Kapanlagi.com - The Indonesian National Team dazzled in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers with an outstanding performance against Saudi Arabia. In the match held on Tuesday night (19/11) at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, the Garuda squad, coached by Shin Tae-yong, secured a convincing victory with a score of 2-0.
The star of the night was Marselino Ferdinan, who scored both goals for Indonesia, leading his team to third place in Group C. This victory is certainly a breath of fresh air for football fans in the homeland.
Not to be outdone, Sandy Walsh, one of the pillars of the Indonesian National Team, celebrated this historic moment by posting an Instagram Story featuring an image of the World Cup trophy. In his post, a keychain of the Indonesian National Team jersey is also visible, symbolizing great hopes for Indonesia to participate in the world football stage in 2026.
1. Shin Tae-yong's Decision Bears Fruit
Coach Shin Tae-yong demonstrated his tactical ingenuity by making significant changes to the lineup, making Marselino Ferdinan, who had previously been sidelined in the match against Japan, a starter ready to make an impact.
Together with Rafael Struick and Ragnar Oratmangoen, Marselino led the attack with agile play, overwhelming the Saudi Arabian defense.
According to Bola.net, the decision to replace Yakob Sayuri with Marselino proved to be very effective; while Yakob preferred to play wide, Marselino was more aggressive in entering the penalty box, creating a real threat to the opponents.
The dynamic synergy between the three also took advantage of the gaps left by Sandy Walsh's movements on the right side, increasing the intensity of the team's attack.
2. Indonesia's Solid Defense Against Set Pieces
Saudi Arabia is indeed known as the king in dead ball situations, with two out of their three previous goals coming from corner kicks. However, Indonesia showed remarkable resilience in facing this threat.
Jay Idzes shone in aerial duels, while Sandy Walsh and Justin Hubner played crucial roles in dampening the opponent's pressure. Despite having to face 12 corner kicks and several threatening free kicks, Indonesia's goal remained unbreached.
Rizky Ridho also deserves commendation for his discipline in maintaining the back line, especially when Sandy Walsh often surged forward to support the attack.
3. Effectiveness of Counterattacks and Creativity of Marselino
The tactic of quick counterattacks has once again become the ultimate weapon for the Indonesian team, and this time they performed even brighter! Unlike the match against Japan, which relied more on long passes, this attack was led by the dribbling skills of the forwards, such as Marselino Ferdinan and Ragnar Oratmangoen.
The first goal scored by Marselino was the result of a sharp counterattack combined with the extraordinary agility of the forwards.
The creativity and intelligence of Marselino in finding gaps became the key to success on the field, while the dynamic movement of Sandy Walsh also played an important role in creating dangerous opportunities inside the Saudi Arabian penalty area.
4. Shin Tae-yong's Tactical Adaptation in Build-Up Attacks
After the disappointing incident in the attack against Japan, coach Shin Tae-yong did not remain silent and immediately conducted a thorough evaluation. He provided intensive training for goalkeeper Maarten Paes to face the high pressure from Saudi Arabia.
The result is that Paes is now more confident in delivering effective long passes to initiate attacks, thereby reducing the risk of losing the ball in dangerous areas.
In addition, the excellent collaboration between Thom Haye and Ivar Jenner in midfield has successfully minimized the movement space in front of Indonesia's center-backs, creating a more solid defense.
5. What are Indonesia's chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup?
The Indonesian national team is now on the brink of hope after achieving a brilliant victory against Saudi Arabia.
However, their fate still depends on the results of other matches in Group C, especially the fierce duel between Bahrain and Australia, which could be decisive for their advancement to the next round.
6. Who are the key players in Indonesia's victory against Saudi Arabia?
Marselino Ferdinan shone brightly on the field by scoring two brilliant goals, making him the star of the match.
No less important, the extraordinary contributions from Sandy Walsh, Jay Idzes, and Justin Hubner also strengthened the team's defense, ensuring that every opponent's attack could be effectively thwarted.
7. What is Shin Tae-yong's influence on the performance of the Indonesian National Team?
Shin Tae-yong proved his greatness in adapting tactics impressively.
After analyzing the defeat against Japan, he successfully implemented that evaluation effectively, which bore fruit in the important victory against Saudi Arabia.
8. What message did Sandy Walsh share after the Indonesian National Team's victory?
Sandy Walsh recently shared a special moment on social media by posting a picture of the World Cup trophy, a symbol of hope that burns bright for Indonesia to shine in the 2026 World Cup.
With an unwavering fighting spirit, he encourages the entire nation to dream big and strive together to achieve the best accomplishments on the world football stage.
(kpl/rmt)
Disclaimer: This translation from Bahasa Indonesia to English has been generated by Artificial Intelligence.