Azkals Vs. Kuwait: 2011 AFC World Cup Qualifier Game Preview

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The Philippine Azkals will face the more-talented Kuwaiti National Football Team for the second round of the 2011 AFC World Cup Qualifier on July 23 at the Kuwaiti’s homecourt and goes back to the Philippines for the second game on July 28, 2011. The Kuwaiti’s National Team was composed of some of the prominent football stars in the Middle East. The Philippine Azkals although reinforced by mostly fil-foreign players but with the way the standings with FIFA, Kuwait ranked higher compared to the Philippine Azkals. As of June 2011, the Philippine Azkals ranked at 159 while Kuwait ranked at 102. Kuwait National Football Team had a better record compared to the Philippines.  They have already made it to the 1982 World Cup. They reached the finals of 1976 Asian Cup. Kuwait National Football Team had also won the championship of 1980 Asian Cup. Kuwait National Football Team was popularly known as“Al-Azraq” or “The Blue Team.”

The Kuwaiti National Team scouted the Philippine Azkals during the two matches against Sri Lanka through the effort of Kuwait Football (–foul word(s) removed–)ociation Development Director Bader Abdul Jalil and made a report submitted to Al-Azraq Serbian Head Coach Mr. Goran Tovaric.

Azkals vs. Kuwait
Azkals vs. Kuwait

The winner of the match between the Philippines and the Kuwaiti National Team will determine its next opponent by drawing of lots to be held in Brazil on July 30, 2011.

The Philippine Azkals were also relying for the support of thousands of Overseas Filipino Workers who were expected to watch the game between them against Kuwait. OFW’s from Kuwait, KSA and Bahrain who had multiple visas can visit Kuwait to watch the match between Azkals and Al-Azraq.

Azkals vs. Al-Azraq
Al-Azraq: Kuwait National Football Team

The Kuwaiti National Team Line-up were composed of:

  1. Khalid Al-Rashidi
  2. Nawaf Al Khaldi
  3. Hameed Youssef
  4. Khalid Al Osaimi
  5. Fahad Awadh
  6. Hussain Fadel
  7. Amer Al Fadhel
  8. Ali Maqseed
  9. Musaed Neda
  10. Ahmad Al-Rashidi
  11. Mohammad Sanad
  12. Fahad Al Enezi
  13. Saleh Al-Sheikh
  14. Fahed Al-Ibrahim
  15. Talal Al-Amer
  16. Waleed Ali
  17. Jarah Al Ateeqi
  18. Yousef N(–foul word(s) removed–)er
  19. Abdul-Aizi Al-Enezi
  20. Khaled Khalaf
  21. Abdullah Al Shamali
  22. Hamad Al-Enezi (Fahad Al-Enezi)
  23. Bader Al-Mutwa
The Philippine Azkals were composed of the following players:
  1. Neil Etheridge
  2. Christopher Camcam
  3. Eduard Sacapaño
  4. Rob Gier
  5. Jason Sabio
  6. Anton del Rosario
  7. Alexander Borromeo
  8. Stephan Schröck
  9. Roel Gener
  10. James Younghusband
  11. Manuel Ott
  12. Paul Mulders
  13. Ángel Guirado
  14. Emelio Caligdong
  15. Ricardo Becite
  16. Nestorio Margarse
  17. Phil Younghusband
  18. Misagh Bahadoran
  19. Nate Burkey
  20. Ian Araneta
  21. Ray Johnson
  22. Gerry Lucena
There were two Azkals who might not see action against the Kuwaiti National Team they were team-captain Ally Borromeo and Stephan Shrock but they will be replaced by Gerry Lucena and Ray Johnson.
The Kuwaiti National Team belongs to the Group B in Asian Football Confederation with three other prominent National Football Teams from Australia, Oman and Indonesia.  

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