Jakarta (Antara) -PSSI chairman Erick Thohir will prepare the Indonesian national team to perform even better after closing the third round of the 2026 group C World Cup qualifications with a painful 0-6 defeat from Japan in Suita Stadium, Osaka Prefecture on Tuesday.
Daichi Kamada (15 ‘, 45+5’), Takefusa Kubo (19 ‘), Ryoya Morishita (55’), Shuto Machino (58 ‘) and Mao Hosoya (80’) had Indonesia suffered from his third defeat of Japan since 2024.
The defeat with a landslide score also made Indonesia close the third round with four defeats and gave 20 goals, with half of the goals creating twice against Japan.
“We prepare the team so that it can be better for the 4th round of the qualifications of the World Cup 2026,” said Erick, in his Instagram account Upload on Tuesday.
At present, Indonesia is one of the six teams that have confirmed the fourth round with Australia and Saudi Aarabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar from group A and Iraq from group B.
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Australia and Saudi Aarabia also scribbled direct tickets to accompany Japan from group C. The two teams met on Wednesday next week in the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium at 01.15 WIB.
One ticket that remains for the fourth round was captured by Oman and Palestine from group B. Both teams will meet in the last match next Wednesday at 01.15 WIB in King Abdullah II Stadium, Jordan.
The fourth round will be played in a centralized place in October. A total of six teams were divided into two groups, each containing three teams. The first game was played on October 8, then October 11 for the second game and October 14 for the third game.
From the fourth round, two group champions automatically qualify in the World Cup, while two second places will be placed to continue their qualifications to the fifth round.
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To prepare for this, Erick has confirmed that the Garuda team will fight against two middle teams, namely Lebanon and Kuwait, on the FIFA competition day in September.
Moreover, despite returning home with a defeat of landslides, he thanked me as much as possible for the support of Indonesian supporters who immediately came to the Suita Stadium.
“Thank you all supporters who have come and support the Indonesian national team in Osaka, Japan and in the country,” he concluded.
Because of this victory, Japan closed the third round qualifying round with 23 points at the top of group C, and became a productive team with 30 goals and with the best defense because it had only admitted three goals.
As for the Garuda team, they finished the third round in fourth position with 12 points from three victories, three series and four defeats.
Reporter: Zaro Ezza Syachniar
Editor: Junaydi Suswanto
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