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Friday, July 8, 2011

Weiss: Azkals must play smart vs Kuwait


MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Azkals coach Hans Weiss said the key to beating a team like Kuwait in the second round of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers is to play smart football.

The Azkals' away-game against the higher-ranked Al-Azraq squad is set in Kuwait on July 23.
"Regarding Kuwait, that will be a different level. We have to put all our strengths together and play smartly there to get a good result," Weiss said in an interview on ANC's Hardball.
Weiss said they will prevent Kuwait from scoring goals in the away-game so that the Azkals won't have to play catch-up when they play at home.
"To oppose and obstruct the game of the opponents... that will be our strategy," he said.
The home-game, meanwhile, will take place at the Rizal Memorial Stadium on July 28.
Biggest hurdle

Weiss said the biggest hurdle they will have to face in the away game is the playing conditions in Kuwait.
The temperature in Kuwait can go as high as 45 °Celcius. The current temperature in the Philippines is around 29 °Celcius.
Weiss said this is the reason why their training in Bahrain will be very important.
"The heat would be very extreme there [in Kuwait]. I hope Bahrain gives us the chance to acclimatize," he said.
Without Schrock, Borromeo


Azkals team manager Dan Palami said the coaching staff is already working out the needed adjustments should they play without Filipino-German Stephan Schrock and Filipino-American team captain Aly Borromeo.
"We have to contend with the possible suspension of Aly and Stephan who are vital cogs in the Azkals First 11," said Palami.
"But talking to the coaching staff earlier today (Wednesday), we might be able to get something as well with regards to the composition of the team."

Borromeo and Schrock will be suspended for the away-game against Kuwait after incurring 2 yellow cards in their first round World Cup qualifier against Sri Lanka.
Weiss, however, said they will devise a plan to make up for the absence of the 2 key players.
"Even if we are not with the best squad, we only have 5 to 6 players from the top team that will probably step on the pitch against Kuwait... we have a list of these players, we try to prepare them as good as possible," he said.
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