Stuck with same ranking, Filipinas remain in draw’s Pot 4
The Philippines women’s soccer team will hold the bottom position in the Fifa (International Football Federation) Women’s World Cup draw after maintaining 53rd place in the latest world rankings. announced on Thursday evening (Manila time).
That ended the team’s hopes of facing a less serious opponent in the group stage of the biggest women’s soccer tournament.
The team took part in three friendlies in an attempt to significantly increase the world ranking and enter Group 3, but two losses and one draw gave Filipinas a minimal increase in points. The women’s team currently has 1,483.06 ranking points, an increase of only 3.15 points compared to the previous rankings in August last year.
That means coach Alen Stajcic will be in Group 4 — which includes the lowest-ranked nations that have already qualified for the World Cup and the three intercontinental playoff winners — ahead of the World Cup draw. takes place on October 22 in Auckland, New Zealand.
The updated stats come a day after the Filipinas ended a friendly in Costa Rica where they drew 1-1 and lost, 2-1, to Las Ticas in San Jose.
“I believe we performed well against an experienced World Cup opponent,” Stajcic said after the two friendlies, although lamented that more work was needed in the months leading up to the World Cup.
“Obviously we need to improve the technical part of our game. The entire team has shown great heart, commitment and discipline, which we are pleased with with a great experience playing in a Latin American country for the first time, and once again proving that we are not. Stop working hard and improve for the upcoming World Cup. “
Hosts New Zealand and Australia, along with two-time champions USA, Sweden, Germany, Euro 2022 champions England, France and the Netherlands are in Group 1.
Canada, Copa America champions, Brazil, Spain, Japan, Norway, Italy, Asian Cup winners China and Denmark are in Group 2 while Group 3 has South Korea, Switzerland, Colombia, Ireland, Argentina, Vietnam, Costa Rica and Jamaica.
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