Herdman Hails Indonesian U19's Unbeaten Run at AFF Championship

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia senior national team coach John Herdman has praised the country's U19 squad for their unbeaten performance in the 2026 AFF U19 Championship group stage, describing their resilience and determination as qualities that reflect the nation's character.

“A group of young players showed what defines this country: incredible resilience and a never-give-up attitude,” Herdman said during a press conference ahead of Indonesia’s FIFA Matchday match against Mozambique at Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium in Jakarta on Monday, June 8, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

The comments came after the Indonesian U19 squad, coached by Nova Arianto, secured a perfect group-stage record by defeating Vietnam 2-1 at the Main Stadium of North Sumatra on Sunday, June 7, 2026.

The victory completed a flawless campaign for the young Garuda squad, which had previously beaten Myanmar and Timor-Leste by identical 3-0 scorelines.

Herdman congratulated both the players and Nova Arianto for guiding the team into the semifinals, saying the squad had produced outstanding performances throughout the tournament.

The English coach expressed hope that the U19 side would continue its winning run and said he would like the opportunity to watch the team play in person in North Sumatra.

Before that, however, Herdman remains focused on preparing the senior national team for its FIFA Matchday friendly against Mozambique on Tuesday. Indonesia heads into the match after a 3-0 victory over Oman.

The Indonesian U19 team will return to action in the semifinals on Thursday, June 11.

Despite the team's impressive group-stage results, Nova Arianto has warned his players against becoming complacent and urged them to maintain their level of performance. The coach said his squad must be ready to face any opponent as they pursue a place in the final. ***