James and Angel to miss out AFC Semifinals

FIL-Spanish striker Angel Guirado and midfielder James Younghusband will miss the Philippine Azkals’ semifinals match against Turkmenistan in the AFC Challenge Cup in Nepal on Friday but Philippine Football Federation chief Mariano Araneta Jr. is convinced the team still has what it takes.
Guirado and Younghusband will sit out the match after being slapped their second yellow cards in the Azkals’ 2-1 victory over Tajikistan last Tuesday that powered them to a historic semis stint.
"I believe Misagh Bahadoran can fill in Guirado’s shoes while Marwin Angeles is an able reliever in midfield for James," Araneta pointed out.
Turkmenistan emerged as the top team in Group A but Araneta was hardly unfazed, saying: "If we play with the same focus and determination then our chance is as good as any."
North Korea, which beat the Philippines 2-0 in the eliminations, takes on Palestine in the other semis match.
Araneta also spoke glowingly of defender Jason Sabio who, he said, "is the discovery of the tournament."
"Jason has been playing steadily and been a surprise for our team in the AFC Challenge Cup," Araneta said. "He is the discovery of the tournament."
The 25-year-old Alabama University law student has been a stalwart in the back row and his stock has risen with every game in the tourney, according to Araneta.
"Sabio has been very reliable in our back row in a team where everybody seems to have stepped up with every game," added Araneta, who praised the Azkals for their historic upset of Tajikistan.
In the last three games, Sabio has played his role of libero or sweeper with aplomb, aggressively chasing down balls and coolly clearing away potential attempts to make life much easier for goalkeeper Neil Etheridge.
He has also become handy in offense, with his long, accurate throw-ins setting up his teammates for excellent scoring chances.
One of the original Azkals who revived soccer fever in the country when the team reached the Suzuki Cup semifinals in 2012, Sabio has also shown newfound poise and is no longer given to tantrums when things don’t go his way on the pitch.
Araneta also cited Guirado for his spirited performance in rallying the Filipinos to the come-from-behind win over Tajikistan, the 2006 Challenge Cup champion.
"Angel was inspired and his play was crucial in sustaining our hopes in the tournament," he said.
During the post-match briefing, ecstatic German coach Michael Weiss noted the triumph had taken the Azkals to a higher level.
"This is a historic day! We have actually been making history through the tournament but that is not comparable today," Weiss said in his remarks posted on the Asian Football Confederation Website.
"We have entered a higher level. Our opponents are much stronger than anyone we play in the region. This has been based on hard work and commitment. I am moved and honored to be proud to be coach of this team."
Tajikistan coach Kemal Alsaphic, a Bosnian, refused to give credit to the Azkals and blamed his players for their failure to reach the semis.
"In the first half, we had a good result and we’re in control of the second half until our defenders made too many mistakes. In fact, today we lost to ourselves and not to our opponents," Alsaphic was quoted as saying on the tournament’s official website,www.the-afc.com.
Weiss gave his players a break yesterday.

Courtesy of: www.malaya.com

No, im not into mustaches.

The mustaches are growing! @JYH7 @rayjonsson twitter.com/Jsabio3/status…

— Jason Sabio (@Jsabio3) March 6, 2012

Younghusbands: So, how's life?

So, how's life for the two brothers that changed the meaning of football for our country? Well, they're doing great. As a matter of fact, they're doing more than great. James and Phil are actually endorsing for Aronamin Gold, a vitamin that gives helps increase your level and helps improve your mood. If you must be wondering why the Younghusbands might take such vitamins, well, I hope you're not forgetting about them still being football players who have to practice long hours a day and have to get enough rest for games and matches.
  So how much time do the brothers really have to spend some bonding moments with their friends and family?
  All of us know that Phil is currently dating actress Angel Locsin -heartbreaker moment-. So, how do they get time to actually see each other, what with both of their hazy schedules?

