REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Statement by PSSI General Chairman Erick Thohir that motivated the Merah Putih team to beat Australia again in various events received support from many parties. The statement made by Erick after the Australian U16 team won the ASEAN Boys 16 Championships 2024 on Wednesday (2/7/2024) at Manahan Stadium, Solo, Jateng.

Garuda Muda achieved third place in the championship that is often called, AFF U16. Erick, who appreciated the performance of Putu Panji et al during the AFF U16, asked the players to immediately forget the failure to defend the title and also the defeat to Australia in the semi-finals.

According to him, the achievements and struggles of the Garuda Muda team are motivating, not only for the players, but also for the Senior team to enter into a new rivalry with the team nicknamed the Socceroos.

“Since we beat Australia in the Qatar U-23 Asian Cup last year, they have targeted us as a new enemy. That's why when their young team won in the AFF yesterday, the celebration was a bit excessive,” said Erick Thohir in Solo, last week.

“But remember, I ask the players, no one should bow their heads. No one cried. Later we meet Australia, we brush. Together with the supporters, we will support the team all-out. Why should we be a great nation afraid of them?” Erick wants the young Garuda to rise up against Australia later in October.

Especially with the number of players of 10 before, Indonesia can fight back. “Then, I would say to our senior team who are going to meet Australia in the World Cup qualifiers to also fight and be able to beat them again,” Erick said.

According to football watcher Tommy Welly, Erick Thohir's statement that continues to motivate Zahaby Gholy et al not to bow their heads and no one to cry is the right thing. “Losing in football is normal. But I saw that Erick Thohir took advantage of the momentum of the defeat to give a powerful injection of motivation that could raise the mental level, competition, and skill of the players,” Towel continued, greeting his relatives.

The same thing was also conveyed by Richard Achmad, PNSSI, who stated that the support between Garuda Muda and Senior teams has been evenly distributed so that each team plays the support of the team lovers never decreases.

“This means that especially to face Australia, which is now Indonesia's new rival, the fans will have maximum support. That is, now Australia's opponent can be considered like we met Malaysia. So the team must be confident, because the opponent is with the supporters,” he said.

Cipto Kusumo from Ultras Garuda also said that Erick Thohir's war drum contribution to Australia had a great effect, as well as urging fans to always be behind the team.

“If Mr. Erick asks to avenge the defeat against Australia, then the fans want all levels of the national team to try desperately. We are also supporters ready to support us all the way if we host Australia anywhere,” he explained.

In the near future, Australia will oppose Indonesia's subscription. First, in the 2025 AFC U17 Asian Cup qualifiers on 23 to 27 October 2024.

Garuda Muda entered Group C with Australia again, then Kuwait and the Northern Mariana Islands to qualify for the final round of the U17 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia. Then in the third round of 2026 World Cup qualification, Asia Zone Group C. The senior team, a group with Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and China, will host the Socceroos on September 10.

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Pernyataan Ketua Umum PSSI, Erick Thohir yang memotivasi timnas Merah Putih untuk kembali mengalahkan Australia di berbagai ajang mendapat dukungan dari banyak pihak. Pernyataan yang diungkapkan Erick usai tim Australia U16 meraih juara di ajang ASEAN Boys 16 Championships 2024, Rabu (2/7/2024) lalu di Stadion Manahan, Solo, Jateng. Garuda Muda meraih peringkat ketiga di kejuaraan yang kerap disebut, AFF U16 itu.

Erick yang mengapresiasi penampilan Putu Panji dkk selama AFF U16 meminta para pemain segera melupakan kegagalan mempertahankan gelar juara dan juga kekalahan dari Australia di semifinal.

Menurutnya, pencapaian dan perjuangan timnas Garuda Muda itu menjadi motivasi, tak hanya bagi para pemain, tapi juga bagi Timnas Senior untuk mengarungi rivalitas baru dengan tim berjulukan Socceroos itu.

"Sejak kita kalahkan Australia di Piala Asia U-23 Qatar lalu, mereka menargetkan kita jadi seteru baru. Itulah mengapa saat tim muda mereka menang di AFF kemarin, selebrasinya agak berlebihan," ujar Erick Thohir di Solo, pekan lalu.

"Tapi ingat, saya minta ke pemain, tidak boleh ada yang menundukkan kepala. Tidak ada yang menangis. Nanti kita ketemu Australia, kita sikat. Bersama suporter, kita akan dukung habis-habisan Timnas. Kita bangsa besar kenapa mesti takut dengan mereka."

Erick ingin Garuda muda bangkit lawan Australia pada Oktober nanti. Apalagi dengan jumlah pemain 10 orang sebelumnya, Indonesia bisa melawan. "Lalu, saya akan bilang ke tim senior kita yang akan ketemu Australia di kualifikasi Piala Dunia untuk juga fight dan bisa kembali kalahkan mereka," kata Erick.

Menurut pengamat sepakbola, Tommy Welly, pernyataan Erick Thohir yang terus memotivasi Zahaby Gholy dkk agar tidak menundukkan kepala dan tidak ada yang menangis merupakan hal yang tepat.

"Kalah di sepakbola itu lumrah. Namun saya melihat, Erick Thohir justru memanfaatkan momentum kekalahan itu untuk memberikan suntikan motivasi dahsyat yang bisa menaikkan level mental, persaingan, dan skill pemain," lanjut Towel, sapaan akrabnya.

Hal senada juga disampaikan Richard Achmad, PNSSI, yang menyatakan support antara timnas Garuda Muda dan Senior sudah merata sehingga setiap timnas main dukungan dari pecinta timnas tak pernah berkurang.

"Artinya, khusus untuk menghadapi Australia yang kini menjadi rival baru Indonesia, suporter akan maksimal dukungan. Ibaratnya, kini lawan Australia bisa dianggap seperti kita bertemu Malaysia. Jadi timnas harus yakin, karena lawannya bareng suporter," ungkapnya.

Cipto Kusumo dari Ultras Garuda juga menilai tabuhan genderang perang Erick Thohir kepada Australia punya efek besar, sekaligus ajakan bagi suporter untuk selalu berada di belakang timnas

"Kalau pak Erick minta untuk membalas kekalahan atas Australia, maka suporter ingin semua level Timnas berusaha mati-matian. Kami pun suporter siap dukung habis-habisan jika kita menjamu Australia di manapun juga," jelasnya.

Dalam waktu dekat, Australia akan jadi lawan langganan Indonesia. Pertama, di kualifikasi Piala Asia AFC U17 2025 pada 23 hingga 27 Oktober 2024. Garuda Muda masuk Grup C bersama Australia lagi, lalu Kuwait dan Kepulauan Mariana Utara untuk lolos ke putaran final Asian Cup U17 di Arab Saudi.

Lalu di babak ketiga kualifikasi Piala Dunia 2026 Zona Asia grup C. Timnas Senior yang satu grup bersama Jepang, Australia, Arab Saudi, Bahrain, dan China, akan menjamu Socceroos pada 10 September.