Stacjic to make painful cuts as Filipinas pool balloons

Coach Alen Stajcic (center) answers questions during the presscon along with (from left) goalkeeper Inna Palacios, team manager Jefferson Cheng, defender Hali Long and U-20 head coach Nahuel Arrarte. —FRANCIS TJ OCHOA

Coach Alen Stajcic sees the following weeks and months until the historic participation of the Philippine women’s football team in the FIFA Women’s World Cup (Federation of International Football Associations) as diverse and challenging, especially with the responsibility of having to overcome one big dilemma. .

“Right now we have a pool of about 30 to 35 players,” Stajcic said on Wednesday when the Philippines held an afternoon press conference at the Acacia Hotel in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

“And the most difficult part of this journey is that 10 to 12 players who have been in the squad, and have been part of the regular squad will not be selected for the World Cup.”

But Stajcic seems to have a good deal ahead of him, with plenty of talent and big tournaments ahead of him heading to New Zealand for the global women’s football showcase.

“It is an exciting time, but it will also be a challenging time for the staff and the players, to get the best for the upcoming World Cup, which is the biggest event in football,” he said.

February will be the start of a busy road that the Philippines will take, first with a match against three countries from England – Wales, Ireland and Scotland – in the Pinatar Cup in Spain and then continue in the opening round of the Paris 2024 Olympic qualifier against the loser. Pakistan, Tajikistan and Hong Kong sides.

Direct target

And then the Philippines will try to make history in May, hoping to win its first gold at the Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia where they are seen as favorites after defeating Vietnam and Thailand en route to winning the Asean Football Federation Women’s Championship last year. .

Throughout the process, Stajcic is looking forward to challenges in the squad in hopes of seeing action at the World Cup in July, which pits the Philippines against co-hosts New Zealand, Norway and Switzerland.

“We have reached a stage where we will push each other [those roster] point,” said Stajcic. “For me, that’s the main quality of the team, to push each other, to be able to push each other in training, and to compete with each other. In the end, we will find the same qualities and I think this is another big factor in this team, which has reached 30 players.

“I think we have seen this year, no matter who plays, you will see the same mentality, the same philosophy, the same motivation and drive from the players and, to some extent, the level of performance. . I am very proud that we have get to that level,” he said.

Analyze your weekly exercise

Read Next

Don’t miss the latest news and information.

For suggestions, complaints, or questions, please contact us.