We did it!!! Yeahhhhhh!!!!! We finally nailed it! The FIRST TIME for the Philippines to get represented in the FIFA World Cup, the mother of all women’s football tournaments. The FIRST GOAL scored ever in this biggest women’s football stage in the world. And we are gifted with our FIRST WIN ever in the tournament, a 1-0 thriller-of-a-win over the co-hosts, the New Zealand Football Ferns! What a dream ride this has been! And what an exhilarating feeling! To hear the national anthem played, and sung with so much emotion by players and fans alike. To hear the fans cheering their hearts out. And to witness the elation, the joy and the tears freely flowing as time expired, and with the win ensured. These were priceless, ecstatic moments to be totally proud of, to be even unashamed to cry for. This is for the Philippines, this is for our people, our pride, and our future.
Who would have thought that a newbie in the world stage would be able to go this far? Who would have thought that a sports program with limited support from our government’s sports body would be able to reach for the stars? Who would have imagined that Filipinos would band together, coming from as far as California and parts of far-away Europe, to take the time to search for Filipino talents and organize mini-tourneys – using their own funds, mind you – so that we may see the day when our flag is hoisted with the best of football’s best? Dreams do come true, dear friends, but only if we collectively put our hearts into it.
Our journey in this year’s Women’s World Cup started off with a 2-0 loss to Switzerland, a team with so much World Cup experience. The score may have looked lopsided, but the rookie Filipinas were right there with them, dishing it out and able to show their skills as well. And as coach Alen Stajcic made clear: they were not there to simply participate; they were there to compete.
And so, their brilliant performance in the second match – that stunning upset over the Ferns – came as a mild, yet pleasant surprise to the team, and most certainly, to the growing legion of fans back home. Kudos to Sarina Bolden, our top gunner, whose amazing header in the first half was the only goal we needed; as the Filipinas’ defense clamped down on the Ferns’ aggressive attempts at the goal. Kudos too to Olivia McDaniel, whose spotless goalkeeping saved the day for the team, earning for her the award of ‘Player of the Match’. Kudos to the rest of the crew for giving their collective best that we may get that elusive win. There was wild, utter jubilation among the smaller, but noisier Filipino crowd in the stands as the final whistle blew. This marked a new dawn for Philippine football, and hopefully, for Philippine Sports as well. Never has there been such frenzy for football in the country. Never have we gone this far in a tournament this big.
But it ain’t over yet. The job’s not done.
Tomorrow Sunday, the Filipinas face their biggest obstacle yet. Group A’s top seed, Norway, stands in the way of our team’s qualification to the next round. A win over Norway will automatically propel the Filipinas to an unprecedented spot in the knockout stage. A tie will lead to different complications. A tie coupled with a Swiss win over the NZs will qualify the Filipinas. A tie coupled with NZ win will bump off the Filipinas. A tie coupled with another tie between the Swiss and the NZs will also kick out the Filipinas, due to a lower quotient.
Norway, seeded 12th in the world, has been undergoing some inner battles lately, causing its unsatisfactory performance in their 2 matches so far. With a 1-tie, 1-loss record, its chances to make the knockout stage are very slim. They will need to win by a big margin, plus a win as well by New Zealand over Switzerland, to squeeze in to the next round.
This match today then is crucial to us. It could herald our entry into that special group of football elites. But more importantly, it brings pride and honor to the country. It will also serve to inspire more of our youth to try out the sport. Even if some bashers claim that many of our players are only half-Pinays from other countries. The Filipinas’ achievements will certainly be a good thing for us. It will definitely up the level of play among the local players. And its impact on our next generation will be fel in the years to come as more kids wil have the interest for the sport. Sports, in general, will be good for our youth. If only for that, we have all been served well.
This Sunday, 2pm Manila time, please join us as we watch and cheer for the Filipinas, as they battle Norway for a chance of a lifetime to reach the knockout stage in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. You can watch the game through One Sports or Pilipinas Live. Manood ka, tsong! And hindi manonood, pangit!!!
Cover photo courtesy of ESPN. Other pics courtesy of Inquirer Sports, GMA Network, CNN Philippines, Manila Bulletin, Bilyonaryo, Republic Asia, Business Mirror and Philippine Star. For a closer look, just click on the picks.
Color My World 
Mabuhay, Pilipinas!
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