Philippines uses 23 naturalized players to challenge coach Kim Sang-sik?
The debut of the new head coach of the Vietnam National Team - Kim Sang-sik is expected to face many challenges when the opponent Philippines added 8 naturalized players and is determined not to give up.
Before the away match at My Dinh on June 6, the Philippines team was at the bottom of Group F of the second qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup with 1 point after 4 matches. Belgian head coach Tom Saintfiet pointed out that there was still a chance and asked the whole team to show the highest determination.
"If the Philippines wins all two remaining matches, and Indonesia and Vietnam lose all two matches, then we will become the second team in the group and qualify for the next round," said coach Tom Saintfiet.
The scenario for the Philippines to continue is very difficult, but the Belgian strategist is completely serious in the remaining 2 matches (against Vietnam on June 6 and Indonesia on June 11), with the call-up of 8 additional naturalized European and American players.
Including Raphael Obermair, Anthony Markanich, Josep Baacay, Zico Bailey, Dylan Demuynck, Johannes Selven, Bjorn Martin Christensen and Adrian Ugelvik.
Among them, the most prominent is 28-year-old midfielder Raphael Obermair, who graduated from the Bayern Football Academy and is playing for the German first division team, Paderborn. Next to him is defender Anthony Markanich, who plays for St. Louis City SC in the US professional football league.
In the training session last March, the Philippines team had 15 naturalized players. And with the addition of 8 players of European and American origin, the Philippines can completely bring to My Dinh 23 completely naturalized players.
This is certainly a big challenge for new coach Kim Sang-sik in his debut match with the Vietnam National Team with the goal of 3 points.
