Why is the Indonesia vs Malaysia match always so eagerly awaited?

Indonesia will face Malaysia in the continuation of the Group A qualifying round of the ASEAN U-23 Championship on Monday, (21/7/2025) at 20:00 WIB. This match is the final game in the group phase and will also determine whether Indonesia or Malaysia advances to the semifinals.

Therefore, the meeting between the Indonesian U-23 national team and Malaysia carries a sense of intense rivalry. This is because both Indonesia and Malaysia have set targets to advance from the group stage. For Indonesia, a draw would be sufficient to allow the young Garuda team to soar higher.

With the draw, Indonesia will have 7 points, thus ensuring their position as group champions. In this tournament, only the champions from each group and one team as the best second-placed team will advance to the semifinals.

Meanwhile, for Malaysia, a victory against Indonesia is non-negotiable. This is because both Malaysia and the Philippines have three points each. Meanwhile, the Philippines will face Brunei Darussalam today.

If we look at the statistics and the strength map of the Philippines and Brunei, it seems that the Philippines will win easily, thus collecting six points. This situation certainly puts pressure on Malaysia, as if they achieve a draw or lose to Indonesia, it is certain that Malaysia will be eliminated from this event.

On one hand, Indonesia, as the host, certainly aims for a full point to maintain its chances of advancing to the semifinals. In addition, the U-23 national team is also a favorite in this event after successfully securing a top-four position in the 2024 U-23 Asian Cup. Meanwhile, on the other hand, Malaysia clearly does not want to lose in order to keep its hopes of advancing to the semifinals alive.

This situation intensifies the competition on the field. It can be assured that both Indonesia and Malaysia will play to their fullest in order to secure points. As of the second match in the group stage, not a single team has confirmed their advancement to the semifinals.

If we look back at the records of previous matches, the encounters between Indonesia and Malaysia have always been intense. According to the 11v11 website, Indonesia and Malaysia have met 85 times since 1957 at the senior team level. Of this number, Indonesia has won 33 times and 18 matches ended in a draw. Meanwhile, Malaysia has recorded 34 victories. This record indicates the fierce competition between Indonesia and Malaysia, with a nearly balanced record.

Meanwhile, at the U-23 national team level, the Garuda Muda team has faced Malaysia five times from 2017 to 2023. In all encounters, Malaysia has recorded three victories and one draw. Meanwhile, Indonesia has managed to defeat Malaysia once during the 2021 Sea Games. At that time, Indonesia triumphed with a score of 4-3 through a penalty shootout after finishing 1-1 during the 90 minutes of play.

This note indicates that Malaysia dominates in the under-23 age group team. The Garuda Muda team often struggles against Malaysia's attacks, which frequently rely on wing play. Penetration from the wings into the penalty area usually becomes the mainstay of the Malaysian youth team when the midfield encounters a deadlock.

Nevertheless, Indonesia is not without resistance. Moreover, Indonesia currently has a balanced composition of player quality across all lines, including defense, midfield, and attack. According to Transfermarkt, the market value of the Indonesian U-23 national team is currently (Rp 54.75 billion), which is higher than that of the Malaysian U-23 team (Rp 13.04 billion). With the quality of the current players, Indonesia is predicted to put up a fierce fight against Malaysia.

Reflecting on the statistics and previous match records, the encounters between Indonesia and Malaysia are always eagerly anticipated by national football enthusiasts. The competitiveness of the national teams of these two neighboring countries is also influenced by several geopolitical tensions, such as the disputes over Sebatik Island, Sipadan Island, and Ligitan Island. Additionally, claims regarding batik and intangible cultural heritage of Indonesia have also contributed to the strain in the relations between the two countries.

Like a relationship among relatives, Indonesia and Malaysia share a closeness, yet they often find themselves embroiled in issues. This situation occurs with almost all football teams around the world. At the national level, similar conditions in football also exist, such as between South Korea and Japan, the Netherlands and Belgium, China and Taiwan, Spain and Portugal, and Croatia and Serbia. Just like Indonesia and Malaysia, these countries have a history of ongoing conflicts that continue to manifest as rivalries in the realm of football.

Meanwhile, at the club level, rivalries in proximity are also demonstrated by several clubs such as Inter Milan and AC Milan, Liverpool and Manchester United, as well as Galatasaray and Fenerbahce. In Indonesia, a similar conflict occurs between Persija Jakarta and Persib Bandung, and Persebaya Surabaya with Arema Malang. Reflecting on this situation, it is evident that geographical proximity significantly impacts the high tension of football matches in various parts of the world.

This is the condition faced by Indonesia and Malaysia. Nevertheless, the match between Indonesia and Malaysia becomes increasingly interesting to watch due to the long historical record related to the relationship between the two countries.

It is certainly interesting to witness every encounter between the two teams, not only in today's match but also in every meeting in the future. Regardless of the outcome, the matches between Indonesia and Malaysia, both at the senior national team level and the U-23 national team level, are always anticipated as prestigious contests between neighboring countries.

(Kompas Research and Development)