Club heroics should earn Neil Etheridge a Philippine team call-up
- Rodolfo Dacleson II
- Mar 13
- 3 min read
Philippine international Neil Etheridge's goalkeeping heroics on Tuesday, March 10, saved the day for Buriram United as they reached the quarterfinals of the 2025-2026 AFC Champions League Elite.
Etheridge and the reigning Thai League 1 champion overcame Melbourne City in a penalty shootout, 4-2, behind his pair of crucial saves against Ryan Teague and Aziz Behich.
Throughout the match, Etheridge kept the Australian side scoreless from regulation until extra time. He earned the Man of the Match honors.
He has been a key figure in Buriram's success over the past two years. Last season, the veteran keeper helped them achieve their third quadruple in club history by winning the Thai League 1, FA Cup, League Cup, and ASEAN Club Championship.
With such consistency at the club level, Filipino fans couldn't help but wonder why the Philippine men's national football team has yet to invite him again.
Not him, it's them?
The 36-year-old keeper last suited up for the Philippines in November 2023 during the joint 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2027 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers.
Last year, Etheridge explained that his absence from the national team wasn't by choice.
“Look, it's not my decision if I get called up or not,” he said in One News’ Play by Play, as quoted by One Sports. “I've made it very clear—I've spoken to people above the coach. I haven't spoken to the coach directly, but I’ve not retired. I still believe I have something to offer, both on and off the field.”
Since his last appearance, the national team has gone through two Spanish managers — Albert Capellas and current head coach Carles Cuadrat — yet Etheridge has remained absent from the squad.
Freddie Gonzales, former director of national seniors teams, explained that his exclusion was a matter of preference.
“It’s Albert’s [Capellas] decision in the end who he wants to call up that fits his style of play,” he told The Designated Kit Man.
The Catalan tactician has employed possession-based football built on short, precise passing and quick, structured ball recovery when lost. Such a system relies heavily on a sweeper-keeper who's comfortable playing with his feet and helping initiate attacks from the back. Etheridge, however, is a traditional keeper whose main strength isn't distribution but goal protection.
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While he stressed that the “Capellas Ball” will be kept, expect Cuadrat to integrate his pragmatic blueprint into the team. His approach leans on adjusting strategy and structure depending on circumstances instead of rigidly following a single tactical ideology, according to global sports platform Sportskeeda.
The Philippine Football Federation, meanwhile, has yet to comment on the matter until now.
Should Etheridge be tapped again?
The answer is pretty straightforward: he should be.
Etheridge is in form and ready to wear the Philippine jersey in the country's decisive away match against Tajikistan on the final day of the Asian Cup Qualifiers this March.
As the former Premier League campaigner said, he could still offer something to the team.
Should Cuadrat opt for Etheridge, he could be the impenetrable wall between the posts that they're looking for. Throughout the team's third-round campaign, they've yet to manage a clean sheet even against relatively weaker foes. Whether as a starter or on the bench, he would be a huge boost to the country's goalkeeping department.
Youngsters can also learn from his experience and guidance, especially in tense moments that need a leader to step up and be vocal.
With an Asian Cup ticket on the line, building the best possible lineup is the toughest assignment for Cuadrat and the PFF. Hopefully, they consider Etheridge this time.
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