The Indonesian National Team's Multi-Layered Preparations for the Fourth Round of Qualification

TANGERANG, KOMPAS — The Indonesian national team is looking ahead to the fourth round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers with layered preparations. The players were dispatched a week before the crucial matches against Saudi Arabia and Iraq. The selection of the hotel was also made with careful consideration. Additional players are being prepared to anticipate those who have not yet recovered from injuries.

The match against the host country, Saudi Arabia, is still a week away, but the players of the Indonesian national team have already started arriving in Jeddah. Eight national team players competing in the Indonesian Super League were dispatched to Saudi Arabia on Thursday (2/10/2025) afternoon from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Tangerang, Banten. The eight players include Ernando Ari, Rizky Ridho, Jordi Amat, Yakob Sayuri, Yance Sayuri, Ricky Kambuaya, Egy Maulana Vikri, and Stefano Lilipaly.

In addition to those who support the local club, there is also a departure group from abroad. This group is specifically designated for players competing in foreign leagues.

Six players departing from Thailand are reported to have arrived in Jeddah. They include Sandy Walsh, Shayne Pattynama, Thom Haye, Mark Klok, Eliano Reijnders, and Beckham Putra. Thom, Klok, Eliano, and Beckham play for Persib Bandung. They left Thailand after recently representing Persib in the AFC Champions League Two against Bangkok United.

"Today, the players from the Super League are departing from Jakarta. I will accompany the players. Other players are departing from Bangkok, and Ramadhan Sananta is coming from Malaysia. Next, those from Europe include players from the Netherlands, among others," said the Manager of the Indonesian National Team and also the Chairman of the National Team Agency (BTN), Sumardji, ahead of their departure to Saudi Arabia.

By arriving earlier, the players are expected to have more time to adapt to the temperature and weather conditions in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, the departure a week before the crucial match against Saudi Arabia can be interpreted as a serious preparation by the Indonesian national team to secure a ticket to the main stage of the World Cup.

This is because the FIFA international break will not commence until October 6 to 14. This means that several Indonesian players competing in five top European leagues, such as Jay Idzes (Sassuolo), Emil Audero (Cremonese), Calvin Verdonk (LOSC Lille), and Kevin Diks (Borussia Monchengladbach), still have match schedules until October 5.

However, while players competing in Europe still have match schedules, the national team players competing in the Indonesian Super League have already entered a break period.

Considering the importance of the two upcoming matches, even the smallest details are not overlooked in the preparations of the Indonesian national team. For instance, the decision of national team coach Patrick Kluivert to include Nadeo Argawinata as an additional goalkeeper.

The goalkeeper from Borneo FC is being prepared as an additional player to anticipate Emil's injury. Nadeo's call-up was quite surprising and sudden. Previously, in the player list released by PSSI, the goalkeeper position was filled by Emil, Maarten Paes, and Ernando. Sumardji stated that Nadeo was only contacted to join the team to Saudi on Wednesday night (1/10/2025).

The goalkeeper position of the Indonesian national team is indeed in crisis due to Emil's uncertain condition. Emil sustained a minor injury while warming up for the match against Como in the Italian League. Positive news comes from Paes, who has been sidelined since August. Sumardji mentioned that Paes has finally started to be able to train with his teammates.

The national team's medical team is still continuously monitoring the recovery of striker Ole Romeny, who is injured. The striker from Oxford United in England sustained the injury while playing in the President's Cup.

Ole is a mainstay in the national team's front line. He is the only player capable of scoring in the third round matches against Australia, Bahrain, and China.

"Now the condition of (Ole) is 95 percent. It just needs a little more. Hopefully, on the match day, he will be able to play. However, he continues to carry out daily activities such as training according to his coach's instructions," said Sumardji.

In terms of accommodation, the Indonesian national team is also selective in choosing hotels. The Saudi Arabian authorities have recommended several hotels that can be selected as the team's lodging location. However, the Indonesian national team has its own hotel preferences. This is a form of anticipation against non-technical disturbances.

All layered preparations, ranging from additional goalkeepers, monitoring player injuries, to the independent selection of hotels, are being made to ensure that the Indonesian national team performs at its best against Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Regardless, these two matches are historic encounters that will determine Indonesia's fate in the pursuit of the World Cup.