Azkals drawn with Thailand in Suzuki Cup prelims

Stephan Schrock and the rest of the Azkals will be playing Thailand early into the AFF Suzuki Cup. AFC (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA—The Philippine Azkals have been grouped with Thailand during the group stage draw for the AFF Suzuki Cup on Tuesday at the AFF headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

The Azkals and the Thais are expected to cruise through Group A which also includes Myanmar, Singapore, and the winner of the qualifying match between Brunei and Timor Leste.

Although they ended up with Thailand, which has ruled the event five times already, the Azkals dodged defending champion Vietnam as the latter joins Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Laos in Group B.

Supposed to be played last year but was postponed to Dec. 5, 2021-Jan. 1, 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Suzuki Cup will begin with the home-and-away group stages.

The top two teams per group will enter the crossover semifinals, which will be played in a couple of two-match home-and-away series.

The winning semifinalists will slug it out in the two-legged championship series to decide the champion.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno