August 7, 2026 | 07:17 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia national team coach John Herdman has warned Singapore—Garuda squad's opponent in the final Group A match of the 2026 AFF Cup at Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore, on Friday, August 7—that they will be facing a "very wounded and hungry" team.
Following a 0-3 upset against Vietnam at Pakansari Stadium in Bogor Regency, Herdman assured that Indonesia would bounce back in time to face Singapore.
"Tomorrow, they're coming against a very wounded and hungry Indonesia," Herdman told reporters on Thursday, adding that his team "ain't going to mess around" in the Singapore face-off.
The loss to Vietnam was a crushing blow for Indonesia, as it diminished the Garuda squad's chances of reaching the semi-finals.
Indonesia currently sits third in the Group A standings with six points from three matches. Singapore is in second place with seven points—also from three games—trailing group leaders Vietnam, who have the same number of matches played but a higher point tally.
To secure a spot in the top four as the group's runner-up, Indonesia must defeat Singapore.
Therefore, according to Herdman, the match serves as an opportunity for his squad to prove themselves.
"As I said, this is a wounded team with something to prove. First, to nobody else but ourselves, and then we'll prove [it] to everyone else," said the British coach.
On the same occasion, Herdman also shared his assessment of the previous match against Vietnam.
Despite the heavy defeat, Herdman saw many positives, though he acknowledged areas needing improvement, particularly his team's defensive transitions, which he felt lacked organization.
Herdman pledged to apply the lessons from that evaluation to defeat Singapore on their home turf.
While acknowledging that Singapore may not be as formidable an opponent as Vietnam, Herdman emphasized that every match presents its own unique challenges.
He noted that Singapore is a team known for frequently employing three-player combination plays. "We know what we're here for. There's no messing around," said Herdman.
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