands need to be repaired. Hopefully, the government can help rehabilitate RMSC. There’s still enough time before the July 3 match." No let up vs Lions Palami said the team is treating its two-leg match vs Sri Lanka, nicknamed the Lions, as another ball game. "Though they are ranked lower in the FIFA rankings, we can’t afford to be complacent. We’ll work and prepare hard against Sri Lanka," said Palami. Palami added they hope the Philippines could become competitive also in Asia. "We want the team to be competitive not only in Southeast Asia but in the entire Asian region." More players coming in Palami said that more good players will be joining the Azkals’ try-outs. "It will add more depth to the team. It will give us more options on our bench, depending on how we practice." He said that aside from scouting local talents, they will also look for foreign players with Filipino blood. "We’re going to start scouting in April. Coach Michael Weiss will be going to Germany and nearby countries, while Rob Grier will be going to UK." "Aly (Borromeo), Anton (Del Rosario) and I will go to the US. We want to cover basically everything to find the best talent out there," Palami said. – Jon Perez, KY, GMA News