AUCKLAND, New Zealand – Sara Eggesvik and Meryll Serrano will be in the spotlight as the Philippines takes on Norway in the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup on Sunday.
Eggesvik and Serrano are Philippine team members of Norwegian descent and also play club football in that country. On Sunday, the Philippine women's football team takes on Norway at Eden Park with a slot in the round-of-16 at stake.
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Head coach Alen Stajcic was asked about the two players during the prematch press conference on Saturday by a Norwegian journalist and their contributions to the team. The Australian coach reiterated that he doesn’t care where the players are from because, at the end of the day, they play for the Philippines.
“We have two Filipino players who spend a lot of their time in Norway. They are not playing for Norway. Probably spend a lot of their childhood in Norway. Meryll was actually born in the Philippines. But as I’ve said many times, I don’t care where they are from. We don’t really care who they are playing against. We’ve had players play here,” said Stajcic.

Eggesvik, born to a Filipina mother who traces her roots in Davao City, said she will be out to help the Philippines achieve another milestone on Sunday.
“It’s special since we train in Norway. But I put that aside and when the game starts, I’m playing for the Philippines. I’ll do my best to get a win and to get points. I would put my family aside at that point,” said Eggesvik on Tuesday after the Philippines’ historic win over New Zealand.
During the match against New Zealand, Eggesvik was also a key figure when she crossed in the ball that led to the Sarina Bolden goal in the 24th minute. Eggesvik was in tears when interviewed at the mixed zone when she described how special the victory was for her and the entire team.
Eggesvik said she wants to create more history with the Philippines.
“It was a good header by Sarina. I feel like this was a team effort even though it was one goal. But we had great defense in this game that kept them away from the goal. Everyone fought. Just feels so glad and grateful and proud of this team what we have achieved,” said the 26-year-old Eggesvik.
“[We want to] keep making history. This team is really something special,” the KIL/Hemme midfielder also said.
Serrano, born in Pangasinan, has been a vital piece to the preparations as well since she made the team last December.
“Sara, Meryll, it’s irrelevant really where they grew up. We don’t want to talk about individual players in front of the whole group… From a coaching perspective, I’m proud of the whole group that we’ve got to this point of the tournament,” said Stajcic.
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