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The national team head coaches of Indonesia and Thailand have welcomed the challenges in the 2027 Asian Cup's toughest group, viewing the fixtures against top teams as part of preparation for the 2030 World Cup qualifiers.
Following the draw in Saudi Arabia last week, Group F has emerged as the tournament's most competitive bracket. It features reigning champions Qatar, the continent's top team Japan, who are seeking a record fifth title, and Southeast Asian rivals Indonesia and Thailand. For the two ASEAN representatives, the tournament represents a high-stakes opportunity to bridge the gap with the continent's top-tier nations.
Indonesia head coach John Herdman described the draw as a "great opportunity" rather than a setback. With Indonesia targeting a spot in the 2030 World Cup, Herdman believes facing opponents like Japan and Qatar is a necessity for growth.
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Coach John Herdman at the Canada national team's press conference for the 2022 World Cup on Nov. 26, 2022. Photo by Reuters |
"We have to get used to facing stronger opponents to narrow the skill gap," Herdman told Bola. "This is a task we must achieve to prove the team is on the right track. Over time, the players must learn how to gain positive results against stronger opponents."
Indonesia's last victory over Japan came in 1981. Overall, they won five, drew two and lost 11 games against Japan. Their most recent encounters have been brutal, conceding 13 goals across their last three meetings.
Against Qatar, Indonesia have managed only one win in nine meetings, with their most recent friendly resulting in a 2-2 draw.
Meanwhile, the team have played 78 matches against Thailand, with 25 wins and 37 losses. However, their most recent victory was in the first leg of the 2016 AFF Cup final (now the ASEAN Cup). After that, Indonesia lost 4 and drew 3 against Thailand.
Thailand head coach Anthony Hudson mirrored Herdman's optimism. Despite the disadvantage, Hudson insisted that the experience of playing Japan and Qatar is exactly what his squad need to elevate their game.
"Group F is very interesting," Hudson told Daily News. "This is a massive chance for us, and anything can happen on a fine day. I told the players that facing teams like Japan in a major tournament is a valuable chance for every single one of them."
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Thailand coach Anthony Hudson speaks during a press conference. Photo by FAT |
Hudson also highlighted the opening match against Qatar. While acknowledging Qatar's superior world ranking, he expressed confidence in his squad.
"People might label us the underdogs, but we have many players with great Asian Cup experience," he added. "The key is reaching great form at the right time."
Hudson also acknowledged the strength of Indonesia, describing their upcoming Asian Cup clash as a Southeast Asian derby.
"I think it will be a big game," he said.
The respect is mutual within the group. Qatar head coach, Julen Lopetegui, the former Real Madrid and Spain manager, warned that Group F is really tough. While Japan remain the title favorite, Lopetegui noted that both Indonesia and Thailand have shown significant improvement, predicting that the margins for error in the group will be razor-thin.
The 2027 Asian Cup will kick off in Saudi Arabia on Jan. 7, 2027, with six groups of four teams. The two top teams of each group and the four best third-placed teams will advance to the round of 16.
