August 8, 2026 | 07:04 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian national team coach John Herdman pledged to revamp the Garuda squad to renew their spirit after failing to advance to the semifinals of the 2026 AFF Cup.
Herdman said his side will make improvements and return with a renewed vigor, according to a statement received in Jakarta on Saturday, as quoted from Antara.
The Indonesian national team was forced to exit the 2026 AFF Cup after being held to a 1-1 draw by Singapore at Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore, on Friday.
Despite his dissatisfaction with the refereeing during the match, Herdman deemed the referee discussions unnecessary, as it would only get him into trouble.
The English coach explained that his team dominated the match, but Singapore had a well-organized defense.
"We had enough chances to win that match. We had enough possession, enough control, and sometimes the football gods don't give us what we want," he said.
Herdman hopes everyone will be patient in awaiting the national team's first trophy under his guidance.
Following their failure in the AFF Cup, the Indonesian national team will continue preparations for the FIFA ASEAN Cup in September-October 2026.
He said the event is a golden opportunity for the Garuda squad to improve after learning from the 2026 AFF Cup.
Indonesia will also face Singapore again in the FIFA ASEAN Cup, having been drawn in Group A alongside Malaysia and India.
"I can't wait to face Singapore again. That time will surely come," he said.
Herdman said the most important lesson from the 2026 AFF Cup failure was how to control emotions and stay focused on the task at hand. He believes the national team players have largely done this.
Tom Haye and his teammates, he added, did everything they could short of scoring a second goal.
Herdman added that the national team players acknowledged the small mistakes that cost the team. "We won't see those (small mistakes) again in future tournaments," he said.
Read: Indonesia Exits AFF Cup After 1-1 Draw Against Singapore
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