The Philippine national women’s team known as the Filipinas make their historic debut debut in the FIFA Women’s World Cup Friday, opening its Group A campaign against Switzerland at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand at 5 p.m. (1 p.m., Manila time).
The Philippine squad, ranked no. 53 in the world, is suiting up in the World Cup for the first time like Haiti, Morocco, Panama, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Vietnam and Zambia.
“We’ve been preparing since the day we qualified. We’ve been lucky,” said Filipinas’ coach Allen Stajcic in a pre-match press conference on Thursday.
Stajcic, who guided Australia to the 2015 Women’s World Cup, has cut down down the squad to its final 23 and had difficulty in doing so.
The Australian coach, who deflected questions on the players’ eligibility and nationality, will have veteran center back Hali Long, along with 34-year-old captain Tahnai Annis in the Filipinas’ offense in the midfield.
“The players are eligible and they all played for flag and country, wherever they reside,” said Stajcic.
Among the veterans expected to deliver for the Filipinas are Isabella Flannigan, Long, Bolden, Annis and goalie Olivia McDaniel.
The 18-year-old Flannigan, a forward, is known for her creative moves and close control, will play side-by side with Sarina Bolden, known as a cold-blooded goalscorer, with instinctive plays inside the box.
Long, a center-back, brings in the needed leadership and experience that the team needs, and so does Annis, who top-scored for the Filipinas in their clash with Taipei.
McDaniel, as a goalkeeper, has made excellent saves that have carried the Filipinas out of tough spots.
The 20th-ranked Switzerland is favored, partly because of its coach, former Germany striker Inka Grings, a two-time UEFA Women’s EURO champion as a player.
Grings debuted as a coach of the La Nati in November last year and has been an inspiration to the team.
The Swiss side has reached the knockout phase in their only previous Women’s World Cup appearance in 2015.
“I’m completely relaxed right now, but when we’re there and the first game comes round, I’ll certainly be nervous. As a player, I was relatively unnerved because I knew I could usually respond well on the pitch. As a coach, it’s more difficult [to be that way]. But I’m looking forward to this World Cup. Of course I’ll be tense, I’d be lying if I said otherwise. But I think I’ll still sleep well the night before that first match,” Grings said on FIFA+.
The Filipinas will keep an eye on Ramona Bachmann, a veteran Paris Saint-Germain striker.
Bachmann had great games in England, France and Germany, and her experience of playing, and hitting goals is something that Grings will count on.
“It is the Philippines’ first World Cup but we won’t underestimate them. They are our first opponents and we want to be dominant and get into a flow, shake off any nervousness,” added Grings.