Ahead of their crucial FIFA Women’s World Cup match on Sunday, Filipinas coach Alen Stajcic focused on prioritizing the preparations of the Philippine women’s national football team, avoiding any distractions from Norway’s reported internal issues.
Norway will be without their prolific striker Ada Hegerberg when they take on the Filipinas.
The first-ever winner of the Ballon d’Or Féminin in 2018 left the pitch just before kick-off of their game against Switzerland last Tuesday. The Lyon forward later said on social media that she “felt discomfort when sprinting right after the anthems.”
Another high-profile Norway striker, Caroline Graham Hansen, also expressed frustrations before international media when she started the match against the Swiss on the bench.
The Barcelona footballer, who recently won the UEFA Women’s Champions League, came on as a second-half substitute.
Stajcic declined to comment on Norway’s issues.
“I have a lot of respect for them as a country and what they have given to the world game,” he said during the pre-match press conference.
“I am sure tomorrow when they come out here, they are going to fight for their country like they always have for the last 30 years. They are champions historically for their clubs and their country, so we have a lot of respect for them. That is how we will be treating them.”
The Filipinas, debutantes in this World Cup, pulled off a shock 1-0 win over co-host New Zealand last Tuesday to remain in the hunt for a place in the round of 16.
Stajcic is looking forward to the Filipino fans who are expected to come to Eden Park in droves to provide them with a huge and much-needed inspirational boost.
“We can’t just wait to come out here tomorrow and perform for them one more time and show them the true spirit of our team and perform for them on a world stage. It is just wonderful to see, and it is really what is special about our team and about the World Cup,” Stajcic said.
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