Alen Stajcic is leaving no stone unturned as the Philippine Women’s National Football Team prepares for the opening of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in New Zealand next week.
This will be the second time the 49-year-old coach will lead a country in the prestigious tournament, having previously guided his home nation, Australia, in the 2015 edition when it was hosted in Australia.
As an esteemed coach in the international game, Stajcic has set high aspirations for the Filipinas. He wants to see the team not only compete against higher-ranked countries but also emerge victorious and advance as far as possible.
“We are in the final stages of our preparations, and it’s truly exciting. We have a friendly match against Sweden in New Zealand on July 17, and I’m focused on all the details that go into each game,” said the former Central Coast Mariners mentor.
Although the Filipinas will begin their campaign in just 11 days, there are still numerous aspects to fine-tune behind closed doors before their debut match against Switzerland at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.
Under Stajcic’s guidance, the team will not simply participate in the tournament with the mentality of being satisfied with their presence. Their goal is to give their all and secure victories against formidable opponents such as Switzerland, host nation New Zealand, and Norway. From this point forward, everything done by the team in New Zealand will be geared towards achieving results, rather than settling for moral victories.
(C) Filipinas/PFF
“At the moment, I’m not really focusing on Switzerland,” Stajcic remarked. “I’m concentrating on our group dynamics, day-to-day training, travel logistics, ensuring everyone is fit and healthy for our training sessions, and making the most of our time to fine-tune our game. By the time we play our first match, we aim to be in our best form.
“The whole purpose of the World Cup cycle is to peak during the World Cup. I would say we are reaching that point now, and we have 10 more days to strive for our peak performance by July 21.”
Stajcic and his staff were appointed to their roles in October 2021, and their tenure with the national team has lasted nearly two years. During this time, they have called up over 30 players, reached the semifinals of the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, secured bronze in the 31st Southeast Asian Games, and triumphed in the 2022 AFF Women’s Championship on home soil.
However, the World Cup presents a significantly higher level of competition compared to those previous tournaments. Every match in the group stage holds immense importance, and the Philippines must exert a tremendous amount of effort to progress from Group C. Bearing this in mind, Stajcic, his staff, and everyone involved with the team are working tirelessly to create the most favorable circumstances possible.
“Once again, it’s not just about these 23 players. It’s about the incredible staff who have supported us throughout, the amazing individuals behind the scenes, and all the players,” Stajcic emphasized.
“I’m immensely proud of everyone for their collective effort, and now it’s time to participate in the world’s biggest women’s sporting event and give our best. It truly is a momentous occasion for the country, and we hope that everyone will be proud of the determination we’ll demonstrate in those games.”
