“When the team goes to the pitch and they begin to play our national anthem, chances are they will start booing,” said Johnny Romualdez, vice president of the Asean Football Federation, in a phone interview with Manila Standard.

Indonesia and the Philippines lead the Suzuki Cup in less goal conceded, but the underdog Filipinos, known as Azkals on the net, will see their defense tested. Azkals are small, native-bred dogs who bark and snap at people. The moniker came from a combination of the Filipino words asong kalye.

The Indonesians can score and their Uruguayan center forward Cristian Gonzales sets them up for goals. They also have a one-touch attacking game, which may force the Filipinos to play defensively for a long time and seize on openings quickly.

“Everything depends on how the game will proceed,” said midfielder Dennis de Jong, one of the seven foreign reinforcements who have Filipino blood.

Team manager Dan Palami said having gone this far they will try to put everything behind, including the political atmosphere in local football, and play their best. “I have faith they will play as best as possible,” he said.

The Azkals have become the darling of social media networking sites, like Facebook and Twitter, after they beat defending champion Vietnam and tied Singapore with a last-minute goal from Chris Greatwich.

President Benigno Aquino III lauded the team’s performance when they beat Vietnam. On Monday, the national team went to Malacanang for a courtesy visit.

Palami has managed this team for a year, spending money he has raised to prepare the national squad.

Philippine Football Federation president Jose Mari Martinez said the first game of the Suzuki Cup semifinals, known as the away game, will be played in Jakarta because the country has no suitable facilities for such an event.

Martinez was ousted in an election, where 31 football associations, or provincial chapters, voted. But the Federation Internationale de Futbol ordered a status quo and called on Martinez to organize elections within 90 days.

Manila Standard Today