Philippine football got a major boost following the gallant performance of the national women’s team in the FIFA Women’s World Cup in New Zealand.
Filipinas head coach Alen Stajcic said football in the Philippines is set to grow despite their 0-6 loss to former world champion Norway last Sunday at the Eden Park in Wellington.
The Filipinas ended their campaign at the bottom of Group A with a 1-0-2 win-loss record with their brightest moment coming last Tuesday when they shocked host country New Zealand with a 1-0 victory for their first World Cup triumph.
“I hope we have planted the seeds of the future generations wanting to become footballers. It is a good step but a lot of things have to happen to maintain it because we are starting from a million miles back in reality,” Stajcic said.
“To bring football to life in the Philippines is a moment in history and one that you can’t turn back from following football, following women’s sport, unheard of and unprecedented.”
Stajcic, 49, also praised his players who stood their ground against foes who are ranked higher than them in the International Football Federation.
The Philippines is currently 46th in the latest FIFA rankings with Norway at No. 12, Switzerland at No. 20 and New Zealand at No. 26.
“These players have really left their mark and left a legacy for future generations to come. For me, you can’t ask anything more as a coach. They gave everything they have on the field and today, we were outclassed by a better opponent. That’s just the way it goes in football sometimes,” Stajcic said.
“They fought to the end. From that perspective, it has been an amazing World Cup. The players have punched so far above their weight.”
The journey to the World Cup has been a long road for the Filipinas.
After securing a spot in the biggest football spectacle last year, the national team went to work as they played against higher-ranked teams in the buildup for the World Cup.
The Philippines even had a golden opportunity to play against No. 3 Sweden and defending World Cup champion United States in closed-door friendlies to make sure they are prepared for their debut.
While the Filipinas’ first World Cup match against the Swiss at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand last 21 July turned into a 0-2 loss, they went back to work and finally secured their first win in front of 32,000 fans.
But against Norway, a squad that was missing its top striker in Ada Hegerberg, the Filipinas faded and suffered a flattening setback.
Now, the Filipinas are focused on the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou as well as the second round of the qualifiers for the Paris Olympics this October.
Stajcic, however, remains unsure of joining the squad as his contract is only up to the World Cup.
“It’s a bit early for those questions. We just lost a game and got out of the World Cup, with that hope, that little bit of hope of an upset like we did the other night,” Stajcic said.
