Saying Indonesia Lost To Afghanistan Because Was Not Focused, Ezra Walian: Football Is About Details

JAKARTA - Indonesian national team striker Ezra Walian said that his lack of focus was the reason behind the defeat of the Garuda squad from Afghanistan. In the FIFA international friendly match at Gloria Stadium, Antalya, Turkey, Tuesday night, Indonesia lost 0-1.

"Football is about details. In that match, there was one moment when we weren't focused that made the opponent score a goal," Ezra said, as reported by Antara, Wednesday.

Even so, the 24-year-old footballer assesses this kind of situation is common in football.

The important thing, Ezra continued, was that the Garuda squad immediately rose to win in the second friendly match in Turkey against Myanmar, Thursday next week.

"Actually we played well against Afghanistan and that's important. After this, we must return to training and concentrate on facing the next match. We will work hard," said the Persib Bandung player.

Despite the negative results, Ezra felt happy to be back competing for the Indonesian national team after the last time he did so in March 2017.

For more than four years, Ezra had been absent from the activities of the national team affiliated to FIFA because the process of moving his federation, from KNVB (Dutch Football Federation-ed) to the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), was problematic.

"I'm proud to be back in the national team. It's a shame Afghanistan was able to score one goal, but I think we've played well. The pitch in the stadium is a bit strange, but it doesn't matter because it's also part of the game," said the naturalized Indonesian citizen from the Netherlands.

The Indonesian national team was defeated by Afghanistan with a score of 0-1 in the FIFA international friendly match at Gloria Stadium, Antalya, Turkey, Tuesday night Indonesian Western Time (WIB).

The only goal of the match was scored by substitute Omid Popalzay in the 85th minute. This goal came through a quick Afghan counter-attack that started with an Indonesian player's error in the opponent's defense.