Shin Tae-Yong, head coach of Indonesia national team, expressed optimism about his team’s prospects despite their 2-1 defeat to China in their fourth match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Asian Qualifiers Round 3 Group C on Tuesday.
“Although we lost, this is not the end. We will prepare ourselves better for the next match and aim to show an improved performance,” Shin said in the post-match press conference.
The coach praised his team’s attacking mindset and dominance in possession, highlighting their control throughout much of the match.
“I believe we had more possession, possibly around 70-30, especially in the first half, where I think we controlled about 80 percent of the game. However, unfortunate situations prevented us from converting our chances,” he said.
Indonesia’s journey in Group C continues in November with two critical home matches. On Nov. 14, 2024, they face group leaders Japan, followed by a clash with Saudi Arabia five days later.
The defeat marked China’s first victory in the group after three straight losses, while Indonesia suffered its first defeat, following three consecutive draws.
Despite the setback, Indonesia sits in fifth place with three points. China, also on three points, trails in sixth. Group C is led by Japan with 10 points, followed by Australia with five. Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are in third and fourth, both on four points.
Credit Photo : AFC
