AUCKLAND. – The Filipinas take on the first of three proverbial football Goliaths as they make their much-awaited grand debut in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, facing fancied Switzerland Friday in Group A at the Forsyth Barr Stadium under bone-chilling conditions in Dunedin.
Despite being ranked as the underdogs, they are expected to be in high spirits, confident that 18 months of grinding preparations will pay huge dividends against the La Nati in their 5 p.m. match (1 p.m. Manila time) at the 30,000-capacity arena that was used for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
They arrived in the city considered as New Zealand’s wildlife capital Thursday afternoon and were met by some Filipino expats at the Dunedin International Airport, the Philippine Embassy of New Zealand reported. Pictures of the national women football team’s arrival were posted on the embassy’s Facebook account.
Currently ranked No. 46 in the FIFA women’s world rankings, Australian coach Alen Stajcic’s charges are not only facing a tough side 20 rungs above them but will also brace for the bone-chilling weather that has been averaging 7-degree Celsius (44.6-degree Fahrenheit) in the past few days.
Seasoned by their experience that saw them train and compete in the United States, Europe, Asia and South America, the Filipinas won’t be awestruck by the moment and will go into their opening match with a nothing-to-lose attitude in the outing supported by the Philippine Sports Commission.
Apparently peaking at the right moment, they enter the fray having won five of their last six matches, their recent loss a 1-5 setback to Sweden in a closed-door unofficial friendly here last Monday when Stajcic likely held his players under a tight leash given the proximity of their first match.
If anything, it will be the wards of German coach Inka Grings, making their second appearance in the football showcase, who might feel the pressure, having lost their last seven matches since booking a World Cup ticket with tense 2-1 overtime playoff victory over Wales last October.
The outcome could hinge on how their skippers — Tahnai Annis for the Philippines and Switzerland’s Lia Waiti — are able to marshal their forces in controlling the midfield.
Veteran midfielder Waiti, 30, who plays for Arsenal Women’s Super League, keeps the Swiss engine running with her ball control while Paris St. Germain striker Ramona Bachmann “should be Grings’ most important player,” according to the special World Cup edition of the Total Football Analysis magazine.
“With the veteran star proving to be one of the most consistent players in the national team…her contribution in the final third is undeniable. The center-forward also plays an important role in possession, getting involved in creating chances for her teammates,” the report noted.
The magazine also singled out Annis as the pivotal player for the Filipinas.
“The name that immediately stands out is Annis, with her central to everything that they do well; this is highly reflected in the way that she has strengths in (defense, offense and midfield),” the report said.
