The Absence Of Mees Hilgers Does Not Need To Be Exaggerated

JAKARTA - Mees Hilgers is confirmed to be absent from defending the Indonesian national team in the two matches of the Third Round of the 2026 World Cup Qualification.

The defender is still recovering from a hamstring injury he got last weekend when FC Twenty fought Ajax Amsterdam.

Before suffering an injury, Shin Tae-yong had included Hilgers in 27 players who would defend the Indonesian national team.

However, FC Twenty ultimately did not allow Hilgers to get closer for reasons of focus on injury recovery.

The Indonesian national team manager, Sumardji, asked that Mees Hilgers not be exaggerated.

"Look, yes, it's actually related to Mees, first, Mees himself is still in a hamstring condition."

"So, his club told us to take care of Mees, do therapy in the Netherlands, in Twente. He did not go to Indonesia," said Sumardji.

Mees Hilgers has apologized for not being able to defend the Indonesian national team when they hosted Japan (15 November 2024) and Saudi Arabia (19 November 2024).

In fact, he really wanted to play at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium. Since officially holding an Indonesian citizen, Hilgers has never debuted at the Garuda Squad.

The two parties he has run with the Indonesian national team take place at home to opponents, namely Bahrain and China.