Indonesia Enters New Era Under Herdman with Bulgaria Test

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian national football team is entering a new phase under head coach John Herdman, with the team captain Jay Idzes viewing the upcoming FIFA Series 2026 clash against Bulgaria as a key measure of the squad’s progress.

Indonesia secured a 4-0 win over Saint Kitts and Nevis in their opening match, but Idzes said facing Bulgaria at Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium in Jakarta on Monday evening, March 30, would present a more demanding challenge.

“This will certainly be a different match, a different standard, and we are excited to test ourselves against a strong team,” Jay Idzes, who recently won the Men’s Player of the Year at the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) Awards, said in Jakarta on Saturday, March 28, as quoted by Antara.

Bulgaria, a European side that has appeared in the FIFA World Cup seven times, is currently ranked 87th in the world, 35 places above Indonesia, which sits at 122nd. The team, coached by Aleksandar Dimitrov, also recorded a dominant 10-2 win over the Solomon Islands in its opening FIFA Series 2026 match.

“We will prepare as we usually do. Of course, there are changes with the new coach, new staff, and new system. But we are looking forward to facing Bulgaria, a European team,” said the Sassuolo player.

In the same occasion, Idzes also commented on the return of Elkan Baggott to the Indonesia national team after a two-year absence from international duty.

Idzes partnered with the Ipswich Town defender for the first time during the match against Saint Kitts and Nevis, with both players starting in a 4-4-2 formation used by Herdman.

“He is a big man, very tall, taller than me. Honestly, he is an impressive person, and I’ve heard that from other players as well,” he said.

“He showed it well. He is very vocal, and I think he is a very good player. I believe he will help us a lot in the future,” he added. ***