Increased-ranked foes don’t awe brave Filipinas anymore

Jessika Cowart: We all know our type of play … we’re going to stay to our weapons. —PHILIPPINE NATIONAL WOMEN’S TEAM PHOTO

AUCKLAND, New Zealand—The expertise of enjoying high-level matches earlier than and through the course of what has been a dream Fifa  Ladies’s World Cup marketing campaign has made the Filipinas get used to what others see as an amazing event.

“Whether or not it’s in opposition to Caroline Graham Hansen (Norway star) or somebody from Westside California, I’m excited to play soccer,” Jessika Cowart mentioned because the Filipinas face Norway on Sunday at Eden Park right here with an opportunity to go to a spot no skilled had penciled them able to reaching.

Cowart and the remainder of the workforce’s backline composed of Angie Beard, Hali Lengthy, Sofia Harrison and Alicia Barker are ensuring they’d placed on a courageous stand in opposition to a Norwegian aspect which, regardless of coping with inner points which might be popping out publicly, are nonetheless favored to return away with a victory.

“It makes no distinction, I’m gonna exit and play in opposition to whoever comes on the sphere,” added the 23-year-old defender.

‘It’s simply soccer’

Spectators react because the Philippines groups have a good time following the Ladies’s World Cup Group A soccer match between New Zealand and the Philippines in Wellington, New Zealand, Tuesday, July 25, 2023. (AP Picture/Andrew Cornaga)

The wealth of expertise it had since securing the World Cup slot on the Ladies’s Asian Cup appears to have made the Filipinas hardly care what’s forward of them.

And it has proven within the two video games the place the Filipinas put up a gallant debut regardless of a 2-0 loss to Switzerland, which occurred on a VAR-aided penalty name and a second-half aim.

However Tuesday’s victory in Wellington over New Zealand has clearly raised the boldness of the Filipinas and so are the expectations of these hoping to see them win—both on the 61,000-seat stadium or in viewing events again residence.

“On the finish of the day, it’s simply soccer,” mentioned Cowart. “We’ve been enjoying this sport our entire lives and we method each sport like that. We all know our type of play, our ways and we’re gonna stick with our weapons.

“We method each sport the identical method and it helps that we’ve been constant over the past 18 months,” she added.

Simultaneous sport

That doesn’t imply that Cowart and firm are usually not being reflective of what they’ve skilled over the past week or two, which might both be stretched for a couple of extra days with a win or a draw, plus a New Zealand loss or finish with a defeat.

“It’s been actually thrilling,” Cowart mentioned. “I feel worldwide soccer is a unique beast and so we come out enjoying groups of a lot totally different caliber and that’s been an awesome studying expertise for us.

“And general, we’re all attempting to soak each second in. And what you’ve mentioned, it’s our first time right here so we’re attempting to understand every thing we will.”

The New Zealand-Switzerland sport can even be held at 7 p.m. native time (3 p.m. in Manila) in Dunedin and lots of should have a look at two scoreboards on the identical time in what might be a drama-filled day.

Whereas advancing by means of a tie could be a risk, what issues for the Filipinas is the total three factors.

“Whether or not we’re enjoying for all times or demise, or Norway, or anybody, or win or we have to draw, we’re on the market to win each sport,” coach Alen Stajcic mentioned.

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