Women’s World Cup: Philippines embracing challenge against New Zealand

July 24, 2023 Times Europe

Philippines’ coach Alen Stajcic during a pre-match presser at the Women’s World Cup.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand—Coach Alen Stajcic said the Philippines is ready to relish the environment of playing before a partisan crowd as they try to get a stunning result over a rejuvenated co-host New Zealand in Tuesday’s Fifa Women’s World Cup match here.

The experience of having faced the Football Ferns in a friendly last year may give the Filipinas a strong chance to produce a landmark point, or better yet, a win at Wellington Regional Stadium.

But New Zealand’s first-ever World Cup victory over Norway may pose a challenge for Stajcic and company to pull things off, a challenge the Philippines is not backing off.

“Traditionally, being a host nation or a home team in any kind of football is an advantage,” Stajcic said in Monday’s pre-match press conference. “But fortunately, we don’t have to play against 25,000 people, we play against 11.

“So we have to block that away and on the opposite end of the spectrum, you have to embrace It. It’s a brilliant occasion for football, for New Zealand, for our team and for our country as well,” added Stajcic.

It will be interesting to see how both sides will come out for the late-afternoon, early-evening meeting following the opening day win of the Kiwis and the Filipinas’ valiant effort in a 2-0 loss to Switzerland in Dunedin.

“It’s such a real special occasion and one they’ll cherish for the rest of their lives, so we wanna get out there and take your best shot,” Stajcic said.

“So I think as motivating as it is for New Zealand, I think it’s also for our team as well.”