AFTER A long layoff, fans can expect a “hungry” Philippine Azkals squad to show up against streaking Nepal today at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium, a match that will serve as the initial gauge on the current status of the national men’s football squad.
“We will be hungry and happy to represent the country. We plan to play positive, offensive-oriented football,” newly-appointed German head coach Michael Weiss said in an online pre-match press conference yesterday together with veteran defender Daisuke Sato.
The two sides clash at the heritage-rich pitch at 7 p.m. Filipino booters subdued the Nepalese 3-1 the last time they met in Manila during the Asian Cup qualifiers in 2017.
Sato, glad that Weiss is back at the helm, was bullish about the game, saying: “I believe that whoever our opponent is we are forever underdogs and I will make sure that we are the hungrier, one who fights more, who wants more, that is what is going to happen tomorrow. We are going to be ready for that.”
Now playing for Persib Bandung in the Indonesian Liga 1, Sato could not help but look back at the glory days of the Azkals when they were just as prominent, if not more famous, than other national teams.
“The last few years have not been the best times for the Azkals but we are looking for a new start tomorrow. It is going to be a new journey for the Azkals and we are gonna be positive this time,” he said.
Weiss, who was rehired by the Philippine Football Federation last week, nine years after his previous stint with the Nationals, revealed that he had just two sessions with the squad, some of whose members started to trickle in from overseas.
“I have seen some of them on video but to see them live is a different thing. We could see that some came from a longer trip, some from holidays, so we have to get them back into shape a little bit. They have to sweat as we put them through the drills,” the German tactician said.
“Of course, we cannot try to change the world in three days but we try as best as we can,” he added.
He revealed that Fil-British goalkeeper and former Azkals skipper Neil Etheridge, who is in the country for the holidays, was scheduled to practice yesterday.
“Neil is here but whether he will be good for tomorrow against Nepal is another matter. Perhaps for the next friendly against Chinese-Taipei (on Sunday). In the meantime, we have goalies Patrick Deyto and Julian Schwarzer available for us,” Weiss said.
Nepal coach Vincenzo Annese of Italy, who was also in the briefing, said the hosts can expect a strong performance from his players, who will go into the game having won four matches and a draw, all at home.
“We know that your team has strong players so we want to come up with a good performance as well tomorrow,” Annese said.
On paper, the Azkals are ranked No. 136 to their rival’s 177 in the FIFA men’s world ratings.
But just as Sato pointed out, they have fallen on hard times, losing their last four games. He was hopeful the return of Weiss would arrest the decline starting today.
