Jakarta Globe, Wimbo
Satwiko, June 7, 2013
Indonesia and the Netherlands may have a long and entwined history, but that hasn’t translated into contact on the football pitch. Tonight’s friendly match between the two at South Jakarta’s Gelora Bung Karno is the first clash between them.
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| Dutch national coach Louis van Gaal conducted a clinic for Indonesian youngsters in Jakarta on Thursday. (JG Photo/Safir Makki) |
Indonesia and the Netherlands may have a long and entwined history, but that hasn’t translated into contact on the football pitch. Tonight’s friendly match between the two at South Jakarta’s Gelora Bung Karno is the first clash between them.
Merah Putih
officials and players are hopeful they can put up a good fight against a team
ranked in the world’s top 10, and learn a few things from their opponents.
Indonesia’s
national side has had a quiet year after finishing 2012 with a disappointing
preliminary round exit of the Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup. In its last
friendly match, in the lead-up to the tournament, Indonesia was crushed 7-1 by
Uruguay in Jakarta.
New head
coach Jacksen Tiago has called up 21 players for the match and promised fans
that the side, which has faced accusations of a lack of commitment in the past,
would be trying its hardest.
“We have
arranged strategies to play the Netherlands and we hope the players can execute
our game plan well and give the fans their best result,” Tiago told reporters
at a news conference on Thursday.
Tiago said
naturalized Dutch-born players Raphael Maitimo and Sergio Van Dijk had given
him some insights into the Netherlands side.
“I had a
discussion with Raphael and Sergio this morning. They gave me lots of input,
including information about some players that I don’t know. It was a very
productive discussion,” Tiago said.
The
45-year-old coach acknowledged it would be a tough game for his side; the
Netherlands currently ranks fifth in FIFA rankings, while Indonesia sits at
170.
“I want to
see two things from the players. First they have to play to the best of their
ability, while secondly I want them to understand our game plan and execute it
properly during the match,” he said.
Meanwhile,
Dutch head coach Louis van Gaal has brought his best possible line-up to the
Asian tour, including Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben, Dirk Kuyt and Wesley
Sneijder.
Van Gaal
said that initially he wanted to bring more youngsters on the trip, but they
have to play in the Euro Under-21 event in Israel.
“I selected
41 players, but with the tournament in Israel, I have to select more older
players for Indonesia. I selected 21 players, but Rafael van der Vaart is
injured, so he’s not coming,” he said.
“Maybe
Robben is slightly injured, which happened during the final for the German Cup
[for Bayern Munich] against Stuttgart. I don’t know if he can play, but I
expect he can play for 45 minutes.
“The
circumstances here are also against us because our players are not used to hot
weather and humidity. So, I have to take care of these problems too.”
Despite the
2010 World Cup runner-up’s status as a football powerhouse, van Gaal denied
that his team would take Indonesia lightly.
“I always
have respect for my opponent. When you are a professional trainer or player,
you always prepare professionally. When
you fly 16 hours to play a match, it’s very unprofessional if you don’t play
the match seriously,” van Gaal said.
“Besides,
we’re here not only for the match. We’re here to hand over our knowledge about
infrastructure and education.”
The match
starts at 8:30 p.m.
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