ASEAN Cup 2026: Indonesia full of confidence before the big clash with Vietnam national team

Two consecutive wins and a clean sheet record help the "Land of a Thousand Islands" team enter the match welcoming Vietnam at Pakansari Stadium in Bogor (about 60 km from the capital Jakarta) with a positive mindset, while the home players have been sending out determined messages.

According to a VNA reporter in Bogor, Indonesia has had a perfect start to this year's tournament, defeating Cambodia 5-1 and Timor Leste 3-0 to take full 6 points after two matches. With 8 goals scored and a clean sheet defense, coach Patrick Kluivert's team holds a big advantage in the race for a semifinal spot. If they overcome Vietnam in the third matchday, Garuda will secure a knockout stage berth even though they still have a final match against Singapore.

An optimistic atmosphere is enveloping the Indonesian team after the victory over Timor Leste. The opener of that win was left-back Shayne Pattynama with a goal in the 74th minute. The Dutch-born player did not hide his joy but affirmed that the most important thing is the team's performance. Pattynama shared on his personal page: "I am very happy to score a goal. But more importantly, we have another victory for the team."

Before the match against Vietnam, the 27-year-old defender continues to show confidence but also respects the opponent. According to Pattynama, Indonesia is focusing on one game at a time and still has many things to improve after the first two matches. Nevertheless, he believes the home team is capable of competing fairly with one of the strongest teams in the region. Pattynama emphasized: "We know Vietnam is a very strong team. They play well and are very confident. But we also believe in our style of play and believe in what we can do."

The Persija Jakarta defender believes that the 3-0 victory over Timor Leste gave a huge morale boost, especially as Indonesia kept another clean sheet. According to him, that will be the foundation for the whole team to focus on the important match against Vietnam. Pattynama asserted: "We are very confident entering the next match and will show what we can do. We play at home, and when we play at home, we know what we need to do," while also opining that this will be a contest between "two teams of equal quality."

Not only Pattynama, but many other key players of Indonesia are also "gearing up" before the match expected to decide the fate of Group A. Veteran center-back Jordi Amat is proud that Indonesia has taken full 6 points without conceding a single goal. According to this experienced player, the solidity of the defense will be an important support before the clash with Vietnam. "6 points, no goals conceded. Keep moving forward!" Jordi Amat wrote on Instagram.

Midfielder Marc Klok also expressed that Indonesia needs to maintain the fighting spirit shown in the first two matches. He believes the victory over Timor Leste is proof that the whole team can stay focused until the final minutes. He shared: "Keep fighting until the last minute. I am proud of the team's effort and another victory. A big task awaits on Monday."

Meanwhile, winger Eliano Reijnders sent a short but determined message after Garuda's two consecutive wins: "Two wins in two matches. On Monday, we will continue to fight."

Although Indonesian players are very confident, the country's media still highly rates the strength of the Vietnam national team. The Bola Sport newspaper noted that besides the three naturalized players Xuan Son, Hoang Hen, and Tai Loc, coach Kim Sang Sik's team also possesses many factors capable of making a difference. Among them, striker Nguyen Dinh Bac is considered the biggest threat as he leads the scoring list of Vietnam at the ASEAN Cup 2026 with 3 goals. Indonesian media also highly appreciates the midfield regulation role of Nguyen Hoang Duc and warns that Garuda's strikers will face many difficulties against the stopper Doan Van Hau, who has performed outstandingly in both of Vietnam's first two matches.

For Indonesia, a victory will open the door wide to the semifinals. Meanwhile, the Vietnam national team also badly needs a favorable result to have self-determination. The home team's confidence combined with caution before the opponent's strength makes the big battle at Pakansari Stadium promise to be one of the most attractive and anticipated matches of the group stage of the ASEAN Cup 2026.