The Philippines might not have been impressive in the group matches but they got the job done, and that is to make the semifinals of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2018.
They opened their campaign with a close 1-0 win at home over Singapore before following it up with a 3-2 victory over Timor Leste away.
And a return to Bacolod City saw them holding defending champions Thailand to 1-1 as they then completed their group fixtures with another draw – scoreless against Indonesia in Jakarta.
Head coach Sven Goran Eriksson, when asked what was his secret in being able to guide the Philippines to the semifinals of the AFF Suzuki Cup despite having a short period of time to prepare the squad, his answer was as cryptic as it could ever get.
âAs a coach, if you want to have results. Thereâs only one thing you need. You need good football players,â said Eriksson.
âIf you donât have that then it does not matter, who is the coach. If you have good football players then you will have a better chance of being successful.
âWe have a good a team. We played well against Thailand and Indonesia and its good.
âI like our team. I like it very much. We have some good footballers and they play with a lot of heart. Now we look forward to playing against Vietnam next (in the semifinals).â
In the meantime, the Philippines will know over the course of the next few days if captain Phil Younghusband will take to the field on Sunday at the Panaad Park and Stadium.
Younghusband was involved in an aerial clash with Indonesiaâs Fachruddin Aryanto that saw him receiving several stitches to his head.
