AUCKLAND. – Not all football pundits are selling the Filipinas short as one of the eight teams making their debut in the 32-nation FIFA Women’s World Cup here.
Among the believers is veteran Sydney Morning Herald sports reporter Vince Rugari, who predicted the “Philippines to emerge as shock round-of-16 qualifiers, which would lead some to some very normal discourse in Australia.”
Rugari made his fearless forecast known in the group-by-group guide of the paper’s printed edition on July 17, which was also posted on its website the same day.
Expectedly, the Sydney sports scribe attributed this to the man at the helm of the Filipinas — former Matildas coach Alen Stajcic.
“Any team coached by Alen Stajcic needs to be treated seriously – including the Philippines, who were a minnow in every sense until the former Matildas boss (controversially sacked in January 2019) took charge, scoured the world for footballers with Filipino heritage, and masterminded qualification for their first World Cup,” Rugari noted.
He said this is why the Philippines-Switzerland Group A clash at the Forsyth Barr in Dunedin Friday is a must-see match because “it will probably decide who finishes second (in the group),” since the top two finishers will advance to the knockout round-of-16.
