Indonesia's U19 coach plays 'mysterious card' ahead of clash with Vietnam U19

Indonesia U19 head coach outlines squad rotation strategy before facing Timor Leste, indicating careful readiness for the crucial encounter with Vietnam U19 in the last group stage match of the 2026 ASEAN U19 Championship.

In the opening matches of Group A at the 2026 ASEAN U19 Championship, both Vietnam U19 and hosts Indonesia U19 got off to a favorable start, each securing a 3-0 victory over Timor Leste and Myanmar respectively. This result made the race for the top spot between the two leading contenders intensely competitive from the very beginning, as both demonstrated clear superiority over the rest of the group.

After the win against Myanmar, Indonesia U19 head coach Nova Arianto shared notable insights regarding his team's tactical approach for the upcoming matches. He stated that the coaching staff will adjust the squad to ensure fitness and long-term planning for the key confrontation with Vietnam U19.

Specifically, the coach revealed the plan to rotate the lineup in the Timor Leste game: "To face Timor Leste in the second match, we intend to rotate some players. Fortunately, we have many options, and I want to try them all," Coach Nova disclosed. This move shows that Indonesia is not only aiming for immediate results but also preparing for the decisive match in the final group stage round.

Furthermore, Coach Nova Arianto emphasized the goal of testing the squad and evaluating personnel before the next round: "I want to see which players we can bring into the next round. Therefore, we may rotate the lineup quite a bit in the match against Timor Leste." This also means Indonesia may not field their strongest lineup in the upcoming match, instead saving energy for key players.

Alongside the tactical plan, the Indonesia U19 head coach frankly expressed his dissatisfaction despite the team's 3-0 win over Myanmar. He felt his players had not executed the tactical instructions correctly: "If you look at the entire match (against Myanmar), I am a bit disappointed with what happened. In terms of playing style, especially the players' fighting spirit, I noticed that when we had possession, some players did not want to move."

He also added: "The sprinting situations were not fully exploited either. That is what made me a little disappointed. Nevertheless, I still thank the players for their great effort in this first match. This will surely be valuable material for us to evaluate in the upcoming games.", Coach Nova shared.

According to the tournament format, only the top three teams from each group and the best runner-up advance to the semifinals, making the competition in Group A particularly intense. Currently, Vietnam U19 and Indonesia U19 are considered the two brightest candidates for the next round ticket, and are also direct rivals in the race for the group top spot. As defending champions, Indonesia will certainly not give way easily in this highly anticipated showdown.