   “I don’t know, I mean, we try to find time. I mean Angel is busy with her movie as well; she’s [working] 24/7 at the moment. But ah when we see, we talk and we understand that work is priority and we support each other.” Phil says in his sexy British accent.
  Since James' latest breakup with Fiona Faulkner, he dedicates his time to his ten-year-old sister, Keri.
     “She’s doing good now. She’s stronger than me and Phil. She always has a smile on her face. She’s enjoying everything she does. And we’re trying to help her find out what she wants, what things she enjoys—like hip-hop dancing, and tennis.” James says proudly.
  “She tried football but I don’t think she’s a team player,” Phil jokes.
   
  To add some fun to the blog I found some pictures trending online that shows James and Phil when they were young. Oh yes! 

James, Keri, and Phil

Wow, who knew Phil could have been so fat when he was young?

SIGHTINGS:

  Neil Etheridge seen taking the next flight to Manila from Dubai. Can't wait to see him play for the Azkals against the Malaysian team. Aly Borromeo spotted at yesterday's game against Philippine Army, playing for his club, Kaya FC. Congrats Kaya for winning and for getting your captain back in shape!
  Seeing some action with Chieffy Caligdong, despite his injury he still manages to visit The 4th Mizuno Pascual Lab Football Festival in Barotac Nuevo. Paolo Pascual seen in the opening of the Bolkiah Cup hosted by the country of Brunei. Good luck with your game today -February 6- against Laos, Paolo!     
  Misagh Bahadoran seen arriving at the Azkals Sports Bar in the afternoon. Phil Younghusband at the ASAP 2012, promoting the Azkals' game against Malaysia on Wednesday! Jason Sabio leaves Tali to watch The Rivalry: Ateneo vs. La Salle.
  Wow. A lot of Azkal action this week! Hope to see more in a couple of days!

  Wait for more on the Azkals and their next game against -drumroll, please- the Malaysian Tigers!
              Stay tuned everyone.....

Azkals vs. Ah Ahli Dubai: WE WON!!!

Yes, you heard that right, Philippines won against the Ah Ahli of Dubai with the score of 3-1 last night. Congratulations Azkals!

  If you haven't noticed, our defense was far more guarded then what we had when we played against Uzbekistan last Saturday. It was a relief that our defense was that strong that the Ah Ahli could only manage to kick in one goal. But of course, who could get past Jason Fabio, Luis Guirado, and Roland Muller at the same time, right? 

  Thanks to Phil for scoring twice at the game yesterday! We are very lucky to have both Younghusbands in the team, one managing the scoring, and the other managing that the scoring does happen.

 

  And who else to score one of the goals but, our latest addition to the team, Denis Wolf. With the help from Angel Guirado, who passed a through ball to James Younghusband who's touch got deflected by the keeper but went straight to Denis Wolf who was lurking in the box. Denis Wolf scored his very first international goal wearing the Azkals' blue uniform. More power, Denis!

  Which reminds me really. I keep on typing Denis Wolf's name on the search bar in Twitter but never find him. So, I'm just guessing now that he's too busy to make himself an account in Twitter, which is kind of lame really.

  And guess what? Neil Etheridge is going to try to fly over and play goalkeeper for the Azkals' next game against the Australian U-23 team on Thursday at 11 pm on Studio 23. Thank you, Neil! 

  Good luck on your next game Azkals! More power to the dogs in blue! -LOL-

  Stay tuned for more updates! Later, guys!

 

Coach Weiss: How we doing?

  We all must be wondering what Coach Weiss thinks about how the Azkals lost against the U-23 team of Uzbekistan last Saturday, which was quite a shame really.
  The real problem was that, in the second half of the game, the Azkals stopped playing offense and started adding on to the defense, which is pretty stupid really.
  If I were to ask you "Which would you like better? To score more goals, or to add defense on your goal so your enemy won't score?", what would you answer? Well, if you asked me that I would say make more goals! But still, we can't blame Weiss on anything because he really is trying his best for the team and working extremely hard just to get things in tow.
  "We fielded younger players in the first half and a lack of coordination and a few mistakes from us got punished severely and quickly, but the spirit of the group was great." he says. "Our problem is we don't have enough training time together. We have to link better and there must be support from the midfielders."

