CALL it jitters, call it nerves, but no one in their right minds can say the Philippines’ national women’s football team simply rolled over.
The Philippine women’s national football team, simply called “Filipinas,” dropped their FIFA Women’s World Cup debut, absorbing a 0-2 loss to Switzerland, who won on goals made by Ramona Bachmann (penalty kick) and Seraina Piubel (on the 64th minute) in their Group A match in Dunedin, New Zealand.
When most thought that the FIFA No. 20-ranked Switzerland women’s football team would simply bamboozle their opponent with football wizardry and precision just like a Swiss knife, the Philippine women’s national football team, ranked No. 46 in the world, gave a tough fight and simply refused to be bludgeoned by their higher-ranked opponents.
Instead, the Filipinas lived their dream of competing for the very first time in the FIFA Women’s World Cup and enjoyed every minute of the 90-minute ballgame.
They even gave their hard-charging opponents a scare and scored a goal, only to be waived off due to offside position.
But the Philippine squad was undeterred and despite the losing effort, showed that they belong in the big leagues as they went head-to-head with the Swiss.
“For us to compete against a strong European team like Switzerland is miraculous. You saw true spirit, true heart, a team that never gave up,” coach Alen Stajcic of the Philippines said.
Now that they’re done with their first game, the Philippine women’s national football team will now set its sights on their next opponent in Group A, hosts New Zealand, at Wellington on July 25, 2023.