Draw done, PH focuses on getting ready for World tilt
With its opponents now determined, the Philippines will now set its focus on being as competitive as it can be for the inaugural Fifa Women’s Futsal World Cup, which is going to be played at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
The Filipina5 are set for camps in Japan and possibly Vietnam and Indonesia, according to both coach Rafa Merino and Philippine Football Federation president John Gutierrez, after being drawn in Group A with Poland, Morocco and Argentina.
Poland will be the Philippines’ first opponent, presumably on the competition’s opening day on Nov. 21, as it aims to be more than just gracious hosts for the first edition of the women’s indoor tilt.
“They are some good teams with a lot of experience playing games and tournaments,” the Spanish-born Merino said through an interpreter. “It’s gonna be very difficult because they’re also physically strong.”
But Merino and company are also going to bank on playing on home soil, where fan support could be a factor in the hopes of producing good results.
Argentina is ranked sixth in the Fifa rankings, while Poland is 14th in the world, teams that are seen as the biggest obstacles for the Filipina5. Morocco, on the other hand, is 31st.
The Philippines is ranked 63rd in the world.
The draw procedure was held on Monday at BGC Arts Center in Taguig City, with Brazilian futsal legend Falcao and Croatian footballer Tihana Nemcic being helped by Filipinas team captain Hali Long and Alas Pilipinas volleyball standout Vanie Gandler.
In Group B are Spain, Thailand, Colombia and Canada, Group C has Portugal, Tanzania, Japan and New Zealand, while Group D has world No. 1 Brazil, Iran, Italy and Panama.
All games until the final on Dec. 7 will be at Philsports after plans for Victorias in Negros Occidental as a second site were scrapped owing to logistical reasons.
“We’re fairly confident that holding it in one venue won’t be a step down. If anything, we might be able to show them a better hosting,” said Gutierrez.
