Indonesia's Herdman Confident Ahead of Oman Clash, Eyes Historic Win

Indonesian national football team coach John Herdman expressed confidence in his squad's readiness to face Oman in a FIFA Matchday fixture on Friday, June 5, 2026, at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium in Jakarta.

Despite acknowledging minor disruptions such as late player arrivals and some team members feeling unwell, Herdman stated that the team has had a productive five days together and is now in good rhythm. He highlighted the positive team atmosphere and expressed hope that the home crowd's support will further motivate the "Garuda" squad.

"We have never beaten Oman in 38 years, and that is the challenge for us. With your support, we will do everything to make new history tomorrow," Herdman said during a press conference. Indonesia's last victory against Oman was on January 18, 1988, with a 3-0 scoreline. Since then, the team has struggled against the Middle Eastern nation.

Defender Kevin Diks echoed the coach's sentiments, emphasizing the intensive preparation focused on team cohesion and tactical alignment. "I think we had a difficult few days together to build rhythm, align direction, lineup, tactical decisions, and everything," Diks commented. Both coach and player are looking to leverage the home advantage to secure a historic win and boost Indonesia's FIFA ranking, currently 122nd, compared to Oman's 79th.