Fifa Women’s World Cup: Philippines vow to crash New Zealand’s party ahead of Group A clash
- Philippines are playing at World Cup for the first time and have risen from 68th to 46th in Fifa rankings since Alen Stajcic became coach
- Stajcic says his side will need to ‘block out’ the noise when they face co-hosts in Wellington on Tuesday
Philippines coach Alen Stajcic is backing his Women’s World Cup debutants to “crash the party” when they play co-hosts New Zealand on Tuesday.
New Zealand are on a high after beating Norway 1-0 in the tournament opener to end a 15-game winless streak at the tournament dating back to 1991.
The Philippines lost 2-0 to Switzerland in the other game in Group A, but proved to be no pushovers.
A capacity crowd is expected in Wellington, with most cheering on the home side, but the Australian Stajcic said his side needed to “block all that out and embrace it”.
“It’s a brilliant occasion, so to be playing in front of such a big crowd and TV audience is a really special moment,” he said. “You have to go out there and give it your best shot, so as motivating as it will be for New Zealand, it is for our team as well.”
Since Stajcic’s appointment as coach in 2021, the Philippines have jumped from 68 in the Fifa rankings to their current best-ever placing of 46th.
