Jay Idzes Out, John Herdman Prepares Two Defensive Formulas for FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026
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- Cedera otot paha membuat kapten Timnas Indonesia Jay Idzes harus menepi dan tak masuk daftar 23 pemain untuk FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026.
- John Herdman memiliki stok bek melimpah dan telah menyiapkan dua opsi trio bek tengah yang pernah diuji pada laga melawan Mozambik dan Oman.
- Adaptasi terhadap kecepatan serangan tim-tim ASEAN menjadi kunci agar Indonesia tidak mengulang kekalahan dari Vietnam di Piala AFF 2026.
Indonesia National Team coach, John Herdman, faces a difficult situation ahead of the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026. Team captain, Jay Idzes, is confirmed to be absent after sustaining a quadriceps muscle injury while playing for his club, Sassuolo. The 26-year-old defender's name was not included in the 23-player squad called up for the tournament.
Idzes' absence is a major blow to the Garuda squad's defense. He has been a solid rock at the heart of the defense and often entrusted with the captain's armband. Nevertheless, Herdman reportedly doesn't need to panic, as the Indonesian National Team has played several times without Idzes and still managed to achieve positive results.
The English coach still has many quality defensive options. Some names included in the call-up list are Kevin Diks (Borussia Monchengladbach), Justin Hubner (Fortuna Sittard), Elkan Baggott (Millwall FC), as well as Persija Jakarta duo, Rizky Ridho and Jordi Amat. There is also young player Dion Marx, who has regularly played for Persita Tangerang in the BRI Super League 2026/2027 this season. This opportunity could mark his senior debut after previously playing for the U-20 and U-23 teams.
With the available stock, Herdman will most likely continue to implement his characteristic three-center-back formation. The first option is to field the trio of Elkan Baggott, Rizky Ridho, and Kevin Diks. This composition was tested against Mozambique in June 2026. The second option is for Herdman to deploy Elkan Baggott, Rizky Ridho, and Justin Hubner. All three have played together when Indonesia thrashed Oman 3-0 during the same period.
Furthermore, Herdman has the flexibility to play Nathan Tjoe-A-On and Calvin Verdonk in the central defender position. In the era of the previous coach, both players were shifted to fill the three-back positions to cover gaps due to injuries. Their multi-positional nature adds value in formulating the defensive composition.
"ASEAN teams will heavily rely on speed in launching attacks. This needs to be a concern to avoid repeating mistakes, such as when they fell to Vietnam in the AFF Cup 2026," read the analysis.
Indonesian Context: This tournament is an opportunity for Herdman to prove his ability to assemble a defense without a key player. Failure to anticipate fast attacks could be fatal, as happened when they were defeated by Vietnam in the AFF Cup 2026. The Indonesian public hopes the backline remains solid even without Idzes. The presence of young players like Dion Marx could also be a breath of fresh air for the national team's regeneration.
Moving forward, Herdman's decision in choosing the defensive composition will be crucial for Indonesia's progress in the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026. Will he revert to previously successful formulas, or will he surprise by fielding backup players? What is clear is that Idzes' absence is not the end of everything, but rather an opportunity for other players to shine.
