There will be four new faces possibly joining the Philippine Azkals national men’s football team, which continues to prepare for the AFF Suzuki Cup 2018 and the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019.
Thailand-based Michael Falkesgaard will beef up goalkeeper Neil Etheridge during a FIFA international friendly match with Oman this Saturday in Doha, Qatar.
Falksgaard, who plays for Bangkok United, will be there when the Azkals make their first encounter with Oman for the first time in 17 years.
There are three invited players, namely Alvaro Silva, who plays Kedah FA (Malaysia), Amin Nazari, who is with IFK Mariehamn in Sweden, and John-Patrick Strauss, FC Erzgebirge Aue (Germany).
Team management, led by businessman-sportsman Dan Palami, are expecting the three to show up anytime before their November sorties.
The Philippines is currently at 114th in the FIFA world rankings, while Oman is ranked 85th.
The two teams last met during the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea-Japan Qualifiers in May 2001, with the Philippines losing both matches, 0-2, and 0-7.
Both teams will also join the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 next year.
The Philippines is bunched in Group C, while Oman is in Group F.
Forward Javier Patiño, defenders Stephan Palla, goalkeeper Michael Falkesgaard, and midfielders Kevin Ingreso, Iain Ramsay, Dennis Villanueva, and James Younghusband will be returning to the squad. They are back after missing the friendly against Bahrain last month.
Defender Martin Steuble is also included in the squad. He was last called up in the friendly match against Malaysia in March 2017.”‹
