Jakarta – Dutch football legend Ruud Gullit praised the Indonesia National Team in Vietnam. The Garuda squad has been playing well lately, according to Gullit.
Gullit was in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, for an event where he shared his experiences this week. He was asked for his opinion and advice on how Vietnamese football could progress.
Gullit’s response mentioned the Indonesia National Team. Along with Japan and South Korea, the Red-and-White team was recognized for their good performance.
Indonesia is the only Southeast Asian representative in the third round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers. The team, coached by Shin Tae-yong, even has a strong chance to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
In Group C of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers, Indonesia is in third place with six points. Indonesia’s point tally is the same as Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and China, who are in positions 4 to 6.
Meanwhile, Australia is in second place, just one point ahead of Indonesia. The top two teams in Group C will directly qualify for the 2026 World Cup, with Japan seemingly locking in one spot as they are far ahead with 16 points.
“Recently, I’ve seen Indonesia, South Korea, and Japan playing very well. Vietnam needs more opportunities to compete with strong teams in the region. Especially, you need a truly professional and serious national competition for Vietnamese football to develop in the long term and sustainably,” Gullit said, as reported by Soha.
Vietnam will participate in the 2024 AFF Championship, now known as the ASEAN Cup. Gullit wished the best for the team coached by Kim Sang-sik. Vietnam is in Group B alongside Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, and the Philippines.
“I wish the best for the players and coaching staff of the Vietnam National Team. The most important things are discipline and concentration. For me, football is a game of mistakes. The team that makes fewer mistakes, stays focused, and takes advantage of the opponent’s mistakes will be the winner. However, I wish the Vietnam National Team the best of luck in the upcoming tournament,” Gullit added.
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