Philippines

Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)	Azkals (Street Dogs) Tri–Stars
Association	Philippine Football Federation
Sub-confederation	AFF (Southeast Asia)
Confederation	AFC (Asia)
Head coach	Michael Weiß
Asst coach	Edwin Cabalida Edsel Bracamonte Rolando Piñero
Captain	Alexander Borromeo
Vice-captain	Emelio Caligdong
Home stadium	Rizal Memorial Stadium
FIFA code	PHI
FIFA ranking	148
Highest FIFA ranking	148 (April 2012)
Lowest FIFA ranking	195 (September 2006)
Elo ranking	168
Highest Elo ranking	26 (February 1913 – May 1915)
Lowest Elo ranking	216 (December 2004)
Home colours Away colours
First international
Philippines 0–1 Republic of China  (Manila, Philippines; February 1, 1913)
Biggest win
Japan 2–15 Philippines (Tokyo, Japan; May 10, 1917)
Biggest defeat
Japan 15–0 Philippines (Tokyo, Japan; September 27, 1967)

The Philippines national football team is the national football team of the Philippines and represents the country in international football. The team is controlled by the Philippine Football Federation (PFF), the governing body of football in the Philippines.

Despite being one of the oldest national teams in Asia, the Philippines has yet to qualify for the Asian Cup or the World Cup. However, they enjoyed some success in its early years between 1913 and 1934 in the Far Eastern Championship Games.

History[link]

In September 2006 the country fell to 195th on the FIFA World Rankings, its lowest ever.^[1] By the end of the year, the Philippines moved back up to 171st overall, after a good run in the 2007 ASEAN Football Championship qualification.^[2] They were able to win three games in a row which was a first for the Philippines and thus qualifying for the 2007 ASEAN Football Championship.^[3] Coach at that time Aris Caslib, aimed to reach the semi-finals with two wins at the group stage.^[4] The decision came despite Philippine Football Federation president Juan Miguel Romualdez stating that they would still be underdogs in the tournament and that they mustn't raise their expectations too high,^[2] as the Philippines have only won their first ever win of the tournament during the 2004 edition.^[5]

The Philippines eventually failed to reach their target, only getting a draw in three matches. Their poor performances led to Caslib's resignation,^[6] as well as the refusal of the PFF to register and enter the qualification stages for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.^[7] They would be one of four nations, all from Southeast Asia not to enter after a record number of entries.^[8] However it was revealed that the decision not to enter the 2010 as well as the 2006 World Cup qualification was made during the PFF presidency of Rene Adad, whose term ended in 2003.^[7] Instead, the PFF wanted to focus on domestic and regional competitions.^[9]

Since 2007, the Philippines have failed to qualify for a major competition. They came close in 2008 after missing out on the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup only on goal difference,^[10] and the 2008 AFF Suzuki Cup with an inferior goals scored record.^[11] In 2010, they qualified for the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup, where they stayed undefeated in the group stage and also went on to beat defending champions Vietnam, becoming one of the biggest upsets in the history of the tournament.^[12] The team reached the knockout stage for the first time, eventually losing to Indonesia in the semifinals. In 2011, the Philippines qualified for the AFC Challenge Cup for the first time since qualifiers were introduced in the tournament.

On July 3, 2011, the Philippines recorded their first ever victory in FIFA World Cup qualification, beating Sri Lanka 4–0 in the second leg of the first preliminary round. They advanced 5–1 on aggregate, drawing 1–1 in the first leg before winning at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.^[13]

On March 11, 2012, the Philippines recorded its first win in the AFC Challenge Cup by defeating previous champions India 2–0 and followed by another victory in March 13, which they won 2–1 against Tajikistan, thus qualifying for the semi-finals for the first time. However, on March 16, 2012, the team suffered a 2–1 defeat against Turkmenistan in their semifinals match.^[14]. However, the Philippines avenged their previous loss to Turkmenistan by beating Palestine 4–3 to win third place.^[15]

Team Image[link]

Kit[link]

In March 2008, the Philippine Football Federation signed a three-year, ₱9-million contract with Mizuno to become the official outfitter and equipment supplier of the national team, as well as becoming a major partner in its grassroots development programs.^[16][17] The previous outfitter was Adidas. The traditional home kit is similar to the France national team; blue jersey, white shorts, and red socks.^[18] However, in recent times, the home and away kit has either been all-blue, all-red or all-white. Currently the home kit is all-blue, while the away kit is all-white.

