Recalibrating After Tough Loss
After a challenging defeat against Iraq, the Philippine men’s football team is gearing up for the next window of the joint World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers with renewed determination.
Coach’s Strategy
New head coach Tom Saintfiet is planning a roster shakeup following the team’s 5-0 loss to Iraq. Despite the setback, Saintfiet remains focused on utilizing the team’s strengths and weaknesses to improve for the upcoming qualifiers.
Expanding the Roster
Saintfiet is in talks with eligible players, including foreign-based talents from countries like the United States, Norway, Sweden, and Belgium. The coach aims to bolster the team with new additions to enhance their performance in the next matches.
Preparation for Future Matches
Before the next qualifiers, Saintfiet intends to conduct a training camp in May, potentially in Dubai, and arrange friendly matches to assess player performance. The coach emphasizes the importance of building a competitive team for future competitions.
Current Standings and Future Goals
The Philippines currently occupies the bottom spot in Group F with 1 point and a -8 goal difference. Only the top two teams from each group will progress to the next round of qualifiers.
Learning from Defeat
Team captain Neil Etheridge views the loss to Iraq as a valuable learning experience for the squad. He emphasizes the need for the team to analyze their mistakes and show resilience in the upcoming matches against Vietnam and Indonesia.
Moving Forward Positively
Forward Jarvey Gayoso acknowledges that the team could have performed better in the previous match but remains optimistic about the future. He urges fans to stay positive and support the team as they strive to become more competitive under new management.