Asean Cup 2026: Indonesia and 3 tasks ahead of Timor Leste

Ahead of the match against Timor Leste, Indonesian outlets pointed out three important tasks that John Herdman's team need to accomplish to get nearer to the ASEAN Cup 2026 semifinal berth.

According to A Bola, Garuda's first task is to keep scoring plenty of goals. The heavy defeat of Cambodia gave Indonesia a huge psychological advantage and confirmed the strength of their attack. Against a lower-rated opponent like Timor Leste, Indonesia is expected to continue winning by a large margin. This not only helps sustain momentum but also plays a key role in the race for advancement.

If teams are level on points after the group stage, goal difference and total goals scored can become decisive factors for ranking. Hence, every goal against Timor Leste carries great significance.

The second requirement emphasized by Indonesian media is to minimize individual mistakes. Although they beat Cambodia by four goals, Garuda still conceded from a lapse in concentration.

Goalkeeper Nadeo Argawinata was accused of being complacent, failing to anticipate a shot from a tight angle by a Cambodian player. Additionally, Indonesia's right-back made a positional error by not blocking the opponent's cross or shot in time. Similar errors should not be repeated if Indonesia wants to progress further.

The final requirement is to maintain good physical fitness amid a congested schedule. Since 2018, the ASEAN Cup has adopted a home-and-away format from the group stage, forcing teams to travel frequently between different countries.

For the match against Timor Leste specifically, Indonesia must play at Chonburi Stadium (Thailand) because Timor Leste lacks a standard international venue for official matches. The long travel distance and relentless match schedule are seen as significant challenges for the players. Therefore, Indonesian media believes the coaching staff needs to make smart decisions regarding squad rotation and recovery to keep the players in top condition.