The Indonesian Women's National Team Is Not Afraid To Face Thailand Even Though Previously Defeated By Australia 18-0

Indonesian women's national team (Photo: PSSI)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian women's national team admitted that they were not afraid to face Thailand in the 2022 Women's Asian Cup, even though they had previously been massacred by Australia.

The Indonesian women's national team is scheduled to meet Thailand at the DY Patil Stadium on Monday, January 24 at 19.00 p.m. Indonesian Western Time (WIB). The meeting was the second match of the Garuda Squad in the Group B phase.

Before meeting Thailand, the Indonesian women's national team played against Australia first. However, in the match on Friday, January 21, Indonesia was massacred by Australia with a score of 18-0.

The result was a hard blow for the Indonesian women's national team, especially since the encounter with Australia was the first match. Although bitter, national team coach Rudy Eka Priambodo does not want his team to lose heart. He wants the national team not to be afraid to face Thailand.

"Thailand has experience playing at the World Cup but we have two more games to play and we want to make an impact. Our players, who are still young, have to try and control the game and don't be afraid," Rudy was quoted as saying on the AFC website.

"This is a big learning curve for us and we want to learn from this tournament for the development of our young squad."

Furthermore, Rudy also wants the Garuda Pertiwi squad to learn from the defeat against Australia. Because it is clearly useful to improve performance when meeting Thailand.

"Since the first minute, Australia kept pressing us and after they scored in the eighth minute we lost concentration," said Rudy.

"The fitness level, the quality of the players, their control and pick-up (are far superior), so we have to learn from that game and prepare for the next game."

Before meeting the Indonesian women's national team, Thailand had also just suffered a shock defeat to the Philippines. Chandler McDaniel's only goal in the 81st minute made the Philippines pack three points.

After facing Thailand, the Indonesian women's national team will continue their final match against the Philippines on Thursday, January 27.