The Philippine women’s football team has returned to Auckland, New Zealand with unwavering confidence despite their defeat at the hands of Switzerland in their first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup match. Goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel expressed the team’s belief in their ability to win their next game and continue to move forward. The team remains optimistic and motivated, even after witnessing cohost New Zealand’s surprising victory over Norway, which has been deemed as one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history.
Their upcoming match against New Zealand carries significant importance for both teams. The Philippine team sees this as their best chance to produce a positive result, such as a draw or a stunning win, that would ignite their supporters. On the other hand, New Zealand has the opportunity to solidify their place in the knockout rounds with another three points.
Katrina Guillou, who had her opening goal against Switzerland disallowed due to an offside flag, is determined to contribute to the team’s success in the next game. She believes that despite some areas for improvement, the team showed promising moments in their attacking play and can make adjustments defensively.
The team’s optimism stems from more than just blind faith. Coach Alen Stajcic compared the Philippine team’s performance to other notable results in the tournament, including New Zealand’s historic win and Canada’s surprise draw against Nigeria. Stajcic believes these results highlight the fact that the gap between teams is not as significant as perceived.
Stajcic is proud of the progress the team has made in a relatively short period. He stated that the team has bridged decades of development within just 18 months. The Filipinas will undergo a training session on Sunday before heading to Wellington for their game against New Zealand.
According to McDaniel, the defeat against Switzerland will not hinder the team’s progress in future matches. Stajcic sees the upcoming game against New Zealand as an opportunity to start afresh and prove themselves on an equal footing.
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