Chairman Of PSSI Ultimatum Indonesian National Team Ahead Of Facing Vietnam: Don't Be A Team Not Optimistic

The Indonesian national team will face Vietnam in the second match of Group D of the 2023 Asian Cup (doc. PSSI).

JAKARTA - PSSI General Chair Erick Thohir gave an ultimatum to the Indonesian national team players to appear desperately against Vietnam on the second matchday of Group D of the 2023 Asian Cup.

The Indonesian national team will meet Vietnam at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha, on Friday, January 19, 2024, at 21.30 WIB. Victory is targeted in this match because it is important to keep hope of qualifying for the round of 16.

Three points became a fixed price for the Indonesian national team when they met Vietnam. You see, in the inaugural match against Iraq they lost 1-3. The loss of points made the Garuda squad now in the most distended position in Group D standings.

In order to encourage the Indonesian national team to achieve this target, the chairman of PSSI emphasized that the Garuda Squad must be optimistic even though the target of winning points against Iraq in the first match is not achieved. He asked the players to show their patriotism.

"I don't want to because one target missed us to be a team that is not optimistic. I see a lot of other countries' teams who have a patriotic spirit. This is what I also hope that the Indonesian national team must not lose their patriotism," said Erick Thohir when met in the Central Jakarta area on Thursday, January 18, 2024.

Furthermore, the chairman of PSSI asked the players to remain confident when facing Vietnam. If the players are not excited when performing later, he emphasized that it would be better for them to go home than to compete half-heartedly.

"I hope that the Indonesian national team will perform optimally. Don't get caught in a mindset, well, you don't get points, you are weak. If you are weak (pessimists) just go home," said Erick.

"However, I am sure that they can still give their best. I see for myself that the Indonesian national team is many young people. On average it is still under 24 years old and I hope that the senior and junior teams can coexist," he said.