By ADRIAN STEWART CO
The Philippine women’s football team gave their all despite the odds during their 6-0 defeat at the hands of favored and experienced Norway in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup at the Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand on Sunday afternoon, July 30.
According to Filipinas head coach Alen Stajcic, he is very proud of the performance of his players even if they fell a victory short of clinching a spot in the round-of-16 of the competition.
“As we said, they are a very classy team. They were favorites to win this group and they showed some of their class today,” Stajcic said of the Norwegians, the 1995 World Cup champions.
“They really picked us apart in some of the battles in the box early and this allowed them to be more creative as the game went on,” the former Australian men’s football team member added.
Stajcic further said that to be in the conversation for a slot in the round-of-16 is already an accomplishment for the Filipinas crew, but the experience of the no. 12-ranked Norway prevailed in the must-win game.
“We tried to fight to the end with 10 players and we kept them out for 25 to 30 minutes. I am so proud of the heart and spirit of the team. They fought till the end, to the death, and from that perspective it has been an amazing World Cup,” the coach stressed.
Sarina Bolden, who scored the country’s historic first goal in their 1-0 win over New Zealand last week, said their defeat in the tournament will serve as a learning experience for them as they aim to return to the next FIFA World Cup.
“We knew it was going to be tough right from the beginning,” Bolden said.
“Norway is super strong, the team has a lot of experience, not only in the World Cup, but professionally, they play in top-flight teams. We knew it. A lot of learning points from us to take away. We learn from this,” she said.
“I am so proud of this team for being able to make history here. There are a lot of things to be proud of,” she added.
Following their exit in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the Philippine women’s football team will not shift their preparation for the 2023 Asian Games, which will happen this September in China./ASC, WDJ