They've beaten the odds before, they can do it again in Spain.
Fire forges steel.
That’s exactly the idea behind the Philippine Women’s National Football Team (PWNFT) competing in the Pinatar Cup—for the Filipinas to go through the fire that is high-level competition so they can ultimately become one tough, hard-fighting unit ready for the FIFA Women’s World Cup later this year.
The Filipinas, who left for Spain on Thursday, are looking to test their mettle against Iceland, Scotland, and Wales, who are ranked 16th, 25th, and 32nd, respectively, in the world. How they’ll fare against the three European squads figures to be an early indicator of how the PWNFT might fare in the group stage of the World Cup, where they are grouped with two other European powerhouses in 13th-ranked Norway and 21st-ranked Switzerland.
The odds, obviously, are not in the Filipinas’ favor when they take the pitch at San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain as the lowest-ranked of the four teams at 53rd. But, over the past year or so, these Filipinas have been beating tall odds with regularity, having stunned, for example, 34th-ranked Vietnam and 41st-ranked Thailand in consecutive days in last year’s AFF Women’s Championship.
So, while the PWNFT are looking to gain valuable lessons in Spain first and foremost, don’t count out the Filipinas just yet—not with coach Alen Stajcic bringing together essentially the same team that has been making history for the Philippines for the better part of two years now.
With AFC Women’s Asian Cup holdovers Inna Palacios, Olivia McDaniel, Sarina Bolden, Quinley Quezada, Hali Long, and company, plus the returning Jaclyn Sawicki, the Filipinas won’t be short on talent in Spain. They won’t be short on experience either, as this core has seen its fair share of battles for flag and country. And, just as important, there is a palpable chemistry whenever these Filipinas take the pitch, with everyone playing for one another and cherishing their every moment competing as a team.
That talent, combined with that experience and chemistry, might just be the Filiipinas’ recipe for success—first in the Pinatar Cup, and then maybe in the FIFA Women’s World Cup come July.