Not all is lost; Filipinas have 2 matches left

The Philippines’ debut in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand didn’t go the way we expected.

The Filipinas dropped a 2-0 loss against Switzerland, courtesy of a penalty kick in the 45th minute and a goal in the 64th minute.

Despite the loss, the Filipinas should hold their heads up high. They gave a team that is ranked several places above them and is no stranger to the biggest soccer event on the planet the fight that they probably did not expect.

Negating two controversial calls – the offside on Katrina Guillou’s goal in the 15th minute and the penalty on Jessica Cowart’s contact on Coumba Sow, which resulted in a Ramona Bachmann goal from the spot in the 45th – the Filipinas did well in the game considering it was their first foray in the World Cup. The result might have been even different if Guillou’s goal was allowed and the questionable call of Cowart was not made in the first place. The second Swiss goal, courtesy of Seraina Piubel in the 64th minute, which sealed the game, was very unfortunate for the Filipinas.

Nevertheless, the Filipinas, from a country that is so crazy about basketball and volleyball, did well in the game. They displayed teamwork, discipline, and unflinching resolve against an experienced Swiss team. They managed to keep up and hold their own against a team that is predicted and even expected to win against them even before the whistle announced the start of the game in Dunedin Stadium.

Yes, we lost, but the team showed much more than just the stat line.

Almost no one gave the team a chance against Switzerland but it managed to spring several surprises and of course, that indomitable spirit of giving their best.

While due credit is rightly deserved by Switzerland, their experience playing in the World Cup before – they reached the round of 16 in their last appearance – proved to be a very important factor against the Filipinas in the match. Luck, too, was on their side no matter which way you looked at the game. Referee Vincentia Amedome was quick to award a penalty to the Swiss team. The penalty was a gut check to the team. Sow relied on experience to get the job done. She was a genius to slide on Cowart’s kicking path, thus she got first on the ball path. While the rule is harsh, it always favors the attacker.

The games against New Zealand and Norway will be tough and the team obviously needs a good result to entertain thoughts of advancing into the knockout phase but all is not lost. This is football where the ball is round and anything could happen.

There is no learning curve in the tournament, but hopefully, the team will fare better in their next game after getting rid of the opening day jitters and with the wealth of experience and takeaways in the first game. We can expect a better, more organized, and more solid game from the Filipinas in the must-win games against the host, the Football Ferns, on the 25th and against Norway on the 30th.

(Editor’s Note: Erel Cabatbat is the football columnist for Manila Standard Sports.)

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