TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian national team head coach John Herdman views his team's 5-1 victory over Cambodia in their 2026 AFF Cup Group A opener as a starting point. While pleased with the squad’s tactical execution and progress, he stressed that there are still many aspects that need to be improved before the next match.
Indonesia kicked off its 2026 AFF Cup campaign with a dominant win over Cambodia at Pakansari Stadium in Bogor, West Java, on Monday night, July 27, 2026. Herdman noted that the match marked only the second time the Garuda squad had taken the field together as a team.
"We have taken some good steps tactically, but of course, there are still some gaps that we need to keep improving," Herdman said following the final whistle.
The 51-year-old English coach commended his squad’s performance. He noted that the team successfully executed the game plan, maintaining strong tactical discipline and structure throughout the match. "I am proud of the tactical clarity and discipline they showed tonight. But we still have the next game ahead of us. Tournament football is always different in every match," he said.
Indonesia will next take on Timor Leste in their second Group A fixture at Chonburi Municipal Stadium in Thailand on Friday, July 31, 2026. Herdman anticipated that the match would not be easy, especially because the team would have to travel a long distance to Thailand. "It will be a tough match against a team that is hurting after a loss and surely wants to prove something," he said.
Timor Leste enters the contest following a 2-0 defeat to Singapore at Jalan Besar Stadium on Monday, July 27, 2026. Singapore secured the win courtesy of goals from Ilhan Fandi and Song Ui-young. Along with Indonesia and Timor Leste, Group A features Singapore and Vietnam.
Herdman emphasized that his squad is maintaining a strict one-game-at-a-time mindset. For the Cambodia match, his main goal was establishing the tactical identity developed during their training camp. "Today, our focus was to implement the team's tactical identity and bring the hard work results from the past three weeks into this match," he said.
He also praised the teamwork and determination displayed by his players over the 90 minutes. "They fought for each other, stayed united, and looked like they truly enjoyed playing, so I am extremely pleased with this start," Herdman said.
The former Canada manager added that Indonesia's approach will remain just as focused against Timor Leste. Having savored their opening victory, the squad is quickly turning its attention to the upcoming fixture. "On to the next match, on to the next task," Herdman said.
Read: ASEAN Championship Winners: Every Champion Since 1996
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