THE Philippine men’s football team will field an almost complete lineup when it embarks on a series of three international friendlies next week.
Azkals team manager Dan Palami confirmed that starting goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, veteran defender Rob Gier, and midfielders Paul Mulders and Jerry Lucena will be available when the national booters face their counterparts from Cambodia on Sept. 5, Singapore two days later, and Laos on Sept. 10.
The presence of the four Filipino-foreigners is expected to give significant boost to the Azkals’ shaky defensive backline that allowed three goals in their friendly against the Chicago Inferno in Windy City last month.
The Inferno is a young team whose oldest player is only 21.
Etheridge and Co. rejoin the 150th-ranked Azkals, along with Phil and James Younghusband, as the popular playing brothers failed to make the team’s US training camp last month due to a previous commitment.
The Younghusband brothers started training with the Azkals again last Tuesday.
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