  Which was pretty weird for him to say because, James Younghusband, who usually plays right midfield was actually controlling the defense. I think he was playing for central defense, really.
  But anyway, I do hope that the Azkals do better and win their next game against the Australian team on February 16, at 11 pm. Be sure to watch and tune into Studio 23 for that! 

  Happy Valentines' Day everyone!

  

James Younghusband: Single Again

Yes everyone! You heard that right! James Younghusband of the Azkals is now finally single! If you have been a stalker of James for a while, you would have known that his girlfriend was eighteen-year-old Fiona Faulkner who is also a Filipino-British and also an Azkal fan. Yes, yes, you heard it right. She's eighteen. So what? Age doesn't matter does it?
   Unfortunately, James has refused to reveal anything about the break-up, leaving a lot of us wondering what went wrong.

So, what is our favorite player up to right now? He is simply "using his free time to take care of Keri". Keri, is James' and Phil's younger sister of nine, who we all saw in the news at the funeral of their mother, Susan Younghusband. And when James was asked how Keri was he simply said "She's good, she's good. She'll be my Valentine on Valentine's day."
 

  Aww. I know. How sweet brotherly love could be sometimes. So guys, I don't think you have to worry on what James might be doing on Valentines. You can now finally go back to sleep and as far as I'm concerned I don't think James is going to grab a date any time sooner. I really think he should try and stick to being single for a while, just for the sake of his Azkal girl fans, namely me. -Lol-
  Anyway, there are sayings going around that James and KC Concepcion should date, for publicity's sake. Well, in my own opinion, I think that those two would make a perfect couple together! Hey, don't start feeling sad all of a sudden. Who knows? Maybe if you dropped by the next Azkal game, James might spot you and have a love at first sight scene with you. Well, at least that's what I'm planning to do. Join me! -Breakups do have their own quirks, don't they?-XD

Stay tuned for more breakups and new relationship statuses of our Azkal team. And more on James, really.

James Younghusband

Full Name:  James Joseph Placer Younghusband
Birth Date: September 4, 1986 (25 Years Old)
Place of Birth: Ashford, Middlesex, England
Height: 6'1
Field Position: Right Midfield
Current Club: Loyola Meralco Sparks
Current Number: 7

Hotness Rate: 9/10

So, I bet everybody knows Mr. James Younghusband, brother of Phil Younghusband, the Azkal favorite. He is the eldest from his siblings: Phil, 24, Keri, 9.
   Honestly, -and no offense, people!- I find James more attractive than his younger brother, Phil. It's just that James is really shy and doesn't go on to the cameras so much and that's why everybody is so obsessed with Phil. Nothing personal, just my opinion! :)
  To be honest, James is one of my favorites from the Azkals, and of course, my personal crush. -LOL- You guys must be wondering how this awesome hottie got his cool skills in football. Well, the story goes like this:
  James and Phil grew up in England with their Filipino mother and their British father. Ever since both brothers were young they started practicing for football, with the help and support from both of their parents who sadly, are now both deceased. If you watch the news, you might have heard that their mother, Susan Younghusband passed away last September from a fatal heart attack. James' father died eight years ago from cancer.
  James Younghusband signed a scholarship with the famous football club, Chelsea at the age of 10, which is pretty impressive. -Now we know where his awesome football skills come from.- James has made many appearances for both the junior/youth team and reserve team. He also joined some other English clubs like Wimbledon, Stained Town, Woking, and Farnborough. His contract with Chelsea expired in 2008 which, apparently led them to making the decision of going back to the Philippines.
  James is now an active player of the national football team -that we all love, really- the Azkals Alyansya. He is currently playing as a midfielder for the Loyola Meralco Sparks, one of the competitors for the now, ongoing UFL/ United Football League.

Listen: If you're interested in the UFL check out their website at : www.uflphilippines.com


Stay tuned for more posts on James!