Indonesia sets goal: "A draw with Vietnam is extraordinary"

(Dan Tri) - President of the Indonesian Football Federation (PSSI), Erick Thohir, acknowledged the strength of the Vietnamese team. He said that Indonesia only needs to draw with coach Kim Sang Sik's team to do something extraordinary.

The Indonesian national team has grown in strength over the past year thanks to the strength of its naturalized players. However, in the 2024 AFF Cup, Garuda (the nickname of the Indonesian national team) cannot use the naturalized players when the clubs do not agree to release them.

PSSI President Erick Thohir admitted that Indonesia's draw with Vietnam in the match on December 15 was very good (Photo: PSSI).

Instead, coach Shin Tae Yong only called up a squad consisting of many U22 players. He considered this tournament as a place to prepare for the 33rd SEA Games next year. Indonesia did not really play successfully at the 2024 AFF Cup. A few days ago, they even almost lost to the Laos team when they drew 3-3 with one less player.

Therefore, Indonesia set a very modest goal when facing the Vietnamese team. Speaking to the press, President of the Indonesian Football Federation (PSSI), Erick Thohir, said: "The Vietnamese team is the strongest team in the AFF Cup. Therefore, if Indonesia only needs to draw with this opponent, it would be extraordinary.

If the team loses, that's completely normal. Against the Philippines, our goal is to draw or win."

When asked about the possibility of the Indonesian team winning a ticket to the next round of the AFF Cup 2024, coach Shin Tae Yong said: "I don't know, we will see. Nothing is impossible. I always say before each match that the whole team needs to try their best. If not, why participate in the tournament, but there must be a strategy.

PSSI reaffirms that it only sees the AFF Cup as a testing tournament for young Indonesian players (Photo: Antara).

We want the young players from 17 to 20 years old of Indonesia to have the best preparation before the SEA Games and the AFC U23 Championship. We finished 4th in the AFC U23 Championship 2024 but that does not mean that this result will be repeated.

Besides, Indonesia also wants to build a generation that can compete in the 2028 Olympics. We were one step away from the Olympics when we lost to U23 Guinea in the play-off match. We have no regrets. The plan needs to be built for the long term, not suddenly."

The match between Vietnam and Indonesia will take place at 8:00 p.m. on December 15 at Viet Tri Stadium ( Phu Tho ).

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/indonesia-dat-muc-tieu-hoa-doi-tuyen-viet-nam-la-phi-thuong-lam-roi-20241214155752284.htm