The two teams join New Zealand and Norway in Group A.
Don’t expect Switzerland to underestimate Filipinas when the two teams lock horns in the FIFA World Cup.
This was what Switzerland coach Inka Grings said ahead of the biggest football event in July. The two teams join New Zealand and Norway in Group A.
“It is their first World Cup, but we won’t underestimate them,” said Grings in an article on the FIFA website.
“But they’re not in the World Cup because they won the lottery, and we will need to be vigilant,” added the veteran coach, whose team is ranked 20th in the world.
Aside from that, the Swiss are looking to shake off jitters right away and set the tone for their campaign down under.
“They are our first opponents, and we want to be dominant and get into a flow, shake off any nervousness,” she said.
The Philippines, ranked 49th by FIFA, is coming off a heartbreaking Southeast Asian (SEA) Games stint in Cambodia where it failed to bring home a medal. It wound up third in the 2021 edition in Hanoi.
With the likes of Sarina Bolden and Hali Long leading the charge, the Filipinas are looking to atone for that forgettable SEA Games campaign with an impressive performance in the World Cup.
And, judging by Grings' recent pronouncements, no team won't be taking these history-making Filipinas lightly.
(MDB)