DistantNews
Support us
🇮🇩 Indonesia /Sports

Herdman feels Vietnam is starting to scout Indonesia's strength

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Vietnam's national football team coach, Kim Sang-sik, observed Indonesia's match against Mozambique as part of preparations for the ASEAN Cup 2026.
  • Both Vietnam and Indonesia are in Group A of the tournament, with their highly anticipated match scheduled for August 3.
  • While Indonesia won the FIFA Match Day game 1-0, coach John Herdman noted that the team composition for the ASEAN Cup will differ significantly, potentially altering the dynamics.

Vietnam's national football coach, Kim Sang-sik, was spotted observing Indonesia's recent 1-0 victory over Mozambique in a FIFA Match Day fixture, signaling a strategic move ahead of the ASEAN Cup 2026. Both nations are drawn in Group A of the regional tournament, setting the stage for a crucial encounter between them on August 3.

Kim Sang-sik's presence at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta was noted by reporters as he entered the VIP stands during the second half of the match. The South Korean coach acknowledged his attendance was for scouting purposes, aiming to assess the strengths of a key rival in the upcoming competition.

I think the Vietnam coach is tonight doing some scouting of players and teams.

— John HerdmanCommenting on Kim Sang-sik's presence at the Indonesia vs. Mozambique match.

Indonesia secured the win against Mozambique thanks to a 11th-minute goal from Ole Romeny. This victory followed their earlier 3-0 triumph over Oman, marking a successful FIFA Match Day campaign for the Garuda squad. However, Indonesian coach John Herdman cautioned that the team fielded in these friendlies might not reflect the squad that will compete in the ASEAN Cup.

We have been working on some of those things since May. The June international break is different because we have a lot of European-based players.

— John HerdmanExplaining the difference in team composition between FIFA Match Day and the upcoming ASEAN Cup.

Herdman explained that the June international break featured many European-based players, a composition that is unlikely for the ASEAN Cup, which typically relies more heavily on domestic league players. "The AFF (ASEAN Football Federation) tournament will also be a different tournament," Herdman stated, suggesting that Vietnam's scouting efforts might not provide a complete picture of the team they will face later this year.

Indonesia and Vietnam are grouped with Singapore, Cambodia, and Timor-Leste in Group A. Their highly anticipated clash is scheduled to take place at the Pakansari Stadium in Bogor. Historically, these two Southeast Asian powerhouses have engaged in intense rivalries, with Indonesia holding a slight edge in recent encounters.

AFF will also be a different tournament. So hopefully he gets a chance to see some of our players tonight. And I wish him all the best.

— John HerdmanAcknowledging Vietnam's scouting efforts while noting the potential for different team dynamics.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog