REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Indonesian national team is expected to come up with a different face when it faces Bahrain on matchday three of Group C of the Third Round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifier Asia Zone at the Bahrain National Stadium, Manama, Thursday (10/10/2024) night. This related the entry of two new players Eliano Reijnders and Mees Hilgers.

Eliano, a naturalized player of Moluccan blood, and Mees, thousands of women from North Sulawesi, are expected to be installed as starters by coach Shin Tae-yong. Shin is predicted to bring down Mees with Jay Idzes and Rizky Ridho in three centre-backs in line.

Those three players would be a sturdy bulwark to line Maarten Paes as the last bastion under the crossbar. Paes was assured of appearing as a starter after recovering from a hand injury.

Alongside the three centre-backs, Sandy Walsh is predicted to fill the position of right-back, while the left-back position will be occupied by Calvin Verdonk.

Indonesia will likely focus more on defending first and attacking through the wings. For that, the midfield looks likely to be filled by Ivar Jenner and Nathan Tjoe-A-On.

Eliano, a PEC Zwolle player who can play several positions, will fill in on the right wing that Witan Sulaeman filled in against Australia. The left wing position would belong to Ragnar Oratmangoen. Up front, there's Brisbane Roar's young attacker, Rafael Struick.

If he wants to be in a more offensive mode, especially building attacks from the middle, Ivar will be replaced by Thom Haye. Shayne Pattynama, Asnawi Mangkualam, Witan, and Marselino Ferdinan were also available in the second half to add attack power.

Here are the predictions of the national team of Indonesia against Bahrain:

Indonesia (5-4-1): Maarten Paes; Sandy Walsh, Rizky Ridho, Mees Hilgers, Jay Idzes, Calvin Verdonk; Eliano Reijnders, Ivar Jenner, Nathan Tjoe-A-On, Ragnar Oratmangoen; Rafael Struick.

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