Matthew Baker Has Joined The U-17 Indonesian National Team

Matthew Baker has trained with the U-17 Indonesian national team (doc. PSSI).

JAKARTA - The naturalized player who defended Melbourne City club, Matthew Baker, today, Tuesday, August 20, 2024, has joined the U-17 Indonesian national team. He joined the squad that was undergoing training camp (TC) in Bali.

Quoted from the official PSSI website, Matthew admitted that he was enthusiastic to be able to rejoin his other friends in Indonesia U-17. He also couldn't wait to practice showing good progress.

"I'm happy to be back with the team, with the rest of my friends too. Always enthusiastic to be able to return to this great environment."

"I am very excited and happy to be able to progress positively with my other teammates," said Baker, quoted from the PSSI website.

With Matthew Baker, of course, it will further increase the strength of the Indonesian U-17 back line which will face India twice in a test match.

In addition, this situation also finalizes preparations ahead of the 2025 U-17 Asian Cup Qualification.

The trial match against India is scheduled for August 25 and 27, 2024. Then Garuda Muda will appear in the 2025 U-17 Asian Cup Qualifiers in Kuwait, October 19-27, 2024.

At the event, Indonesia was in Group G with Australia, Kuwait, and the North Mariana Islands.

In the 2025 U-17 Asian Cup Qualification, there will be 10 group winners and the five best runners-up will advance to the final round with the host Saudi Arabia which will be held on April 3-20, 2025.

"I hope that this team can succeed in the 2025 U-17 Asian Cup Qualification and become the leader of the group standings. Then, they can play in the 2025 U-17 World Cup. The closest is to being able to steal a win when we face India twice in a test match," he said.

Indonesia U-17 must pass the 2025 U-17 Asian Cup Qualification to hunt for tickets to the 2025 U-17 World Cup. The top four of the 2025 U-17 Asian Cup automatically qualified for the 2025 U-17 World Cup.