After defeating Hong Kong 1-0 in a friendly, the first time the Azkals have ever beaten the city state, the Philippines picked up the ranking points necessary to maintain their position at a time of the year when other countries around them were also looking to rise
Vietnam, meanwhile, fell 12 places to 145th, one place below the Philippines, as their national team has suffered from poor form in recent years. No longer the number one team in Southeast Asia, that mantle now belongs to Thailand, who jumped from 142 to 138 in the world and from 2nd to 1st in the region.
The Philippines' climb since 2010
This is the first time the Philippines has ever been second in Southeast Asia, and it is the latest in an impressive string of feats from the Azkals. Ranked 170 in the world back in April 2010, the team has been revolutionized under manager Dan Palami and coach Michael Weiss, and have climbed quickly from seventh in the region to second now.
Thailand, meanwhile, is the team to beat as the Philippines will have to continue that improvement to match them. Thailand thrashed China, now 100th in the world, 5-1 in a friendly match on June 15, even without top scorer Teerasil Dangda and playmaker Datsakorn Thonglao.
The win meant Thailand bounced back from losses to Kuwait and Lebanon in Asian Cup Qualification and they will be hoping to recover further, and retain hope of making the 2015 Asian Cup.
The Philippines, meanwhile, are looking at the 2014 Challenge Cup in March as their route to the same competition, as the champions of the tournament designed for emerging nations gain entry to the Asian Cup a year later.
What’s next for the Philippines?
The news of the Philippines’ improvements is a welcome boost to National football. With Vietnam expected to drop further as the year progresses, based on the devaluation of past results, the Philippines can make a top two position in the region their own.
This may well even put more pressure on the PSC and POC to allow the U23 National football team to travel to Myanmar for the SEA Games. With the committee stating that only likely gold medal winners will go, the PFF and Azkals management are hoping a case can be made for the football team’s inclusion so as to guarantee international competition for the younger generation.
This competition is key to the growth of the senior team, as while the U23 Azkals will not be the favorites for gold this year, they have a good chance at a medal and it is the sort of competition which helps the development of the national team in the long run.
The Philippines do not have an official fixture until November when they will face the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi on the 9th. However it is likely that other friendlies will be arranged, though the focus will be on the U23 team ahead of the hopeful SEA Games participation, in order to boost the development of younger players.
The next major tournament for the senior team will then be in March for the 2014 Challenge Cup. The Philippines will be considered strong contenders there after thrashing Cambodia 8-0 and defeating the highest-rated country in the tournament, Turkmenistan, 1-0 in the qualifying group stages. And if they can win the tournament, a place in the 2015 Asian Cup will be theirs. The country also still have a 100 percent record in 2013 after defeating Myanmar, Cambodia, Turkmenistan, and Hong Kong in their four games, not including the 3-0 default win over Brunei.
The future of Philippine football looks bright as the Philippines climb above another Southeast Asian rival, finishing what they started in 2010 when they shocked the world with a 2-0 win over Vietnam in the Suzuki Cup group stage. This time it’s not a shock as the Philippines have deserved their ranking rise. And with further preparation and hard-work, the country will continue to look up and try to pass Thailand as the best in Southeast Asia.
Rankings around the world
Elsewhere in Asia, Guam and Tajikistan have improved on their best-ever rankings, while Cambodia has dropped to their lowest point in history. At the top of the world, Spain is still an impressive distance ahead of the rest of the world despite suffering their first loss in a world-record 29 competitive matches.
The team that beat them, Brazil, shot up thirteen places to jump back into the top ten by winning the Confederations Cup. Germany and Colombia, the latter, at their highest point ever on the back of strong World Cup Qualifying performances, complete the top three while Argentina and the Netherlands complete the top five.
Meanwhile England, the inventors of modern day football, have dropped outside the top ten to an embarrassing 15th, behind the Ivory Coast and even Bosnia, amid growing criticism over the lack of grassroots development in the country. - AMD, GMA News
source: gmanetwork.com
