On the eve of the toughest match of the men's national football team, the Philippines saw its FIFA World Ranking slip three rungs to 162 from 159 based on the tally released on Wednesday.

He got some of it in the form of a question about whether he will consider sending in substitutes so fresh legs can match up against the Al-Azraq. Weiss said it will depend on how Thursday's match develops.

Weiss explained that it will take years for the Philippine team to reach the level Kuwait is at now. He assured that the Azkals' morale is high and "they get along very well."

Weiss has said whatever the outcome Thursday, the Azkals will prepare for more international matches in the months ahead.

The Azkals have never made it this far in a World Cup cycle while Kuwait has played in the main draw of the FIFA World Cup, qualifying in the 1982 edition in Spain.

The Azkals won their eight home games since 2006 while Kuwait has won its last eight matches.

Rain falls on Rizal stadium

"The main storm will be at kick-off," Azkals captain Aly Borromeo said alluding to the intensity the team intends to bring onto the pitch against Kuwait.

"I did take some notes," Borromeo said, referring to his having to sit at the grandstand to observe the away match because he had to serve the one-game suspension he got from Round 1 of the WCQ.

Borromeo said the perspective he got will certainly influence how he will play Thursday night.

The stormy weather that has battered Metro Manila has been one of the top-of-mind concerns of the competing teams, their fans and the media who will cover the Round 2 WCQ match.

Olivares said that the referee coordinator and the match commissioner will decide on the condition of the pitch. "If the match will be abandoned, it will be played the next day."

The Al-Azraq's coach discounted the weather factor. He said his team is familiar with downpours. "We have two to three months of rain in Kuwait," said Tefugdzic.

No more tickets, raincoat advisory

Olivares said no more tickets will be available because they are all sold out. Some fans said on Facebook said they will just watch the game on television.

For the lucky ones who got the coveted tickets, the WCQ local organizing committee stressed that "no umbrellas will be allowed inside" the stadium during the game.

To avoid getting drenched again, Olivares said spectators ought to bring raincoats when they troop to the Rizal stadium Thursday.

Last July 3, thousands of Azkals fans seated in the bleachers sections got soaked when passing dark clouds dumped rain during the match between national teams of the Philippines and Sri Lanka.

Both umbrellas and laser pens are on the list of banned items at football matches. The complete list is on the website of the PFF ticket retailer, TicketWorld.

source: Earl Victor Rosero, Renee Fopalan - gmanews.tv