Lupang Hinirang, our national anthem, will be played for the first time in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Dunedin, New Zealand as the Philippine Women’s National Football Team takes on Switzerland to open their campaign in the biggest soccer event of the year.
The tournament will be the culmination of years of hard work and sacrifice for the coaching staff and the players. Collectively, they went through a lot, won a championship, lost several games and learned valuable lessons in between. Heck, they are now even ranked as the 46th best team in the world – the highest ranking ever by the Filipinas since they began competing.
These accomplishments and historic ranking, however, will mean nothing when the Filipinas take the pitch against Switzerland today (July 21), the hosts on July 25, and Norway on July 30 except for the fact the the Filipinas will always be the underdog in their group and, even if they managed to progress, in the knockout phase of the tournament.
Co-captain Hali Long said it best during yesterday’s press conference in Dunedin.
“Being a Filipino in any sport, I would say you’re the underdog. But that’s kind of where we thrive [for]. We love to, as underdogs, to punch above our weight and punch through the ceiling,” Long explained.
Long maintained that what the team has learned in the last 18 months is invaluable regardless of the Filipinas’ age or experience coming to the team.
“You can’t put a price on the players. You can’t. The knowledge we’ve gained, the habit we’ve also gained and the respect we garnered. I don’t think anyone can discredit us. So we’re gonna go in and give our absolute all each and every day,” she said.
As always, the team’s composition of players being born outside the Philippines and what made them play for the Philippines were among the questions most asked, as expected, and among the most repeated in almost every press event with the team.
Long, however, handled it very well.
“I was raised in a very Filipino household growing up. My Lola, Mom and my Tita raised me and my sisters. So house in America, but inside under the roof, it was purely Pinoy. And I knew nothing different about it. I didn’t know why I was different, where it was. So to be able to represent my heritage, my Mom, my sisters and how powerful they were to come to America. To raise me and give me a better life. They thought just to have that opportunity to be able to bring back home for my Mom and the people who brought me up is such an honor,” Long said.
Even Head Coach Alen Stajcic shut down the question again for the nth time.
“I don’t really care where they were born. If they have the Philippines in their heart and in their blood, and they are good at football then they’re eligible for our team so honestly [I] couldn’t tell you where everyone was born and to me that’s irrelevant. They will play for the country and they will play for the people in the Philippines or wherever they reside. I just know this thing as Filipino heart, blood, courage and spirit, and that’s the only criteria regardless of where they are,” Stajcic said.
Regarding the team’s historic entry to the World Cup, Stajcic said during the last 18 months, a lot of things happened to accelerate and fast track the players’ growth not only individually but as a team as well, especially the chemistry among the players who came from different backgrounds and cultures. He said it was tough, but hopefully it has given the team enough to face the tough task of competing in the highest level of the game.
“I know we go on to every game thinking we can win and believing we can win and now that we’ve done everything we can prepare to be confident in that way,” he added.
Despite the unfortunate shooting incident in Auckland yesterday, the team remained focused on the task at hand. The team was already on its way to Dunedin when it happened.
Again, let’s rally behind our Filipinas. Please don’t let this rare opportunity pass – that as a nation we can be together as one in supporting the three stars and the sun against the giants and favorites in women’s soccer because there is nothing bigger than the Filipinas’ heart and love for the country despite the overwhelming odds.
Laban, Filipinas!
Stay safe. Stay happy peeps!
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