2016 AFF Suzuki Cup semifinal round begins
FOLLOWING a competitive group stage play, the ASEAN Football Federation Suzuki Cup kicks off the championship round with the semifinals starting this weekend.
From a field of two groups of four teams each, competition is now down to the top two teams from each grouping which will battle in a crossover, two-leg and home-and-away semis to determine which teams get to dispute the championship title in this year’s edition of the high-profile regional tournament.
Left standing from Group A are defending champion Thailand (3-0), which topped the group, and second-running Indonesia (1-1-1) while in Group B are Vietnam (3-0) and Myanmar (2-0-1).
Eliminated were the Philippines (0-2-1) and Singapore (0-1-2) in Group A and Malaysia (1-0-2) and Cambodia (0-0-3) in Group B.
Kicking off the semifinal round is the matchup between Vietnam and Indonesia, happening tomorrow at the Stadion Pakansari in Bogor, Indonesia.
Thailand versus Myanmar follows a day after at Thuwana Stadium in Yangon, Myanmar.
WAR ELEPHANTS FAVORITES
Seeing firsthand how Thailand dominated in the group stage in games played at the Philippine Sports Stadium in Bocaue, Bulacan, football analyst Ryan Fenix believes that the War Elephants are favorites to win back-to-back Suzuki Cup titles.
“Thailand were favorites even before the tournament started, and they did little to dispel that tag. Winning 3 out of 3 group stage games, in the so-called Group of Death, showed everybody that they are firm favorites,” said Mr. Fenix, resident football analyst of Interaksyon. and author of the column “Rampaging Fullback,” when asked by
Businessworld for his thoughts on the Suzuki Cup semifinals.
He added, “Thailand vs. Myanmar — Thais are heavy favorites to progress. Myanmar might get a result in Yangon, but in Bangkok, it will be very difficult for them.”
For Vietnam against Indonesia, Mr. Fenix, who also writes for ESPN FC, said it will be trickier with a lot of storylines to chew at.
“Between Vietnam and Indonesia, Indonesia are the underdog stories — coming from a FIFA ban to play an attacking and eye-pleasing brand of football. Vietnam, for its part, would want to give legend Le Cong Vinh a good send-off. This will be a toss-up,” the analyst said.
This year’s edition of the AFF Suzuki Cup is its 11th staging and co- hosted by the Philippines and Myanmar.
Thailand and Singapore have both won the Cup four times with Malaysia and Vietnam winning it once.