JAKARTA The coach of the Indonesian national team Shin Tae-yong asked players not to be tense when meeting Thailand in the 2022 AFF Cup group stage continued match.
Garuda and War Elephants were both present with a capital of two wins when they met in the third match of Group A at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium, Thursday, December 29 tomorrow.
"This match is very important in Group A, and the players have the same thoughts. I emphasize to the players to enjoy the match and appear as strong as they can. Don't be tense," said the Korean coach, Wednesday, December 28, 2022.
Indonesia currently occupies the second position of the group after collecting maximum points from two matches. Thailand also collected the same numbers, but was entitled to the wadih position because they were ahead on goal difference.
This meeting could be very decisive which team will qualify as group winners and runners ups later.
If they qualify as runners up, Indonesia is very likely to face a strong Vietnamese team in the semifinals. Thailand also certainly doesn't want to meet Vietnam in the semifinals, so they definitely need a group winner ticket.
Shin said that looking at the quality of Thailand, to be able to secure the three points, his team had to work extra hard.
"Currently, all the players have performed well in the match, especially since the team has scored nine goals in two matches. But the important thing is whether the players can work optimally or not," he said.
Indonesia was runner-up in the previous edition in 2020. At that time, Indonesia failed to lift the first title after losing to Thailand in the two-legged final.
Garuda's total has so far been runner-up six times in 13 editions of this biennial event held since 1996. In addition to 2020, Merah Putih also became runner-up in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2010, and 2016.
On paper, Indonesia has an unpleasant record every time it meets Thailand in the AFF Cup. In total of the 14 meetings that took place in that event, Garuda only won twice, lost nine, and drew three times.
In addition, Shin Tae Yong's record against the War Elephant team is still so gloomy. He is noted to have not won from four meetings since he became coach of the Indonesian national team (two draws and two defeats).
Both teams will play this match after winning both in the previous two group stage matches. The results that made them control the top two positions in the standings.
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