President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday lauded the historic victory of the Philippines Women’s National Football Team at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 in New Zealand.
“Congratulations to our Philippine Women’s National Football Team on their historic triumph against New Zealand at the FIFA Women’s World Cup! A momentous first-ever World Cup win for the Philippines! Mabuhay ang Filipinas,” said Mr. Marcos in a tweet.
The Filipinas’ 1-0 win against New Zealand, came from Sarina Bolden’s towering header at the 24-minute mark after Sara Eggesvik perfectly set her with a cross.
New Zealand failed to score a goal behind the Philippines’ stonewall defense led by goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel.
Bolden’s goal is the Philippines’ first-ever goal in football’s grandest stage.
The Filipinas will face Norway on Sunday with the aim to advance deeper in the competition.
Philippines head coach Alen Stajcic said the Women’s World Cup debutantes faced a “monumental” task to beat Norway and squeeze into the tournament’s knock-out stages.
Ranked 46th in the world, the Philippines blew Group A wide open with a shock 1-0 win over co-hosts New Zealand on Tuesday.
The Philippines can reach the last 16 by beating Norway, ranked no. 12, on Sunday, the same day New Zealand faces Switzerland.
Stajcic said his team, who bounced back after losing their opening game to the Swiss, had to quickly shift focus to their final pool game.
“The job is not done,” he said. “It’s very important we switch back into competition mode and think what we have to do in the last game to try and squeeze out of this group.”
Stajcic said the Philippines faces a tough assignment against 1995 world champions Norway, who have 2018 Ballon d’Or winner Ada Hegerberg in their squad.
“That’s such a monumental task, especially when it’s our third game in just over a week, so we have to recover physically and from the emotion,” he said.
The Philippines shot up the rankings since the Australian took charge in late 2021, qualifying for the World Cup for the first time by reaching the semi-finals of the Women’s Asian Cup early last year.
Stajcic said this wealth of tournament experience would be an asset as they prepared to play the Norwegians, who have yet to win at this World Cup, losing to New Zealand then drawing with the Swiss.
“The players know the drill. There has been quite a lot of tournament experience in the last 18 months,” he said.
“I think we have seen a lot of maturity and growth in the way they carry themselves off the field, let alone on it.”
New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines Peter Kell congratulated Team Filipinas for its historic win at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, saying it was indeed a good football game between the Philippines and his country.
Kell made the statement after the embassy partnered with the Philippine Football Federation in hosting a live viewing event for the game in Quezon City.
The crowd went wild when Bolden came through from an Eggesvik cross to score the Filipinas’ first-ever goal against New Zealand’s Football Ferns.
“We are immensely grateful to have organized this live viewing event with the Philippine Football Federation and to witness the fervent support for women’s football. The camaraderie and unity displayed by everyone today are a testament to the power of sports in bringing people together,” Kell said.
Also present during the viewing party was European Union (EU) Ambassador to the Philippines Luc Veron, who said in a Twitter post that Team Filipinas “made history today.”
“Congratulations @PilipinasWNFT!! I never lost faith,” he said.
US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu, and the British Embassy in Manila also joined the Philippines in celebrating Team Filipinas’ victory.
“Hooray for Team@PilipinasWNFT! Congratulations on your victory!” Carlson said. Her embassy also celebrated the victory by saying, Team Filipinas has made “herstory.”
“I am as excited as any Filipino fan celebrating the big win of @PilipinasWNFT! Glad I got the chance to wish them luck at the trophy tour,” Yu said.
“What a memorable moment for @PilipinasWNFT’s #FIFAWWC debut!,” the British embassy said.
Senator Pia S. Cayetano, head of the Philippine Delegation in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, urged the public to continue supporting the Filipinas as they face Norway on July 30.
She said this will be their next assignment–a must win against Norway.
As head of delegation, she thanked all Filipinos who came out from all over the world to support the Filipinas, and everyone who cheered online and from their homes.
“Our team has courageously defied the odds and has shown through sports, through football, what Filipinos can do when supported and given the opportunity to excel,” she said. “They are here at the World Cup competing with the best.” With AFP