Coach Kluivert shocks by calling the 'nemesis' of Vietnam’s national team for the World Cup qualifiers
Coach Patrick Kluivert has caused many surprises in the Indonesian national team roster for the 2026 World Cup fourth qualifying round scheduled during the FIFA Days in October.
The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) has announced a list of 28 players summoned to the national team to prepare for two matches against Saudi Arabia and Iraq in the fourth round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
In the squad selected by Coach Patrick Kluivert, there are as many as seven players absent compared to previous call-ups.
The first case is Marselino Ferdinan. The midfielder, who plays for AS Trencin, was not called up for the two Group B matches from October 8 to 14, although he had frequently appeared for Indonesia and participated in friendlies against Taiwan and Lebanon in September.
Additionally, two players currently playing in the Netherlands, Mees Hilgers and Ivar Jenner, were also excluded from the list. Hilgers has yet to play for FC Twente this season, while Jenner’s situation remains unclear.
In the attack, Rafael Struick and Adrian Wibowo are not on the list. Wibowo made his debut in the 0-0 draw against Lebanon on September 8, but this time Kluivert gave chances to Ole Romeny, who recently recovered from injury, and winger Egy Maulana Vikri (Dewa United).
Two other familiar names, Pratama Arhan and Asnawi Mangkualam (both playing in the Thai League), were also not called up.
Among the current 28 names, some mainstays like Jay Idzes, Kevin Diks, Rizky Ridho, Calvin Verdonk, and Ole Romeny remain included, while Mauro Zijlstra (Volendam, yet to play in Eredivisie this season) and Ramadhan Sananta were surprisingly selected.
Furthermore, Coach Kluivert still places trust in two veterans playing in BRI Liga 1: Stefano Lilipaly (35 years old) and Marc Klok (32 years old). Stefano Lilipaly is quite familiar to Vietnamese football fans as he once played and scored against Vietnam’s national team at the 2016 AFF Cup, helping Indonesia eliminate Vietnam in the semifinals.
Indonesia will face Saudi Arabia on October 9 before playing Iraq three days later. Only the group leader will qualify for the 2026 World Cup finals, while the runner-up will continue to the fifth qualifying round.
The Indonesian national team roster for the 2026 World Cup fourth qualifying round: Goalkeepers: Maarten Paes (FC Dallas), Emil Audero Mulyadi (Cremonese), Ernando Ari (Persebaya). Defenders: Justin Hubner (Fortuna Sittard), Jay Idzes (Sassuolo), Rizky Ridho (Persija), Jordi Amat (Persija), Kevin Diks (Borussia Monchengladbach), Sandy Walsh (Buriram United), Calvin Verdonk (Lille), Dean James (Go Ahead Eagles), Yance Sayuri (Malut United), Eliano Reijnders (Persib), Shayne Pattynama (Buriram United), Nathan Tjoe A On (Willem II). Midfielders: Thom Haye (Persib), Joey Pelupessy (Lommel), Marck Klok (Persib), Ricky Kambuaya (Dewa United), Beckham Putra (Persib), Stefano Lilipaly (Dewa United), Ragnar Oratmangoen (Dender), Miliano Jonathan (Utrecht), Egy Maulana Vikri (Dewa United), Yakob Sayuri (Malut United). Forwards: Ole Romeny (Oxford United), Mauro Zijlstra (Volendam), Ramadhan Sananta (DPMN). |
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