Erick Thohir admits that he was struggling to invite Argentina to Indonesia

– Chairman of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), Erick Thohir admitted fully tired invited the Argentina national team to come to Jakarta and play a friendly match with the Indonesian national team in the FIFA Matchday match.

As a result, Indonesia was able to keep up with the game of world champion Argentina, even though in the end they had to suffer a 0-2 defeat in the match at the Bung Karno Main Stadium (SUGBK), Senayan, Jakarta, Monday (19/6/2023) evening.

“Of course it’s not easy to invite Argentina as a world champion country with the first FIFA ranking fully tired. Moreover, next time we will invite the next country or team. Ojo milkone by one, next year,” he said after the match.

According to him, the closest preparations for the Indonesian senior national team are the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in October 2023. Then for the U-23 national team there are the AFF Cup, AFC and the 2023 Asian Games.

If in October the Indonesian national team plays well, they will play again in November. After that PSSI will prepare the team to start intensive training from December 20 to June 5 in a country for the AFC Asia Championship.

“So this is indeed part of us preparing the national team well. So I thank the football fans who feel very confident or very confident. It’s the same with us. Surely everyone hopes that the result will be a draw in this Indonesia vs Argentina match, right,” he said laughing.

It is said that there will be parties who cannot sleep because of theorizing why the result is not 2-1, 0-0 or 1-1. If you are a football lover after the match, you usually can’t sleep.

“Lose got angry and said why not just draw. If the result is a draw, why don’t you just win. Yes, I like that,” he said.

“I thank our national team players and immediately prepare for another tough match according to the PSSI Exco meeting every year,” added Erick.

Erick hopes that there will be a big team or country and in November it will be announced if there is an agreement, because the big teams also usually have a championship in Europe in June-July. Even if you can finally play around March 2024.

“But that depends on the qualifications for the Indonesian national team in October-November,” he said.