JAKARTA, Indonesia, 14 July 2007 — Indonesia goes into today’s match against Saudi Arabia knowing a victory in front of almost 90,000 fans will guarantee its first ever quarterfinal appearance in the Asian Cup.
The stakes are just as high for two-times champions Saudi Arabia: a win and its campaign is back on track; defeat would leave it on the brink of an early exit from the competition for the second successive time.
“This is life or death,” Saudi coach Helio Cesar dos Anjos told reporters yesterday. “If we win, the door will be open. If we lose, it will go to the final game.” Indonesia upset Bahrain 2-1 in its first match on Tuesday, while Saudi Arabia drew 1-1 against fellow Asian giants South Korea.
With fellow hosts Vietnam and Thailand both on the cusp of qualifying after good results against fancied opposition, Indonesia will be hoping for another upset at the Gelora Bung Karno stadium.
But the team, already missing its top striker through injury, will also be without captain Ponaryo Astaman and leftsided midfielder Mahyadi Panggabean, who picked up knocks in the Bahrain match.
Indonesian coach Ivan Kolev said today’s match would be far tougher than the Bahrain tie, but the team would try to play the same quick-passing, hard running game that unsettled the Middle Eastern outfit. “If we are going to win, we must play at a high-tempo from start to finish,” said Kolev, who was coach during the last Asian Cup, when Indonesia also won its first match but went on to lose the next two. “There is no other way.” Saudi Arabia, who are well above Indonesia in the FIFA rankings, are hungry for success following a disappointing 2006 World Cup campaign.
The young team looked dangerous against Korea, but failed to score from open play. Its defense was mostly solid against one of the region’s most potent attacks.
Indonesia’s injuries leave much now resting on attacking midfielder Budi Sudarsono and experienced striker Bambang Pamungkas, both of whom scored quality goals against Bahrain.
Authorities are expecting the 88,000 capacity stadium will be a sellout.
“As a coach, I have had no need to motivate the players,” said Kolev, a Bulgarian who speaks fluent Indonesian. “The motivation is coming from the Indonesian people.” Dos Anjos, who has only been in charge of the Saudis for just over a month, said his players were not intimidated by the prospect of playing in such a hostile environment, saying “it should stimulate them to do well.” The Brazilian has faced repeated questions over his tactics and the decision not to include former AFC Player of the Year Hamad Al Montashari in the team. One journalist asked whether he could handle the pressure if the team lost Saturday.
“If I thought about losing the game before it began, I would not be doing this job for 21 years,” said dos Anjos.
