AFTER being drawn in a tough bracket that includes world No. 6 Argentina, Spanish mentor Rafa Merino would prefer focusing on his charges’ preparations rather than their rivals in the inaugural FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup opening on Nov. 21 at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
“It is important to focus on ourselves rather than our rivals, although we have a difficult group,” said Merino through an interpreter after the draw held two days ago at the Maybank Performance Theater in Taguig City that saw the Filipina5 drawn in Group A.
At No. 63 in the FIFA women’s futsal world ratings, the Nationals are the lowest-ranked squad in the group that also includes Poland (No. 17), which they play on opening day, and Morocco (No. 16).
But the Spanish tactician, who took over the national women’s futsal team early in the year, is aware of what his wards are capable of, having faced tall odds before, dating back to the AFC Women’s Asian Futsal Cup qualifiers last January in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
