JAKARTA - PSSI through the General Chair (Ketum), Erick Thohir, revealed the target for the Indonesian national team to compete in the 2024 AFF Cup. Reflecting on the current situation, he did not set the Garuda Squad to get maximum results.
"About that (Indonesian National Team) in the 2024 AFF (Pala) I have explained earlier that not in all tournaments we are targeting maximum results," said Erick Thohir, quoted on Friday, June 21, 2024.
The answer revealed by Erick Thohir had a strong reason. PSSI did not set a high target for the Indonesian national team in the 2024 AFF Cup because the tournament agenda was close to the third round of the 2026 Asian Zone World Cup Qualification.
The Garuda squad prefers to maximize the third round of the 2026 Asian Zone World Cup Qualifiers to open up opportunities for the 2026 World Cup finals.
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This year, the 2026 World Cup Qualification will be held in September, October, and November. Each of those months there are two matches for the Indonesian national team.
While the 2024 AFF Cup will be held on November 23-21 December 2024. Although it does not run simultaneously, the close schedule will clearly affect the work of the Garuda Squad.
In the 2024 AFF Cup, the Indonesian national team became one of the winning candidates. However, considering that there is another agenda that is no less important than the 2026 World Cup Qualification, it is not impossible that Shin Tae-yong will divide the team into two camps for each agenda.
"For one reason (the reason), our talents are not enough. Even if there is, we have to attract the young ones again. If the seniors are playing again, I don't think it's fair either," said Erick.
Nevertheless, Erick ensured that the target would not merely be the green light for the Garuda Squad to relax. They will still be asked to fight to the fullest.
Garuda's squad will gather a team as best it can while hoping to realize certain targets.
"They (players) if forced to play 365 days is also impossible. So, indeed this (determination of priority) is an option. However, what I confirm earlier, we don't mean we don't make the best team for certain targets," he said.
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