The Philippines national team is present in Hanoi
This afternoon (June 3), the Philippines national team has arrived in Vietnam. Among the team lineup is Dylan Demuynck – one of the newly naturalized players of the Philippines. He used to be a promising figure in Belgian football.
04/06/2024 16:26:37
Sharing right after landing at Noi Bai airport, goalkeeper Neil Etheridge said: “We are in good condition ahead of the match. Coming to Vietnam early is also a way for the team to have more time to adapt to the weather conditions. Both teams have appointed new coaches. The lineup also includes both old and new players. Because of this, I think this will be an exciting match, with many interesting aspects.”
As Neil Etheridge shared, Philippines has also welcomed a new coach named Tom Saintfiet. Despite being only 51 years old, the Belgian coach has been involved in coaching for 27 years, from club level to national teams. In fact, Tom Saintfiet was even a potential candidate for the head coach position of the Nigerian national team at the 2010 World Cup.
In February 2024, Tom Saintfiet was appointed as the head coach by the Philippine Football Federation. Immediately, his impact was evident as he managed to persuade some players with Filipino heritage to join the national team. This is evidenced by the current squad traveling to Vietnam, which includes not only seasoned players like Neil Etheridge, Patrick Reichelt, Kevin Ingreso, and Amani Aguinaldo, but also some notable newcomers.
Some notable newcomers include 27-year-old Icelandic-born center-back Kristófer Reyes, former U15 United States national team player Zico Bailey, former U17 Canada national team player Matthew Baldisimo, and notably, the young talent once associated with Belgian football, Dylan Demuynck.
Regarding his team, Philippines coach Tom Saintfiet shared: “This is a very difficult match because Vietnam is a strong opponent. They have just changed coaches, so it will be harder for us because I only have videos from when Philippe Troussier was leading Vietnam. I don’t know how the opponent’s new coach will change tactics, personnel, etc.”
Neil Etheridge, the star of the Philippines national team, concluded: “I know the Vietnamese strikers are very skilled. Moreover, they have other outstanding individuals. As far as I remember, their style of play is also well-organized, resulting in goals against the Philippines. However, Vietnam now has a new coach, and I am eager to see how they will play. We are here to win, but of course, I have experienced that it’s not easy to play in Vietnam. They have fans, creating an impressive atmosphere.”
Tomorrow afternoon, the Philippines national team will have their first training session in Vietnam. They will have two days to prepare before facing the “Golden Star Warriors” in the match.
