RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia remains confident of reaching the ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026 semifinals despite a 3-0 defeat to Vietnam, with PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir expressing full support for head coach John Herdman and urging the Garuda to respond positively in their decisive final group match against Singapore.

Speaking after Indonesia's Group A defeat to Vietnam at Pakansari Stadium in Bogor, West Java, on Monday, August 3, 2026, Erick said he still believes Herdman can guide the team forward despite the setback.

"I believe in John. I think the team just needs time to adapt because this is a different style of play," Erick told reporters, as quoted by Antara.

He acknowledged Vietnam's quality, describing the defending regional powerhouse as a well-prepared side that benefited from an extended training camp before the tournament.

He also highlighted Vietnam's winning mentality, noting their multiple ASEAN Cup titles as one of the reasons behind their disciplined and effective performance.

"We have to appreciate Vietnam because they played well, but that doesn't mean we give up. We'll try again in the next match," he said.

He hopes the defeat will motivate captain Rizky Ridho and his teammates to improve and produce a stronger performance in the final group fixture. The Garuda's spirit, he said, should not fade after one loss, as Indonesia still has a chance to progress if they deliver a positive result.

Indonesia will travel to face Singapore on August 7, 2026, in a decisive Group A match. Erick believes the Garuda can earn the result they need to stay in contention and demonstrate their ability to recover from the defeat against Vietnam. ***