BESIDES tactics and strategy, Australian coach Alen Stajcic is putting a premium on physical fitness if the Philippine women’s squad intends to go deep in next month’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup in India and qualify for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
“It is imperative that we are fit enough by the time we go to that fourth and fifth match of the tournament and qualify for the World Cup,” Stanjic said from the United States in an online press conference yesterday organized by the Philippine Football Federation.
“The first three matches are extremely important to set yourself up and get to Game 4. But it will be that fourth or quarterfinal game that will determine the five spots for the World Cup,” stressed the former national mentor of the Matildas, the moniker of the Australian women’s national squad.
The Filipina footballers are bracketed in Group B with Australia, Thailand and Indonesia, with the top two finishers in the group advancing to the knockout quarterfinals, which will include two best third-placers among the three groups.
“We would like to salute coach Stajcic, the rest of the coaching staff and the players for all their hard work in making the team successful in the Asian Women’s Cup and qualify for the Women’s World Cup in Australia two years from now,” said national team manager Jeff Cheng.
Also joining them in the conference were veteran midfielder Tahnai Aniss and Belay Fernando, head of the PFF women’s department.
