MANILA (Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network): After a historic FIFA World Cup stint, the Philippine women’s football team seeks to keep its momentum going into the Asian Games in China in September and the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Australia in October.
Buoyed by their precious experience from the World Stage in Auckland last week, the Filipinas received a warm welcome from their fans during a meet and greet on Thursday (Aug 3) at Adidas Brand Center, Glorietta in Makati.
“We’ve been just super hyper-focused on the World Cup and with that over now, we still have two tournaments going on this year — we have Asian Games and Olympic qualifiers,” said Goal Keeper Olivia McDaniel.
“As a team, we’re gonna refocus and start from there and look forward to those two important tournaments coming up.”
The Philippines is slated in Pool E in the Asian Games in Hangzhou from Sept 19 to Oct 7 where it will face South Korea, Hong Kong, and Myanmar.
In the Olympic qualifying tournament for Paris Games 2024, the Filipinas will be taking on host Australia, Chinese Taipei, and Iran in Group A in Perth starting on Oct26.
Alicia Barker vows that the team won’t stop after making history in the Women’s World Cup, where the Filipinas lost their opening game against Switzerland, 2-0, before bouncing back with a historic 1-0 win over host New Zealand from the goal of Sarina Bolden and the big saves by McDaniel.
They crashed out of the competition after the Filipinas but got dominated by Norway 6-0 in the group stage.
“I think obviously we want to perform well at any competition that they go to and I don’t think that will change when the World Cup is done. And really, once we’re done, acknowledging all the media, all the fans. And we’re right going back to work. That really changes the sense of that mentality,” said Barker.
Barker said the team will continue working for the next two major tournaments.
“I think it has pushed me even more and I like getting more experience to play so just with these girls and train every day. It has made me a better player. I think it shows me how much I need more to grow just because I am so young. So, I’m excited to see where the future takes me,” she added.
After experiencing a historic competition, Katrina Guillou said the team remains eager to qualify again for the 2027 Fifa Women’s world cup
“It’s definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience but I think now, when we got a taste of it, we’re raring to get back in four years,” Guillou said.
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