Debutants Philippines faces a major test against Switzerland in their first game at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
PHI-W vs SUI-W Match Details
Date: Friday, 21 July 2023
Time: 10:30 (IST) / 17:00 (NZST)
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
PHI-W vs SUI-W Match Preview
The Philippines were among the eight nations scripting fairytales in qualifying for the pinnacle competition of women’s football. With the tournament increasing to 32 nations, the Philippines got their chance to taste their first Women’s World Cup by entering the semi-finals of the AFC Asian Cup last year. Few could have seen that coming as the Filipinas proved to be a strong unit in escaping the group stage by finishing second behind the 2023 Women’s World Cup co-hosts Australia with Thailand and Indonesia making the other. They beat Chinese Taipei in a dramatic shootout to secure qualification for the event before their journey came to an end against South Korea. The lower-ranked nation in the group containing tournament regulars in New Zealand, Norway and Switzerland is colossal for the team that wishes to be more than just adding the number. To be in the top two, the Philippines have to cause an upset somewhere and have shown their intentions in the past. Doing it against La Nati in their historic match will ask a lot out of them with China being the only nation from Asia to win their Women’s World Cup opener back in 1991. The plan will be to keep their defence strong and secure a memorable point in the clash. However, losing 5-1 to Sweden in an official match before the tournament reshowed the gulf of quality these nations will have to fill in the future.
This is the second time only Switzerland are gracing the Women’s World Cup stage with their debut coming in 2015. So not only the debutants have benefitted from the increase in competing teams at the Women’s World Cup from 2023. Eight years ago, the nation reached the last-16 stage and advancing to the knockouts will be the target this time as well. Going by the group, Switzerland might think they can do that comfortably with Norway in the next match their main rivals for the top spot. Head Coach Inka Grings knows everything to handle a tournament like this having experienced it in his playing days for Germany. She will hope her team respond in the same way having come through the playoffs to qualify beating Wales 2-1 in extra-time. The team has lost just a single game in the previous six matches building up to the tournament. Although their last win was in last year, that playoff victory over the Dragons. The goals have also dried up for the side with only a 1-2 loss to Iceland and a 3-3 draw against Zambia sandwiched between three goalless draws and a 1-1 draw with Poland this year. The issue is the share of spoils has come against sides like to sit back and offer possession to the opposition. The Philippines will bring the same game plan so Switzerland cannot be inefficient again or risk stumbling in the group opener.
Recent Form
PHI-W: LWWLW
SUI-W: DDLDD
PHI-W vs SUI-W Predicted Lineups
PHI-W: Olivia McDaniel; Alicia Barker, Hali Long, Jaclyn Sawicki, Sofia Harrison; Sara Eggesvik, Tahnai Annis; Quinley Quezada, Katrina Guillou, Jessica Cowart; Sarina Bolden
SUI-W: Gaelle Thalmann; Viola Calligaris, Luana Bühler, Julia Stierli, Noelle Maritz; Géraldine Reuteler, Seraina Piubel, Coumba Sow; Ramona Bachmann; Ana-Maria Crnogorčević, Alisha Lehmann
Check out here in details Philippines Squad for FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 and Switzerland Squad for FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023
PHI-W vs SUI-W Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Thalmann (7)
DEF: Calligaris (7.5), Long (8.5), Maritz (8.5), Harrison (8)
MID: Crnogorčević (9), Sow (8.5), Walti (8), Eggesvik (8.5)
FW: Bolden (8), Bachmann (9)
Vice-captain: Ramona Bachmann
Captain: Ana-Maria Crnogorčević
PHI-W vs SUI-W Prediction
PHI-W 0-2 SUI-W
The Philippines expects to give a good fight and try to make it harder for the opposition to get the job done. But Switzerland will still be able to break their duck of scoring with an attacking set-up expected from manager Inka Grings.
