AUCKLAND, New Zealand – The Philippines will look to achieve another monumental milestone at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup when it goes for a place in the Final 16 in a match against Norway on Sunday at Eden Park.
After winning their first-ever match last Tuesday, the Filipinas are gunning for a win against world No. 12 Norway that will propel them to the knockout stage - a feat that was once unheard of but is suddenly within reach.
The 7 p.m. (3 p.m. Philippine standard time) is expected to be witnessed by Filipinos here and back home from their own television sets or through watch parties organized in malls and restaurants as the World Cup fever gripped the country belatedly.
READ: Watch parties all around as World Cup fever grips PH
That the match will be held at Eden Park, New Zealand’s national stadium and host to some of the historic sporting moments of the country, specifically rugby, was not lost on the Philippines' Australian coach Alen Stajcic.
"Massive occasion for us," he said. "We are playing at a special sporting ground like Eden Park. And being in Australia, knowing how many rugby games have been held here. It’s pretty special to walk on that hallowed turf."
Stajcic’s team would love to create its own history at Eden Park, but it won’t be easy in a match against Norway that the coach described as a “monumental task.”

“We are still alive,” said Stajcic. “No one thought we will be alive. We are everyone’s underdog. We are going to the last match against the superpower of women’s football historically and knowing that we have a chance of progressing through the next round.”
The Philippines kept its hopes alive for the knockout rounds when Sarina Bolden headed home a goal in the 24th minute and Olivia McDaniel made key stops on its way to a 1-0 win over co-host New Zealand.
The other Group A match will see leader Switzerland playing host New Zealand at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin that will also be played at 7 p.m. (3 p.m. Philippine time).
Switzerland is on top of the group with four points (1-1-0 win-loss-draw) followed by New Zealand with three points (1-0-1) as well as a superior goal difference of 0 over the Philippines.
The Filipinas are currently in third with three points on 1-0-1 win-draw-loss record but with a goal difference of -1. The team can still afford a draw but will need a Switzerland win over New Zealand to advance.
The chances of the Philippines doing the improbable got a major boost after Norway announced that strike star Ada Hegerberg will not play due to an injury she sustained before the Switzerland game last Tuesday.
READ: Top Norway striker sits out vs Filipinas
Hegerberg is the team’s top offensive weapon, having won the first Ballon d’Or Feminin winner in 2018 and the distinction of being the leading scorer in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
Issues have also hounded the team after Caroline Graham Hansen made critical remarks about her playing time, or lack thereof, during the Switzerland game where she was benched in the first half.
But Stajcic said the task remains a difficult one as they will be facing the 1995 World Cup champions and 2000 Olympic gold medalists.
“Obviously, each team in their preparation have different issues, whether it be physical, mental, social, cultural. At the end of the day, [I’ve] been following football and women’s football for 30 years and I know how strong the country is and the history and culture of Norwegian women’s football. I know they’ve won World Cups and gold medals in the Olympics.

"We know that they’ve got an amazing history and culture which has brought them forward to the point where they are. I have a lot of respect for them as a team and as a country and what they’ve given to the world game.
“I don’t care what’s going on now. They are going to fight for their country like they always have for 30 years. Everything else is irrelevant when you are out on the field. I’m sure they are going to have 15, 16 players who went to the pitch tomorrow and were gonna fight. The fact that they are wounded sometimes means they come out and fight even harder to prove everybody wrong.
"They are champions. You don’t become a champion by being an underperformer. They are a champion historically in their clubs and for their country. I’ve got a lot of respect for them and that’s the way we will be treating them again,” said Stajcic.
Norway coach Hege Riise said they will be playing attacking football in the match against the Philippines with the team not just needing a win but also to score goals.
Norway is at the bottom of the Group A table with 0-1-1 (win-draw-loss) and are only -1 in goal difference.
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