Azkals to fine-tune early for Cup

MANILA, Philippines - Azkals coach Michael Weiss expects intense sessions in the next four days as the Philippine national men’s football team gears up for the keenly awaited AFF Suzuki Cup kicking off Saturday in Bangkok.

The Azkals leave for Thailand today via Philippine Airlines to familiarize themselves  with the environs of the host country for the tough Group A and fine-tune their game plan for Saturday’s opener against the Thais.

“We’ll have four sessions in Thailand and it will be intense. We’ll work on the small details, on compactness, on our offensive set-up, on our set pieces and we’ll have a very competitive group for training so everybody must prove himself again,” said Weiss.

The German mentor will bring a pool of 25 to the Thai capital, from where he will pick the Final 22 on the eve of the tournament.

Weiss underscored the importance of the very first match, against the hosts Thais at that, in setting the tone for the Azkals’ bid to make it to the semis or even the finals. After the Thais, the Azkals will battle Vietnam on Nov. 27 and then Myanmar three days after, hoping to pick up enough points to go deeper into the prestigious bootfest.

“I’m reluctant to make a prediction because it doesn’t help me. I have to win (against) Thailand, that’s important. I would be happy already with a draw and then, we’ll take it from there,” said Weiss.

Both the Azkals and the Thais have scouted each other in their respective pre-Suzuki Cup friendlies against separate opponents. Thailand coach Winfried Schafer actually went to Cebu to watch and take notes in the Azkals’ 1-0 win over Singapore but Weiss said the Phl can be an “unpredictable team.”

“The Thai coach was there but I can bring in seven new players (from the Singapore friendly) so he’ll not know who will play from the start. What we just have to do is, we can’t sit too deep, we have to go a little bit out, and already put a little but pressure on the sideback and on centerback and the one’s picking up post from behind. That has to be rectified,” Weiss said.

Fil-Dutch Paul Mulders and Fil-Danish Dennis Cagara are expected to join the Azkals for the Suzuki Cup, along with Fil-Danish Jerry Lucena. Last-minute negotiations are still on for the release of Fil-Spanish Angel Guirado and goalkeepers Neil Etheridge  and Roland Muller.

Thai tactician Schafer, meanwhile, is wary of the Pinoy booters.

“They have big and strong players similar to Palestine. And more importantly, they play with understanding because they have good preparation and counter-attack. Hence, we have to be calm and pass accurately, we still have a couple of days to prepare,” Schafer was quoted by Goal.Com yesterday.