JAKARTA The coach of the Indonesian national team Shin Tae Yong has started to complain about the short gap between the 2022 AFF Cup group stage matches.
The South Korean tactician will lead the Garuda squad against Thailand in the third match of Group A at the Gelora Bung Karno (SUGBK) Main Stadium, Thursday, December 29 tomorrow. This match is only three days after the victory over Brunei.
"It's only three days different. So, it's very important with the condition of the players. After going against Brunei we went straight here, as well as Thailand," Shin said at a press conference in SUGBK, Wednesday, December 28, 2022.
Indonesia and Thailand both played their last match on Monday earlier this week. Garuda hosted an away match against Brunei in Malaysia, while The War Elephants hosted the Philippines.
Despite facing the problem of the break between group stage matches, the 52-year-old coach was reluctant to make this an excuse. He emphasized that he would still optimally prepare the team to get points.
"There are external factors affecting the performance of the match to all teams. That makes it difficult for us, but I will continue to prepare as much as possible so that it can be a good match," he said.
Shin Tae Yong has so far a record of never winning against Thailand since sitting in the Indonesian coach seat. Of the four matches he led against The War Elephants, the results were two draws and two defeats.
The results of four matches against Thailand, which Shin has never won, occurred in the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers in the Asia Second Round Group G zone, 2020 AFF Cup final, 2021 Vietnam SEA Games in May 2021.
When meeting in World Cup qualifiers, this 52-year-old tactician only drew 2-2. Meanwhile, when the two of them were in the 2020 AFF final which took place on two legs, Shin had to see his team lose 0-4 in the first leg and play the 2-2 draw in the second leg.
Meanwhile, Shin Tae Yong felt the latest defeat in Vietnam's 2021 SEA Games semifinal last May. At that time, Garuda was beaten 0-1 in extra time after a goalless draw in normal time.
This year Shin will lead Indonesia in finding the inaugural title of this biennial event. The previous best Red and White achievement in the championship that has been running since 1996 is six times runner-up.
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