Indonesia Must Attack Thailand to Continue Cinderella Story

Head Coach Alfred Riedl gives a briefing before the Indonesian national team training.

Jakarta, 13 Rabi’ul Awwal 1438/13 December 2016 (MINA) – Indonesia must set out in an offensive mood when they host Thailand in the first leg of the 2016 AFF Suzuki Cup final at Pakansari Stadium in Bogor on Wednesday night, espnfc.com reported.

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That is the belief of their former captain Seto Nurdiantoro, who wants the Merah Putih to take the game to their opponents.

“Indonesia has to play in the same way like the first-leg semifinal against Vietnam. But we must be careful to also not concede at the same time,” Seto told detikSport.

The former striker, who captained the national team 14 times, also feels the two-legged format introduced in 2004 is an advantage for the competing teams.

“Before this, the recovery period between matches was short. With a longer rest, the players have more time to recuperate and put on a better performance,” added Seto, who is predicting a 1-0 win to Indonesia on home soil.

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Alfred Riedl’s men displayed two energy-sapping performances to edge Vietnam 4-3 on aggregate to qualify for their final since 2010.

In the second-leg semifinal in Hanoi, they were forced to defend for almost the entire game to protect their 2-1 advantage from the first leg.

Hopes are rising that the perennial underachievers can finally win the regional showcase for the first time to complete one of football’s fairy tales of 2016, to follow Leicester City’s Premier League title.

Theirs is a mini-miracle in the making, having come off a year-long FIFA ban in May to force their way into the final, despite limited competitive action, and the absence of key players.

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Buoyant mood ahead of Thailand clash

Indonesia will be in a buoyant mood ahead of the Thailand clash, especially with news that three players from the opposition are in doubt for the first leg.

Star striker Teerasil Dangda, who leads the scoring charts with five, missed training, along with defender Tanaboon Kesarat.

Prathum Chutong was the other defender in doubt after he walked off the training session over the weekend.

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“Teerasil’s injury is just a sprained muscle, and should heal in time. But we do need to take another look at the fitness levels of Tanaboon and Prathum,” Thailand coach Kiatisuk Senamuang told Bangkok Post.

Indonesia, who lost to Thailand 4-2 in the Group A opener on Nov. 19, will travel to Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium on Dec. 17 for the return leg. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)

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