Weiss: Azkals will be up to the task

GERMAN coach Michael Weiss has admitted the Philippines faces a tall order when it battles Asian soccer power Kuwait in the second round of the Asian World Cup qualifiers but stressed the Azkals would be up to the task.

"With solid preparation, good performance and perhaps an extra ounce of luck, it is possible for us to turn the corner," the 46-year-old mentor told FIFA.com, the official website of the world’s football body, in an interview posted last Tuesday.

"Kuwait should be the hardest task for us so far," Weiss said. "They are a strong team in Asia."

"I wish we had a year to prepare for the match instead of a couple of weeks, then we should have a good chance against them," he added.

The Kuwaitis, who made it once to the World Cup main tournament in 1982 in Spain but failed to go beyond the first round, are currently ranked No. 102 in the latest FIFA world ratings, 57 spots higher than the Azkals who are ranked No. 159.

The two squads open their home-and-away series on July 23 in Kuwait City while the rematch will be on July 28 in Manila at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

Weiss said he looks forward to the team’s training camp in Bahrain starting this weekend, a day after the nationals leave the country on Friday in the final build-up to the Kuwaiti clash.

The Filipinos are scheduled to play at least two tune-up games in Bahrain, one of them against its Under-23 national team, before heading for Kuwait on July 19.

"Despite the short time we are given…I hope the players can make the best of the camp in Bahrain so they will go into the Kuwait match in their best form," he pointed out.

He noted the vast improvement of players since he took over the squad last January.

"The team has improved a great deal over the past months, particularly in regards to attitude," Weiss said. "We have spent much on physical training so they are fit to compete at this level."

Unlike before when the Azkals preferred "long-ball tactics… the team now plays a good passing game and are stronger in organization," he said.

Among the players Weiss singled out in the interview were regular goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, a reserve goalie in English Premier Division Fulham, Phil and James Younghusband, Fil-German Manuel Ott, Aly Borromeo and Chieffy Caligdong.

Bong Pedralvez, Business Malaya Insight