Names[link]

Under the official FIFA Trigramme the team's name is abbreviated as PHI; this acronym is used by FIFA, the AFC and the AFF to identify the team in official competitions.^[19] The team is also identified under the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) country code for the Philippines as PHL.^[20] However the team was more commonly known as the RP, the acronym for the country's official name, Republika ng Pilipinas,^[19] which the local press used when they referred to the team as the "RP Booters"^[21] or the "RP XI".^[22] This was until late October 2010 when the Department of Foreign Affairs decided to change the official abbreviation of the country from "RP" to "PH" or "PHL", to be in line with ISO standards.^[23] The local press have since referred to the team as either "PH/PHL Booters"^[24][25] or "PH/PHL XI".^[26][27]

The national team is popularly referred to as the "Azkals".^[28] The name was coined when an online Philippine football community proposed the nickname Calle Azul (Spanish for Streets of Blue, referring to the color of their kit) which was modified to Azul Calle, shortened to AzCal, and finally became Azkal – a word that is similar to Filipino term Askal meaning street dog.^[29] “Azkals” became a trending topic on Twitter during the semi-finals of the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup.^[30]

They are also known as the "Tri–Stars" which is derived from the three stars on the Philippine flag, although this nickname is not frequently used.^[31]

Home stadium[link]

During the early years of the Philippine national team, they played their home matches at the Manila Carnival Grounds. By 1934 it became the site of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.^[32] One of the facilities within the complex is the 30,000 capacity national stadium, known as the Rizal Memorial Track and Football Stadium or simply the Rizal Memorial Stadium. Since its opening, it has been the home venue of the Philippine national team.

However, it has also become a hub for athletics. The continued use for athletics along with poor maintenance has deteriorated the stadium and the 1991 Southeast Asian Games was the last time it was used for international football matches. In early 2009, the Philippine Sports Commission planned to transform it to a modern football stadium which would make it usable by the national team for international matches.^[33]

Other stadiums used:

• Barotac Nuevo Plaza Field
• Iloilo Sports Complex
• Panaad Stadium
• PhilSports Stadium

Players[link]

Current squad[link]

Match Date: June 1, 2012
Opposition: Malaysia
Competition: Friendly

No. Pos. Player DoB/Age Caps Club 1GK Roland Müller (1988-03-02) March 2, 1988 (age 24) MSV Duisburg 1GK Eduard Sacapaño (1980-02-14) February 14, 1980 (age 32) Philippine Army 2DF Rob Gier (1981-01-06) January 6, 1981 (age 31) Ascot United 2DF Juan Luis Guirado (1979-08-27) August 27, 1979 (age 32) Racing Lermeño 2DF Carli de Murga (1988-11-30) November 30, 1988 (age 23) Global FC 2DF Roxy Dorlas (1987-09-02) September 2, 1987 (age 24) Loyola 2DF Jason Sabio (1986-06-30) June 30, 1986 (age 25) Kaya 3MF Misagh Bahadoran (1987-01-10) January 10, 1987 (age 25) Global FC 3MF Ángel Guirado (1984-12-09) December 9, 1984 (age 27) Global FC 3MF Emelio Caligdong (1982-09-28) September 28, 1982 (age 29) Philippine Air Force 3MF Stephan Schröck (1986-08-21) August 21, 1986 (age 25) TSG 1899 Hoffenheim 3MF Jason de Jong (1990-02-28) February 28, 1990 (age 22) Unattached 3MF Paul Mulders (1981-01-16) January 16, 1981 (age 31) ADO Den Haag 3MF Lexton Moy (1985-01-24) January 24, 1985 (age 27) Kaya 3MF Manuel Ott (1992-05-06) May 6, 1992 (age 20) FC Ingolstadt 04 II 3MF Jeffrey Christiaens (1991-05-17) May 17, 1991 (age 21) Torhout 3MF Patrick Reichelt (1988-06-15) June 15, 1988 (age 24) Global FC 3MF Marwin Angeles (1991-01-09) January 9, 1991 (age 21) Global FC 4FW Denis Wolf (1983-01-15) January 15, 1983 (age 29) Unattached 4FW Ian Araneta (1982-03-02) March 2, 1982 (age 30) Philippine Air Force 4FW OJ Clarino (1990-07-27) July 27, 1990 (age 21) Stallions

Recent call-ups[link]

The following players have been called up for the Philippines within the past 12 months.

