Veterans Schrock, Etheridge headline Azkals 25-man pool for World Cup qualifiers

Stephan Schrock and Neil Etheridge will be at the forefront when the Philippine Azkals set up camp in Doha, Qatar in preparation for the coming qualifiers of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup in Suzhou, China.

Schrock, who’s coming off a championship run with Ceres-Negros FC in the PFL, was named captain while Etheridge was hailed as his vice-captain as they lead a pool with a mix of veterans and young guns.

“Stephan Schrock and Etheridge are the core of this team in terms of the commitment and the things they do to talk to other players,” said Azkals head coach Scott Cooper in a statement.

The squad will convene in Doha from May 22 to May 31 before leaving for China for their matches against Guam on June 3, China on June 9 and Maldives on June 15.

Players coming from Manila are scheduled to fly today while the rest of the team are arriving on different flights from Thailand, Germany, Malaysia, and the United States.

Spanish striker Bienvenido Marañon did not get an invite from the coaches as his Philippine naturalization is still being processed but he is expected to join the team once he is granted Filipino citizenship.

Here is the list:

FORWARDS

Mark Hartmann

Angel Guirado

MIDFIELDERS

Stephan Schrock (CAPTAIN)

Patrick Strauss

Iain Ramsay

Gerrit Holtmann

Raphael Obermair

Patrick Reichelt

Oliver Bias

Jarvey Gayoso

Matthew Baldisimo

Mark Winhoffer

Lloyd Fagerlie

DEFENDERS

Carlie De Murga

Alvaro Silva

Luke Woodland

Jesper Nyholm

Martin Steuble

Jefferson Tabinas

Mar Diano

Niko De Vera

Michael Kempter

GOALKEEPERS

Neil Etheridge (VICE-CAPTAIN)

Bernd Schipman

Kevin Ray Mendoza

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News