Thomas Dooley Challenges Indonesia Again: From a 4-0 Win to a Stronger Garuda Era
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- Pelatih Bangladesh, Thomas Dooley, mengenang kemenangan 4-0 atas Indonesia saat masih menangani Filipina pada 2014, namun mengakui kekuatan Garuda kini jauh berbeda.
- Kehadiran pemain Indonesia di liga Eropa seperti Bundesliga 2 dan Belanda menjadi faktor utama peningkatan kualitas tim, membuat Dooley menilai Indonesia sulit dikalahkan.
- Laga Bangladesh vs Indonesia di Grup A FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 pada 1 Oktober mendatang akan menjadi ujian taktik Dooley menghadapi skuad yang telah bertransformasi.
Bangladesh national team coach Thomas Dooley will face Indonesia again at the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026, carrying both a sweet memory and a new challenge. Twelve years ago, while in charge of the Philippines, Dooley led his team to a 4-0 rout of Indonesia at the 2014 AFF Cup at My Dinh Stadium, Hanoi. Now, he acknowledges that Garuda's strength has changed drastically and become a far tougher opponent.
Bangladesh are drawn in Group A with Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. All group matches will be played at Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium, Jakarta. Bangladesh are scheduled to face Malaysia on 25 September, Singapore on 28 September, before meeting Indonesia on 1 October 2026. The encounter is one of the key matches for both teams in determining their path in the tournament's inaugural edition under the new format.
Dooley said he had spoken with the Bangladesh captain before a press conference about the match against Indonesia around eight years ago. "We beat Indonesia 4-0. We dominated almost every square meter of the pitch and it was a very exciting match. I think it was the first time we beat Indonesia," he said. However, he stressed that the current situation is very different. "Not because it's Bangladesh, but because of the skill and the players Indonesia have right now," he added.
The American coach highlighted the presence of several Indonesian players plying their trade abroad, such as in Bundesliga 2 and the Netherlands. According to him, experience in European competitions is the main factor behind Garuda's rapid development. "This is a very difficult team to beat. Right now, I think for most teams in Asia, playing Indonesia is very difficult," Dooley said. He also noted that the individual quality of Indonesian players is now far better than when he was still coaching the Philippines.
For Indonesia, Dooley's remarks mirror the progress of the national game over the past decade. The presence of players in European leagues has not only raised technical quality but also the mentality of competing at international level. This aligns with Indonesia's long-term target of competing in Asia and on the world stage. However, challenges remain, especially consistency of performance in regional tournaments.
The FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 itself is the inaugural edition under a new format sanctioned by FIFA. The tournament is a proving ground for ASEAN nations to gauge their strength ahead of bigger competitions. For Bangladesh, the meeting with Indonesia will be a stern test, while for Indonesia, the match is a chance to show dominance on home soil.
Ahead of the match, the Indonesia national team also received news that Kevin Diks is ready to replace Jay Idzes as captain. Jay must be absent until November due to a hamstring injury. Kevin stated his readiness to lead the Garuda squad as a great honor. The presence of players like Kevin Diks adds depth to the squad that the coach will rely on to face Bangladesh and the other teams in Group A.
With all the changes in place, the big question remains: can Indonesia avenge the 4-0 defeat ten years ago, or will Bangladesh spring another surprise? The answer will be seen on the pitch on 1 October.
