REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SURABAYA, — Chairman of the All-Indonesia Football Association (PSSI), Erick Thohir, confirmed that there will be no addition of players to the current Indonesian national team squad. The statement was made after a test match against Lebanon that ended in a 0-0 draw at Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium, Surabaya, on Monday.
According to Erick, the composition of the current national team players is already good with the presence of diaspora players from different countries such as the Netherlands, America, Italy, and Spain, as well as players from Liga Indonesia who have gained the opportunity to play. He judged that these test matches provided valuable experience for Garuda's squad.
“I think the formation we've played has started to be consistent. Especially today, it's been a great experience,” Erick said. He also stressed the importance of keeping players' emotions from being provoked when facing a team with a tough character such as Lebanon.
Erick is also aware of a record that needs to be improved, especially in terms of final completion. A number of opportunities created while fighting Lebanon have not been properly maximised, so further discussion is needed to deepen the strategy. Preparations for 2026 World Cup Qualifiers
Trials against Lebanon and Taiwan were utilized by coach Patrick Kluivert to rotate the squad and assess the readiness of each player. Erick added that competition between players is getting tougher and competitive, which will help find the best composition.
For the official match next October in Saudi Arabia, Erick explained that anyone who performs well in the trials has a chance to be in the starting eleven. Players such as Justin Hubner and Nathan Tjoe-A-On were sidelined due to illness, while Ragnar Oratmangoen was not played to avoid the risk of injury. Meanwhile, Ole Romeny's condition is still awaiting the certainty of the medical team.
Targeting maximum points in the fourth round of 2026 World Cup qualifying, Erick insists Indonesia's focus is on achieving the best possible result. “Our goal is to get as many points as possible. Otherwise, the opportunity is closed and should be to the playoffs. But our focus is round four first,” he said.
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