Azkals handa sa Al-Azraq

KUWAIT - Sa kabila ng mas mataas na FIFA ranking ng Kuwait Al-Azraq (The Blue), kumpiyansa pa rin si German coach Michael Weiss sa tsansa ng Philippine Azkals.

“I’m quite content with preparations and I think the boys are now counting the hours towards the match. And that it will a massive match, as they say in England, and it will give us an idea where we stand and if we can compete at this level. I’m quite positive,” wika ni Weiss bago ang kanilang team meeting kahapon ng umaga.

Haharapin ng Azkals ang Al-Azraq (The Blue) sa Sabado ng gabi (Linggo sa Manila) para sa second round ng 2014 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

Tinalo ng Azkals ang Brave Reds ng Sri Lanka, 5-1, sa first round.

Ayon kay Weiss, pinag-aralan na nila ang laro ng Kuwait.

“We have studied the opponent very carefully and I think the players know exactly who they’re dealing with and how we have to prevent the opponent to get into its flow of play,” ani Weiss. “That would be the most crucial point - to be very aggressive and tight and not let them start their game and that is a thing that takes 90 minutes.”

Ang mainit na temperaturang 45 degrees dito, ayon kay Weiss, ay hindi naman masyadong naka­apekto sa kondisyon ng Az­kals.

Para magamay ang tem­peratura dito, sumalang sa training camp ang Az­kals sa Bahrain noong na­karaang linggo.

“They don’t worry about the heat because the heat is not an issue, actually. Our first match in Bahrain was much hotter,” an Weiss.