Pos. Player Date of Birth (Age) Caps Goals Club Latest Call-up GK Christopher Camcam (1994-09-30) September 30, 1994 (age 17) Kaya v. Sri Lanka, July 3, 2011 GK Neil Etheridge (1990-02-07) February 7, 1990 (age 22) Fulham 2012 AFC Challenge Cup GK Paolo Pascual (1991-01-22) January 22, 1991 (age 21) Global FC 2012 AFC Challenge Cup DF Jerry Barbaso (1988-04-18) April 18, 1988 (age 24) Global FC v. Inter de Madrid, January 7, 2012 DF David Basa (1989-04-02) April 2, 1989 (age 23) Global FC v. LA Galaxy, December 3, 2011 DF Joebel Bermejo (1981-02-28) February 28, 1981 (age 31) Philippine Air Force v. Inter de Madrid, January 7, 2012 DF Alexander Borromeo (1983-06-28) June 28, 1983 (age 28) Kaya v. Nepal, October 11, 2011 DF Dennis Cagara (1985-02-19) February 19, 1985 (age 27) Unattached 2012 AFC Challenge Cup DF Roel Gener (1974-06-27) June 27, 1974 (age 37) Philippine Army 2012 AFC Challenge Cup DF Matthew Hartmann (1989-08-19) August 19, 1989 (age 22) Loyola v. Nepal, October 11, 2011 DF Ray Jónsson (1979-02-03) February 3, 1979 (age 33) Grindavik 2012 AFC Challenge Cup DF Neckson Leonora (1989-03-22) March 22, 1989 (age 23) Pachanga v. Nepal, October 11, 2011 DF Oliver Pötschke (1987-02-13) February 13, 1987 (age 25) BFC Preussen 2011 Long Teng Cup DF Anton del Rosario (1981-12-23) December 23, 1981 (age 30) Kaya v. LA Galaxy, December 3, 2011 DF Lemuel Unabia (1988-11-13) November 13, 1988 (age 23) Green Archers United 2011 Long Teng Cup DF Matthew Uy (1990-03-22) March 22, 1990 (age 22) Long Island Rough Riders v. LA Galaxy, December 3, 2011 MF Ricardo Becite (1986-04-13) April 13, 1986 (age 26) Philippine Army v. Sri Lanka, July 3, 2011 MF Ruben Doctora (1986-04-17) April 17, 1986 (age 26) Stallions v. Australia U-23, February 16, 2012 MF Christopher Greatwich (1983-09-30) September 30, 1983 (age 28) Morris County Colonials v. LA Galaxy, December 3, 2011 MF Simon Greatwich (1988-09-30) September 30, 1988 (age 23) Hartwick College v. Kuwait, July 28, 2011 MF James Hall (1989-07-16) July 16, 1989 (age 22) Unattached v. Bahrain U-23, July 18, 2011 MF Mark Hartmann (1992-01-20) January 20, 1992 (age 20) Loyola 2011 Long Teng Cup MF Patrick Hinrichsen (1991-03-02) March 2, 1991 (age 21) SV Darmstadt 98 II v. Kuwait, July 28, 2011 DF Jerry Lucena (1980-08-11) August 11, 1980 (age 31) AGF v. Nepal, October 11, 2011 MF OJ Porteria (1994-05-09) May 9, 1994 (age 18) Tecumseh Area SC v. Bahrain U-23, July 16, 2011 MF James Younghusband (1986-09-04) September 4, 1986 (age 25) Loyola 2012 AFC Challenge Cup FW Joshua Beloya (1991-02-20) February 20, 1991 (age 21) Kaya v. Australia U-23, February 16, 2012 FW Nate Burkey (1985-01-07) January 7, 1985 (age 27) Kaya v. LA Galaxy, December 3, 2011 FW Peter Jaugan (1983-07-02) July 2, 1983 (age 28) Philippine Air Force v. Inter de Madrid, January 7, 2012 FW Yannick Tuason (1989-01-04) January 4, 1989 (age 23) Kaya v. Kuwait, July 28, 2011 FW Angelo Verheye (1992-05-14) May 14, 1992 (age 20) Gent 2012 AFC Challenge Cup FW Phil Younghusband (1987-08-04) August 4, 1987 (age 24) Loyola 2012 AFC Challenge Cup

Previous squads[link]

*Squads for all editions of the Far Eastern Games and the four editions of the Asian Games the Philippines has entered are unknown.

Coaches[link]

Competition records[link]

World Cup[link] Year Round GP W D L GS GA 1930 to 1938 Did not enter 1950 Withdrew[34] 1954 to 1962 Did not enter 1966 Entry not accepted[34] 1970 Did not enter 1974 Withdrew[34] 1978 to 1994 Did not enter 1998 2002 Did not qualify 2006 2010 Did not enter 2014 Did not qualify Total - - - - - - -

Asian Cup[link] Year Round GP W D L GS GA 1956 1960 Did not qualify 1964 Did not enter 1968 Did not qualify 1972 1976 Did not enter 1980 1984 Did not qualify 1988 1992 Did not enter 1996 2000 Did not qualify 2004 2007 Did not enter 2011 Did not qualify Total - - - - - - - Notes: After the inception of the AFC Challenge Cup, new changes in AFC Competition rules were made. Countries categorized as "emerging nations" which include the Philippines, do not enter Asian Cup qualification starting with the 2011 edition. Therefore, failure to qualify and failure to win the Challenge Cup automatically results in failure to qualify for the Asian Cup.[35]

