KBRN, Jakarta: The Indonesian national soccer team must secure victory against Chinese national team squad a to keep their hopes alive for advancing in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

National football analyst Mohamad Kusnaeni emphasized the urgency of collecting three additional points, stressing that the most realistic way to achieve this is by defeating China at home.

“The next match will be an away game in Japan, which will be extremely challenging. Now we can finally assess how well Kluivert has prepared the team,” said Kusnaeni in an interview with RRI Pro 3 on Thursday, June 5, 2025, as quoted by rri.co.id.

In the previous round, Patrick Kluivert had only one to two days to work with the squad before matches. Kusnaeni noted that such a short preparation period made it difficult for the coach to implement his tactical philosophy effectively.

The team’s recent improvement, Kusnaeni believes, is largely due to Kluivert’s ability to maximize his available time. He has fostered team cohesion and built strong chemistry.

“He had a longer period to gather the players, including a training session in Bali. That was crucial for developing chemistry, strengthening bonds among players, and enhancing their connection with the coach,” explained Kusnaeni, who is widely known as Bung Kus.

The training camp in Bali, Kusnaeni added, helped acclimate the players to Indonesia’s weather. “This is a challenge in itself. The summer here is markedly different from what they experience in Europe,” he said.

With the upcoming match in Jakarta, Kusnaeni expressed hope that the players would have adapted to the climate, as it could be a determining factor against China. “Hopefully, the team can handle the weather conditions by match day,” he remarked.

Kusnaeni also expects the players to replicate their strong performance against Bahrain, where they secured three points. “Benchmarking is essential in shaping the team’s approach,” he stated.

Patrick Kluivert, he noted, has begun utilizing the existing team structure effectively, despite it being built during Shin Tae-yong’s tenure. “I believe this framework will serve as the foundation for the match against China,” Kusnaeni asserted.

He urged Kluivert to refrain from excessive experimentation with the established squad and instead focus on refining the current setup. “At this stage, it’s about making adjustments, especially in finding alternatives for unavailable players,” he noted.

Kusnaeni also acknowledges both the advantages and challenges presented by the absence of key players such as Marcelino Ferdinand, Ragnar, and Maarten Paes.

He noted that Marcel and Ragnar had been instrumental in previous matches, particularly in strengthening the attacking line alongside Ole Romeny.

"This will certainly be a test for Kluivert in identifying suitable replacements. The likely options are Stefano Lilipaly and Egy Maulana Vikri," he remarked.

As for Paes, Kusnaeni downplayed concerns over his absence, emphasizing that Indonesia still has Emil Audero, a goalkeeper with international experience. "His presence ensures stability in the squad," he concluded

Confident in Indonesia’s prospects, Kusnaeni predicted a victory. “Hopefully, we win, perhaps 2-0 or 2-1,” he concluded.

Indonesia will host China at Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium in Jakarta on Thursday, June 5, 2025, starting at 8:45 local time. Securing three points will be crucial for Indonesia’s progression to the fourth round of the World Cup qualifiers. ***