Beware of dog

They couldn't have picked a better name, homeless and unloved, these Azkals were never given a chance and was considered by the experts as merely a warm-up match for the traditional footballing nations in Southeast Asia. Practically a bye for teams Singapore, and of course, the defending champion and host Vietnam. So pathetic has been our previous participation in this tourney, once named Tiger Cup now renamed AFF Suzuki Cup, that the betting is not whether we will win or lose, but by how much we will lose. And lose we have mastered, by as much 13. That's akin to losing by 200 points in basketball.

We are not even supposed to be in the tournament, let alone tie or win a match. But saling-tuta or not, these crazy bunch would dare go. No fear of failure. Embarrassment be damned. They will do their darnedest -- for love of country and the glory of the game.

And when they tied Singapore (1-1),  embarrassed the host nation Vietnam (2-0), and secured a place in the semis by tying Myanmar (0-0), the Cinderella story is now nearly complete. Just the semis to win against Indonesia and we'll be in the finals. And our brave rabid pugs will have to do it away and away, having no home. Just another fly in the hopelessly infested ointment. But if any team can do it, I know this team can. No excuses, no multi-million contracts, no egos. These dogs simply go about their business and bite!

Go AZKALS!