MANILA – Filipinas head coach Alen Stajcic was proud of his players as they saw their 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup stint come to an end with a 6-0 defeat to Norway on Sunday afternoon at the Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand.
According to the Australian-based mentor, the Philippines women’s football team gave their all despite being the heavy underdogs but was just not enough to snag a seat in the round-of-16.
“As we said, they are a very classy team. They were favorites to win this group and they showed some of their class today,” said Stajcic 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,” added the former Australian men’s football team member.
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 in the next FIFA World Cup.
“We knew it was going to be tough right from the beginning,” said Bolden. “Norway is super strong, the team has a lot of experience not only in the World Cup but professionally they play on top-flight teams, we knew it.”
“A lot of learning points from us to take away. We learn from this,” she added. “I am so proud of this team for being able to make history here. There are a lot of things to be proud of.”
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./PN