AFC Challenge Cup[link] Year Round GP W D L GS GA 2006 Round 1 3 0 2 1 2 3 2008 2010 Did not qualify 2012 Third Place 5 3 0 2 9 8 Total – 8 3 2 3 11 11

Asian Games[link] Year Round GP W D L GS GA 1951 Did not enter 1954 Round 1 2 0 0 2 2 7 1958 Quarter-finals 3 1 0 2 2 8 1962 Round 1 3 0 0 3 1 27 1966 1970 Did not enter 1974 Round 1 3 0 0 3 0 21 1978 to 1998 Did not enter Total – 11 1 0 10 5 63 Notes: Only until the 1998 edition is listed; football at the Asian Games changed to an under-23 tournament since the 2002 edition.

ASEAN championship[link] Year Round GP W D L GS GA 1996 Round 1 4 0 0 4 0 16 1998 3 0 0 3 3 11 2000 3 0 0 3 0 8 2002 4 0 0 4 3 24 2004 4 1 0 3 4 9 2007 3 0 1 2 0 8 2008 Did not qualify 2010 Semi-finals 5 1 2 2 3 3 Total – 26 2 3 21 13 79

Southeast Asian Games[link] Year Round GP W D L GS GA 1977 Round 1 3 1 1 1 5 7 1979 Did not enter 1981 Round 1 2 0 0 2 0 3 1983 2 0 1 1 0 5 1985 2 0 0 2 0 13 1987 Did not enter 1989 Round 1 3 0 0 3 1 10 1991 Semi-finals 4 1 1 2 6 10 1993 Round 1 3 0 0 3 1 11 1995 4 1 0 3 2 9 1997 4 0 0 4 1 13 1999 4 0 0 4 3 18 Total – 31 3 3 25 19 99 Notes: Only until the 1999 edition is listed; football at the SEA Games changed to an under-23 tournament since the 2001 edition. The 1959–1975 editions are not listed as the Philippines were not yet members of the SEAP Federation.

Far Eastern Games[link] Year Round GP W D L GF GA 1913 Champions 1 1 0 0 2 1 1915 Runners-up 3 0 2 1 1 2 1917 Runners-up 2 1 0 1 15 5 1919 Runners-up 3 1 0 2 3 5 1921 Runners-up 2 1 0 1 3 1 1923 Runners-up 2 1 0 1 2 4 1925 Runners-up 2 1 0 1 5 5 1927 Third place 2 0 0 2 2 5 1930 Third place 2 0 0 2 2 12 1934 Third place 3 1 0 2 6 8 Total – 22 7 2 13 41 48

Minor tournaments[link] Year Round Position GP W D L GS GA 1962 Merdeka Tournament Group stage 5th in group 4 0 0 4 2 23 1971 Merdeka Tournament Group stage 11th 5 0 1 4 7 16 1971 Pesta Sukan Cup Quarter-finals 8th 2 0 0 2 1 4 1972 Jakarta Anniversary Tournament Group stage 3rd in group 4 2 1 1 4 5 1972 Merdeka Tournament Group stage 8th 5 1 2 2 8 10 1972 Pesta Sukan Cup Group stage 3rd in group 2 0 0 2 1 7 1972 President's Cup Football Tournament Group stage 8th 4 0 0 4 0 22 1981 Jakarta Anniversary Tournament Group stage 3rd in group 3 1 0 2 2 15 1982 King's Cup Group stage 5th in group 4 0 0 4 0 6 1985 Brunei Merdeka Games Group stage 3rd in group 2 0 0 2 1 8 1986 Brunei Merdeka Games Group stage 3rd in group 2 0 0 2 1 6 1986 President Aquino Cup Group stage 4th 3 0 0 3 1 12 1987 Brunei Merdeka Games Group stage 3rd in group 2 0 0 2 0 4 1990 Brunei Merdeka Games Group stage 3rd in group 2 0 0 2 0 7 1993 Philippines International Cup Semi-finals 4th 5 2 1 2 4 4 2010 Long Teng Cup Group stage 3rd 3 1 1 1 8 5 2011 Long Teng Cup Group stage 2nd 3 1 2 0 5 3 Total – – 55 8 8 39 45 157 Notes: Tournaments listed are invitationals. Not all games played are 'A' international matches.

See also[link]

• Philippines national football team fixtures and results
• Philippines national under-23 football team
• Philippines women's national football team
• Football in the Philippines

References[link]

External links[link]

• Philippines at FIFA.com
• Philippines – World football elo ratings at ELOratings.net (Includes past fixtures & results)