Filipinas Shine as Underdogs in FIFA Women’s World Cup
The ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup has been thrilling so far, filled with unexpected twists and surprising results. Among the underdog stories that have captured hearts is the performance of the Filipinas. Despite being considered one of the newcomers in the tournament, they have shown great determination and talent.
During a meet and greet session with media and fans at an Adidas store in Makati City, Katrina Guillou expressed her pride in being part of the underdog narrative. The Filipinas even entertained the possibility of making it to the round-of-16, despite low expectations as debutants in the World Cup. Their dreams were given a lifeline with a historic 1-0 victory over New Zealand. Unfortunately, their journey ended with a disappointing 6-0 loss to former champions Norway.
Once the World Cup concludes, the Filipinas’ campaign will be remembered as one of the incredible runs of the tournament, alongside fairy-tale performances from Jamaica and South Africa. Jamaica, known as The Reggae Girlz, delivered a pragmatic performance in battling Brazil to a scoreless draw, securing their place in the knockout phase. South Africa’s 3-2 victory over Italy propelled them into the last 16 for the first time in two World Cup appearances.
The tournament has witnessed surprising exits from traditional football powerhouses. Brazil, the Olympic champions, and Canada both failed to advance to the next phase, while co-hosts Australia and defending champions United States narrowly made it through.
Guillou acknowledges the hard work put in by the team, stating that they accepted the challenge and gave their best effort. She also highlighted the team’s ability to pose a threat, demonstrated through her disallowed goal against Switzerland due to an offside call.
The Filipinas have shown they can hold their own against top players in the sport, such as Switzerland’s Ana-Maria Crnogorčević, New Zealand’s Ramona Bachmann and Lia Walti, and Norway’s Caroline Graham Hansen and Sophia Roman Haug. Defender Sofia Harrison reflected on the experience, expressing her excitement at being able to compete against such talented athletes.
The Women’s World Cup has provided an exciting platform for underdogs to shine, and the Filipinas have certainly made their mark. Their journey will be remembered as an inspiring tale of perseverance and determination in the face of adversity.
