Filipinas out to 'embrace' challenge as they play FIFA Women's World Cup host New Zealand

The Philippine women's national football team is all set to return to action four days after bowing to Switzerland in its debut game in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup last Friday.

The fierce Filipinas, though, will have a tall task at hand when they eye for a maiden win as they will be facing co-hosts New Zealand on Tuesday at the Wellington Regional Stadium in Wellington at 1 p.m. (Manila time).

For head coach Allen Stajcic, they will use this as a motivation even if a capacity crowd of as many as 34,000 live viewers is expected on Tuesday's marquee game.

"Traditionally, being a host nation or a home team in any kind of football game is an advantage. Fortunately, we don't have to play against 25,000 people and we have to play against 11 [players]," the Australian tactician said in the pre-match presser.

"We have to block all that out and embrace it. This is a very special moment and one that we'll cherish for the rest of our lives so you want to go out there and give it your best shot."

Stajcic and the Filipinas will look to pick up from where they left off where they gave world no. 20 Switzerland a challenge early in the match before Ramona Bachmann and Seraina Piubel delivered the goals.

"Obviously we wanted a win, but now we move on to the next game with a lot more confidence and a belief that we can compete with the big teams in the world and the mentality that we can be at this level and we can compete and try to win," Stajcic added.

Against New Zealand, the Philippines is in a must-win situation in order to stay in contention as only the top two teams from each group will advance to the Round of 16. New Zealand and Switzerland currently lead Group A with similar 1-0-0 win-draw-loss cards as the former defeated Norway to kick off its campaign.

Forward Katrina Guillou, whose goal against Switzerland was later called as offside, is also expecting a tough match against the world no. 26 New Zealand.

"The first game is what it is but it is a short turnaround so we have to prepare for the next one," she said.

"We kind of just step into the mentality where we move on and focus on the next game. We know it would be a difficult one."

—Bea Micaller/JKC, GMA Integrated News