IMMEDIATELY after his charges dropped a heart-breaking 0-1 decision to Thailand last Tuesday night, Australian coach Alen Stajcic expressed concern about the rest and recovery of the Filipinas going into the crossover semifinals of the 12th Asean Football Federation Women’s Championship on Friday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
“I think the key (to the semifinals) is recovery. Probably, this is the most brutal international tournament you have for women. Five games in nine days in these conditions is something I have not seen before,” Stajcic noted, refusing to dwell too much on the setback.
With the win, the Thais snapped the four-game winning streak of the Filipinas and also emerged on top of Group A with 13 points while relegating the host team, which wound up with 12 points, to second.
Both unbeaten with three wins each, defending champion Vietnam and Myanmar were disputing Group B top honors last night at the Rizal Stadium. Thailand will take on the loser, with the winner battling the Filipinas in the semis.
“To play 450 minutes in just nine days is something I have not seen before in high-level international football and even domestic football. It’s brutal and torturous,” Stajcic stressed. “We saw some players pass out there in the end. It’s an extremely grueling schedule.”
While grateful after finally getting a two-day break before the semis, the Australian tactician said this is hardly enough for his charges to recover against their prospective semis foe that played one less match in Group B.
