PHILIPPINES’ AZKALS: MANILA- Eriksson: We can’t just be happy that we’re here

It will be a challenging showdown when they clash with South Korea at 3 p.m. (7:30 p.m. Manila time) at the Al-Maktoum Stadium in Dubai.

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The Azkals, ranked at 116th in the world and 21st in Asia, will be up against the region’s fourth-ranked squad, which last made it to the finals in 2015.

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Known as the Taeguk Warriors, the Koreans will play without captain Son Heung-min, who will sit out the first two games due to his commitments with his mother club, the Tottenham Hotspur.

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Son was the Best Footballer in Asia 2018, the fourth time he won the award.

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But the South Koreans are still dangerous in the knockout stage, with Gamba Osaka striker Hwang Ui-jo and Ki Sung-yueng, a Newcastle United midfield, expected to create trouble for the Philippine side.

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The South Koreans will bring with them the experience that they have earned from a total of 13 Asian Cup appearances.

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The Azkals are playing in their first-ever Asian Cup stint under new coach Sven Goran-Eriksson.

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Eriksson understands the toughness of the field, considering that powerhouse China is also in Group C with them, along with Kyrgyzstan.

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And surviving their bracket is something that Eriksson is looking forward to.

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“We have to have that target if we go to the tournament.

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We can’t just go and be happy that we are there.

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Yes, we’re happy but that’s not enough.

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We have to try to go through,” said Eriksson.

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Help is on the way as two players have joined the team, midfielder Patrick Strauss and left back Daisuke Sato.

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Strauss is on his second stint with the Azkals and plays in the second division in Germany.

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He last saw action in the AFF Suzuki Cup but missed the semis due to his stint with his club, Erzgebirge Aue.

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Sato came in from Romania and was not around in a friendly match against Vietnam.

The Azkals come into match following a 2-4 setback to Vietnam.

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For Eriksson, the Azkals needs to hang on in their games with the toughest teams in Asia.

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“The Philippines have to go in with one target: to go through, to go further.

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That’s not easy but if you can do that, that’s good.

Then everything depends on what’s happening,” he said.

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The Azkals finished Group F with three wins and three draws.