Two returning members of the national women’s football team see a good chance of progressing past the group stage of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup which starts later this week in India.
The Philippines needs to secure a top two finish or emerge as one of the two best third placers in Group B to gain a place in the quarterfinals and a chance to earn a berth in next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Standing in its way are Australia, Thailand and Indonesia, yet Sarina Bolden and Quinley Quezada, back after spending time with the professional stints in Japan, expressed confidence that the team can get a result.
“Honestly, I think it’s a pretty solid group for us,” Bolden said in an interview with The Asian Game. “It’s a little similar to the group we drew last time around and again we have Thailand.
“We have a tough team in Australia and a team we have a good chance against in Indonesia. We definitely have a strong chance of getting second or maybe first in the group standings,” she added.
Quezada is also hoping that the Philippines can sneak at least a point against the Australians, known as one of the top women’s football sides, and boost its chances of reaching the knockout stage.
“I’m also pretty excited to play against Australia. It’d be amazing to get the win against them, but I feel a draw would be a pretty good result too,” she said. “Against Indonesia and Thailand I think we have a great chance to get a strong finish in the standings.”
Five direct slots in the World Cup and two berths in the inter-confederation playoffs are at stake in the continental tournament which opens Jan. 20 in Mumbai.
Australia already has a World Cup berth secured by virtue of being co-host with New Zealand.
Bolden and Quezada return to action for the first time since being part of the country’s fourth place finish in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
They recently completed a portion of Japan’s WELeague season, with Bolden playing for AS Elfen Saitama and Quezada for JEF United Chiba.