Sarina Bolden, Hali Long lead Filipinas’ Fifa World Cup roster
Sarina Bolden (right) became the Filipinas’ shining star after scoring eight goals during the title run in the AFF Women’s Championship. —Philippine National Women’s Football team
MANILA, Philippines—There were hardly any surprises in the final roster of the Philippine women’s football team for the Fifa Women’s World Cup which was announced Sunday afternoon.
Sarina Bolden, Hali Long, Olivia McDaniel, Tahnai Annis and Quinley Quezada headlined the 23-player squad which was finalized after the Filipinas completed a four-week training camp in Sydney, Australia.
Bolden is one of six strikers who will head to New Zealand for Group A matches against Switzerland, the host country and Norway, along with Katrina Guillou, Chandler McDaniel, Carleigh Frilles, Isabella Flanigan and Meryll Serrano.
Quezada, Annis, Sara Eggesvik, Ryley Bugay and Jaclyn Sawicki make up the midfield while Long will be accompanied by seven other defenders in Jessika Cowart, Dominique Randle, Sofia Harrison, Malea Cesar, Alicia Barker, Angela Beard and Reina Bonta.
Kiara Fontanilla and Kaiya Jota are the two goalkeepers who are expected to back up McDaniel during the course of Fifa’s center competition for women.
Veteran keeper Inna Palacios, Maya Alcantara and Isabella Pasion were named as reserves while veterans Eva Madarang and Jessica Miclat and Kaya Hawkinson didn’t make the cut.
The announcement came on the eve of the Filipinas’ departure for New Zealand where they’ll set up final preparations before the July 21 opener against Switzerland.
Auckland has been designated as the team’s base camp before and during the tournament.
A training match against Sweden will be held on July 17 in Wellington before facing the Swiss booters for the Fifa opener in Dunedin.
Wellington will be the site of the Filipinas’ second World Cup match on July 25 against New Zealand before staying in Auckland for the July 30 meeting with Norway.
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