Indonesia national soccer team head coach Tae Yong Shin has urged his players to fight on ahead of their upcoming match against the Philippines, saying that the fatigue that comes with traveling long distances is not an excuse.
Indonesia, coached by Shin, will face the Philippines in Group F, Round 2 of the 2026 FIFA North and Central America Cup Asian Second Qualifying Round at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila on June 21 at 8 p.m. (local time). Indonesia’s road to the World Cup got off to a bad start with a heavy 1-5 defeat against Iraq in Basra on Sept. 16, which is why the Philippines is a must-win game.
Indonesia is currently facing a double whammy of fatigue from traveling long distances and a short acclimatization period. While Indonesia’s distance from fellow ASEAN nation the Philippines isn’t too far, their two World Cup qualifiers in November were very difficult. The team will travel from Jakarta to Basra, Iraq, in West Asia, before returning to Southeast Asia to play a match at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. The artificial turf at the Rizal Memorial Stadium is also a factor.토토사이트
According to Indonesian media outlet Suara, Shin said he is scrambling to find a solution ahead of the match against the Philippines in Manila on Tuesday evening. Shin said, “We may not have enough physical strength. As we prepare for tomorrow’s match, we have to accept that we will face a number of limitations. It’s a difficult situation, but we will prepare well mentally and overcome it. So far, it’s very positive,” he said of the team’s current state of preparation.
Meanwhile, Shin reportedly sent a message to his players that they shouldn’t repeat the mistakes they made against Iraq, which resulted in a heavy defeat. Sandy Welsh, a mixed-race naturalized international center back who plays for Belgian club KV Mechelen, explained the instructions, saying, “He stressed to the players that they need to be more courageous when they have the ball.
The emphasis seems to be on not being intimidated in one-on-one situations and giving it everything they’ve got. “We’re going to try to play better against the Philippines,” Welsh said. Unlike the game against Iraq, we have to work harder and give our best,” he said.