The Philippines are going to break new ground here in the 2023 Women’s World Cup, which will start in the third week of July, as this is going to be the first-ever World Cup for Philippine football, both for men and women.
The pre-tournament Women’s World Cup 2023 odds are against the Filipinas because they’re bunched with Norway, Switzerland, and hosts New Zealand in a tough Group A, although this also means that they come into this competition with nothing to lose.
For the longest time, football has been overlooked here in the Philippines, which is why it’s refreshing to see our own on the biggest stage of them all.
But how far can the Philippines go in this tournament? Continue reading below as SBOTOP takes a look at this team.
Filipinas’ journey to the World Cup
So, how did they get here? Let’s go back to January 2022, when they were competing in the Women’s Asia Cup.
When they made it to the quarter-finals of the said tournament, the Philippines had to beat Chinese-Taipei to book their tickets to the semi-finals, as well as their maiden appearance in the World Cup that is going to be held in Australia and New Zealand.
Against Chinese-Taipei, Quinley Quezada opened the scoring in the 49th minute, but Taipei captain Hsiang-Huei scored via a penalty kick for the equaliser in the 78th minute.
With the game level at 1-1, then came the penalty shootout, where the Filipinas clawed their way back.
When Jessica Miclat missed the third penalty, Chinese-Taipei missed their next two shots, and Hali Long also failed to convert. And then goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel levelled the shootout at 3-3 before Sarina Bolden put on the finishing touches to seal the deal for the Philippines.
They were eventually defeated 2-0 in the semi-finals by South Korea, but had already achieved their main objective of booking their place in the big dance.
After getting the job done in the Women’s Asia Cup, the Philippines also competed in the 2023 Pinatar Cup last February and the SEA Games in May.
In the Pinatar Cup, the Philippines got a taste of World Cup-level competition, and they finished at the bottom of the group with three losses to Wales, Scotland, and eventual champions Iceland.
While in the SEA Games, they couldn’t advance to the semi-finals due to an inferior goal difference behind eventual finalists Vietnam and Myanmar.
Who to watch out for
The Filipinas are a young and hungry group, and they still have a long way to go as a unit even after this tournament. Their oldest player currently is their captain, Tahnai Annis, who just turned 34 last week, and the rest are 30 years old or younger.
The Filipinas are a fast side that thrives on the counterattack, which suits the likes of Sarina Bolden, Chandler McDaniel, and Quinley Quezada, in particular. The three of them have 49 goals combined, and they’re expected to create Women’s World Cup 2023 highlights for the Philippines in the upcoming tournament.
Other than these three, Alen Stajcic can also turn to Sara Eggesvik, Hali Long, Camille Rodriguez, and Eva Madarang because of their collective experience with the national team, with 192 caps between them.
And then there’s Angie Beard, who made headlines when she switched allegiance to the Philippines. The ex-Matildas player is coming off a strong A-League Women campaign for Western United, so she’ll add a whole lot to the Filipinas’ backline that needs more muscle.
Alen Stajcic to guide the Filipinas to new heights
The Filipinas rose from 68th to 46th in the FIFA women’s rankings, and their success can be owed to their head coach, Alen Stajcic, who has introduced a major shift in mentality.
The Australian, who managed the Matildas from 2014 to 2019, has instilled a no-nonsense, winning mentality since taking the reins as Philippines boss in October 2021.
Since his arrival, The Filipinas now have a strong claim to be the best team in Southeast Asia, especially after winning the AFF Women’s Championship last year, their first-ever trophy.
Other than coaching the senior team, Stajcic has also taken charge of overseeing the U-17 and U-20 youth teams, which has allowed him to freshen up his squad with ease, with the likes of Isabella Flanigan, Isabella Pasion, Carleigh Frilles, and Malea Cesar rising through the ranks.
Realistically, it’s difficult to see them getting out of their group in the Women’s World Cup. But the belief is strong for the resurgent Filipinas, who are out to prove that they belong.
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