Azkals' Final 22: Weiss to come up with wise decision

MANILA, Philippines – With the AFF Suzuki Cup fast approaching, the Philippine Azkals coach Hans Michael Weiss is making sure he'll come up with a wide decision on who’ll be the Final 22.

The next couple of days and the upcoming friendly against Singapore in Cebu on Thursday next week will be critical for the players, who are aspiring to don the national colors in Bangkok, Thailand in the last week of the month.

“We have a very talented group here in the Philippines. I’ve been working with the group for almost two years. I don’t know, I have seen like what… 100 players,” said Weiss keeping his final list to his chest during the send-off party of the Azkals hosted by Suzuki Philippines last night at the Eastwood Richmonde Hotel in Libis, Quezon City.

With the talent pool becoming deeper and the unstable schedule of the Fil-foreign talents from Europe, Weiss will decide on his Final 22 based on three criteria.

“My first criteria would be to ask what they have done in the past for Philippine football, what they have contributed to the success of the team and the sport,” Weiss said. “Second would be social interaction.”

The German coach said that “even a not so skilled player sometimes can do wonders.”

A firm believer of team spirit than individual talents alone, Weiss has proven this with the 1st Philippine Football Peace Cup title in September when a less stellar cast went on to sweep the four-nation tournament at home for the country’s first international football title in 99 long years.

The last criteria, which deemed to be the most critical, Weiss said is the fitness level of the players.

“That I will see in the next couple of days and the coming Singapore match on who are in the best shape."

Present last night were Azkals members Phil and James Younghusband, Chieffy Caligdong, Ian Araneta, Lexton Moy, Chris Greatwich, Carli de Murga, Jason de Jong, Marwin and Marvin Angeles, Patrick Reichelt, Jeffrey Christiaens, Ian Araneta, Boogie Margarse, Juani Guirado and Anto Gonzales.

The 143rd-ranked Azkals, who are bunched in Group A featuring the top four teams in Southeast Asia, will face Thailand (146) on November 24, Vietnam (138) on November 27 and Myanmar (156) on November 30 at Bangkok, Thailand in the AFF Suzuki Cup.