Indonesia Vs Japan National Team Match Becomes The Reunion Moment Of Erick Thohir And Yuto Nagatomo

Yuto Nagatomo will reunite with Erick Thohir when Indonesia fights Japan (Instagram/@yutonagatomo55).

JAKARTA - The match agenda for the Indonesian vs Japan national team on November 15, 2024, will be a reunion event for Erick Thohir and Yuto Nagatomo.

The general chairman of PSSI and the Japanese national team player were both at the Italian club, Inter Milan.

The Indonesian national team will host Japan in the fifth matchday of the Third Round of the 2026 World Cup Qualification at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium (SUGBK), Jakarta.

On that occasion, Yuto, who is now 38 years old, was still trusted to defend the Blue Samurai.

The Japanese national team arrived in Jakarta on Monday, November 11, 2024. Yuto will have a meeting moment with his former boss at Inter Milan, Erick Thohir, who is now the chairman of PSSI.

Erick Thohir was Inter Milan President for five years in 2013-2018. Meanwhile, Nagatomo was already at Inter Milan as a player from 2011 to 2018.

Regarding the opportunity to meet Yuto again, Erick Thohir was quite enthusiastic. Even though he admitted that he had not had direct contact, he recalled the moment of Yuto's meeting which he had mentioned as a potential player.

"I used to shake hands with Yuto when I was President of Inter. Not yet, contact. Yuto is a professional player, disciplined, teamwork, even though he is small."

"The power compared to the Italian players, they also lost," said Erick Thohir about Yuto Nagatomo in a statement quoted on Tuesday, November 12, 2024.

"However, how he did the strength condition, it was extraordinary. Now, this is an example for Indonesian players if players are abroad, yes, they must see figures like Japanese players proven throughout the world, in all leagues there are Japanese players," he said again.

Although on this agenda, the Indonesian national team will duel with Japan, Erick Thohir hopes that Yuto's presence can be a role model for the Garuda Squad.