Christian Rontini, the center-back for the Philippines national team, expressed strong confidence in his team’s preparation and strategy ahead of their crucial World Cup 2026 qualifier against Vietnam. Speaking at a press conference on June 5th, a day before the match, Rontini highlighted the meticulous planning by head coach Tom Saintfiet, which he believes will lead to a victory at My Dinh Stadium.
“We didn’t come to My Dinh Stadium to play for a draw or accept a loss,” Rontini stated. “We have a plan to beat Vietnam, and we have complete faith in our head coach.”
Rontini, born in 1999, anticipates a tense and exciting match. He expressed confidence in both himself and his teammates, who have been rigorously preparing over the past ten days since the team gathered and trained in the UAE starting May 26th.
Despite acknowledging Vietnam’s superior reputation, Rontini emphasized that the chances of winning are evenly split between the two teams. “We are not inferior to them,” he said. “Our players will give their best from the moment the match starts until the final whistle.”
Currently playing for Persita Tangerang in Indonesia, Rontini has previous experience facing Vietnam, having played in the 0-0 draw during the group stage of the SEA Games 31 held in Phu Tho. Reflecting on recent encounters, he praised several Vietnamese players, including captain Do Hung Dung, midfielder Quang Hai, and forwards Tien Linh and Van Toan.
“I know they have excellent qualities in terms of speed and technique. But the Philippines also possesses these attributes, along with passion and our unique dreams,” Rontini shared.
The Philippines is currently at the bottom of Group F in the second round of World Cup 2026 qualifiers, with just one point, trailing Vietnam and Indonesia by two and six points respectively. To advance, the team aims to win both of their remaining matches against Vietnam and Indonesia, while hoping that Indonesia loses their remaining games.
Rontini’s comments underscore the determination and belief within the Philippines camp as they prepare for the high-stakes match against Vietnam. The team’s preparation and strategic planning under Coach Saintfiet will be pivotal as they strive for a crucial victory that could keep their World Cup dreams alive.
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