BELGIAN coach Tom Saintfiet implored Filipino fans to come out in full force tonight as the Philippines battles Iraq in a do-or-die match in Group F of the second round of the joint AFC Asian Cup and World Cup qualifying series at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Five days after the Filipino booters lost a close 0-1 decision to the Iraqis at the Basra Stadium in the Iraqi city of Basra, Sainfiet’s charges aim to bounce back when the two sides tangle at 7 p.m.
“We know it will be difficult, but if we have the crowd singing our anthems like the Iraqis did (in Basra), we will have a good atmosphere, it will encourage and help our boys also to maybe score a goal,” Saintfiet said over the weekend while the Nationals worked out at the famous football arena.
In his coaching debut with the national squad, Saintfiet nearly achieved an improbable draw at the packed 65,000 Basra Stadium, with the host squad eking out the victory in the final six minutes through striker Mohanad Ali, who struck from the center due to a Pinoy defensive lapse.
“That is what the players want. So together with the fans, we can make it again very tough against Iraq. We need their support. We need the ‘12th Man’ to beat the 11 men from Iraq.
Here’s hoping that will be 12,000 fans,” Saintfiet pleaded.
Although they are at the bottom of the four-team group with just one point in three matches, the bespectacled Belgian mentor had not lost hope on the Filipinos remaining in the running after their gritty and gutsy performance under intimidating conditions in Iraq.
“I am proud of the performance of the players, the discipline, the effort, the spirit, the mentality of the team was fantastic. I am sad that they didn’t get rewarded for the way they played,” Saintfiet recalled on how his squad gave the Iraqis fits at home.
“We need to have a good day. But I think we have shown we can be competitive with them and hopefully we can get that extra mile on Tuesday,” he said.
He added he is hoping Vietnam could either win or draw versus Indonesia at the My Dinh Stadium in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi today to give his wards a chance of advancing to the next round.
In a stunning development, Indonesia upset Vietnam 1-0 at the sprawling Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in the Indonesian capital last week.
“If we gain at least a draw, possibly a win, and Vietnam also either wins or draws, then we may have a chance. We may still have everything in our hands if we beat Vietnam and Indonesia in our last two games,” said Saintfiet of the possibilities if the cards fall their way tonight.
Young defender Santiago Rublico, who plays for the Under-19 squad of La Liga powerhouse Atletico Madrid, will be back in harness after serving a one-game suspension for getting two yellow cards in the previous game.
The Philippines will have to reckon with dreaded Iraqi striker Aymen Hussein, who will also be back in action after serving a similar one-game ban.
