Football director advises Indonesian team to stay calm against Vietnam

Persik Kediri Director Arthur Irawan expressed confidence in the Indonesian national football team's ability to continue their winning streak against Vietnam in the ASEAN Hyundai Cup. He highlighted coach John Herdman's clear tactical approach and the players' high morale following two initial victories.

"I also like the way Coach John implements possession-based play. The quality of the players is also very good in my opinion," Arthur said. "They have won the first two matches, so their confidence is certainly high. Hopefully tonight they can get three points again when facing Vietnam."

Despite the team's strong form, Irawan cautioned against complacency, recognizing Vietnam's aggressive, disciplined, and solid playing style. He noted that Vietnam, having drawn their previous match, would likely be motivated to perform strongly against Indonesia. Irawan identified Vietnam's organized play, strong defense, and quick transitions as key strengths.

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I also like the way Coach John implements possession-based play. The quality of the players is also very good in my opinion. They have won the first two matches, so their confidence is certainly high. Hopefully tonight they can get three points again when facing Vietnam.

Anticipating that Indonesia will likely dominate possession, Irawan urged the Garuda squad to remain vigilant against counter-attacks and swift transitions from the Vietnamese team. Beyond technical aspects, he stressed the importance of emotional control, advising players not to be provoked by Vietnam's known physical and confrontational tactics.

"That's part of football. So we have to play more maturely and not get provoked by anything the Vietnamese players do," Arthur stated. He hopes the team maintains focus throughout the match to secure three points and advance their chances in the tournament.

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That's part of football. So we have to play more maturely and not get provoked by anything the Vietnamese players do.