Ahead of Indonesia vs Mozambique, Herdman Urges Garuda Squad to Beware of Typical African Fast-Paced Play

Indonesia national team coach John Herdman has reminded his players to be wary of the speed and transitional play of Mozambique as the two teams prepare to meet in a FIFA Matchday friendly at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium (SUGBK), Jakarta, on Tuesday (9/6).

According to Herdman, Mozambique possesses a different playing character compared to Oman, whom Indonesia previously faced. Consequently, the Garuda squad must maintain a balance between attacking and defending.

“Yes, with Mozambique, they are an African nation. They have a very specific playing style: transitional, high speed. So we must be ready for what is coming, which is a bit of chaos,” Herdman told reporters at SUGBK on Monday (8/6).

Herdman believes the match between Indonesia and Mozambique will serve as a vital test for his team, which frequently employs a high defensive line and commits many players to the attacking area.

“So this will be a good test to find the right balance between attacking and trying to score goals and improving our attacks, while still maintaining our defensive transition discipline,” he said.

Herdman hopes his team can once again keep a clean sheet after achieving a positive result in their previous match against Oman, where Indonesia won 3-0 on Friday (5/6).

“Our players can concentrate and once again keep a clean sheet. That will be very important for this match,” Herdman explained. He also emphasised that Indonesia’s primary target for this FIFA Matchday window is to secure two consecutive victories as preparation for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup.