Herdman Confirms Full Indonesia Squad Is Ready for Timor-Leste

Indonesia head coach John Herdman has confirmed that his entire squad is available for the ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026 Group A match against Timor-Leste in Chonburi. The six-time runners-up are aiming to build on their opening 5-1 victory over Cambodia.

Mitch Baker marked his international debut with a hat-trick in Bogor, but Herdman warned against assuming the next match would be straightforward. Indonesia completed its opening fixture without injuries, giving the coach a full group from which to select his team.

Herdman noted that Indonesia had undertaken a long trip, while Timor-Leste had already played twice and become accustomed to the tournament's pace. After losing 7-0 to Vietnam, Timor-Leste showed improvement in a 2-0 defeat to Singapore.

The Indonesia coach said the priority was securing three points and delivering a better collective performance, rather than chasing the largest possible score. He expects Timor-Leste to be more organised in its third match as the players become increasingly familiar with the tactics and one another.

Timor-Leste coach Zé Pedro also acknowledged Indonesia's attacking quality. Although Baker drew attention with three goals against Cambodia, Pedro stressed that Indonesia's strength comes from its collective work, organisation, and dynamic movement in attack. His side intends to remain compact and disciplined while seeking a strong response.

Source: ASEAN United FC. Content has been paraphrased.