Garuda Team

The Best Team Who Had To Lose

          Football is the most popular sport in Indonesia. Most of Indonesia citizens love football very much. They have become the biggest and most fanatical supporters in South East Asia. As the fanatical supporters, they have been waiting the trophy for nineteen years. This year, Indonesia National Team had to proved and gave the best performance for their fanatical supporters on AFF SUZUKI CUP 2010 (Asean Football Federation). The AFF Cup would be held in two countries, Indonesia and Vietnam. Even taught Indonesia would play in home, they had to hard work to get the trophy for the first time. They were in a group with Malaysia, Laos and Thailand. They struggled by round to round from the round robin (group stage) to the knock-out round (semifinal and final). 

          One month ago, it was 1^st December 2010. Indonesia had to play against Malaysia in Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta. Indonesia played well with two naturalized players, Christian Gonzales and Irfan Haris Bachdim. But, there was a surprise when Malaysian striker could score the game and make Malaysia leading by one goal to Zero.  But, two minutes after the goal Indonesia could score the game by the own goal from Malaysian defender. The goal made the mental of Indonesian players stronger. Then, Indonesia could lead by one goal from the first naturalized player, Christian Gonzales. In the second half, Indonesia attacked frontally. It made a hoping result. Indonesia could lead by 5-1. The scorers were M.Ridwan, Arif Suyono and Irfan Bachdim. Two goals were created by two naturalization players, Irfan and Gonzales. They became new idols in Indonesia.

          On the second match, Indonesia played against Laos. Indonesia had to win the match to make them sure that they would pass the group qualification round and play to the semi final. The match wasn’t difficult. Everybody knew that Indonesia was better than Laos. That was right. Indonesia could win by six goals to zero easily. So, Indonesia would play to the semifinal. But, they still had one match more against Thailand.

          After winning to Laos, Indonesia played against Thailand three days later. Thailand was being a king in South East Asia. But Indonesia should not worry about that. More than eighty thousand supporters would support them in Gelora Bung Karno Stadium. Besides that, Thailand had to be the winner of this game if they wanted to play in semifinal. So, they had a big pressure and the crowd of supporters would be another pressure for Thailand. But, the situation was difference for Indonesia. Indonesia would play to the semifinal in spite of they lost in this match. On this match, Indonesia had to work hard to win the match. But, Thailand could score and lead by one goal. Indonesia had an initiative to attack. The result, Indonesia won the match by two penalty goals from Bambang Pamungkas. So, it was clear that Thailand couldn’t play to the semifinal. Maybe, this was revenge to Thailand because Indonesia couldn’t win the game for several years.

          After a great winning to Thailand Indonesian players had a big self confidence to get the trophy for the first time. On semifinal, Indonesia would be faced with Philippine the team which had nine naturalized players. Match would be held by system home and away. But, Philippine didn’t have a proportional stadium to hold the match. Then, they decided to hold their home match in Jakarta. So, both of two matches would be in Jakarta. This was an advantage for Indonesia. Because of good performance from Indonesian team and great supporters, Indonesia could win in to matches by aggregate 2-0. Then, Indonesia would play in the final and keep their dream to be true.

          A week later, Indonesia would play against Malaysia in the final. The system was same with the semifinal system. Two matches would be held by system home and away. The first match would be held in Bukit Jalil Stadium Kuala Lumpur. The capacity of the stadium was more than a hundred thousand people. But, it was not only Malaysian supporters who would come to the stadium. Fifteen thousand Indonesian supporters also would come to the stadium. Malaysia was the team which was beaten by Indonesia in the group qualification. But, it was a surprise when Indonesian national team had a big pressure while playing. In the second half, Malaysian striker could score because of Indonesian defender mistake, Maman Abdurrahman. After the goal, the mental of Indonesian players was down. Then, Malaysia could make two more  goals. Malaysia won the match by 3-0.

          Three days later, Indonesia would be faced Malaysia in Gelora Bung Karno Stadium Jakarta. In front of their great supporters, Indonesia had a dream to make a history to get the trophy for the first time. But, the struggling was not easy. Indonesia had to make four goals if they wanted to be a champion. That was right. It was difficult match. Indonesia attacked frontally. But, Malaysia defended totally. The dream felt impossible when Malaysian striker could make a goal by counter attack while Indonesia’s attacking. Malaysian led by aggregate 4-0. But, Indonesian players still kept fighting. They didn’t want to give up. They kept trying to make goal. After that, Indonesia could make a goal by the defender M. Nasuha. The playing was balance. Indonesia didn’t stop their attacking. Then, they could lead by 2-1 from the wing player, M.Ridwan. Until the end Indonesia could not add their score. So, Malaysia became the champion of this tournament and Indonesia couldn’t make their dream comes true. The supporters were really disappointed.

          Looking at the result of Indonesian national team in group stage, it was unbelievable that Indonesia couldn’t be a champion. Indonesia got the perfect point in the group stage and won in to the two matches in semifinal. Many people said that the best team had to be loser right now. But, Indonesian national team could make the nationalism of Indonesian citizens stronger. Supporters who always made anarchism in their domestic league could unite to support Indonesian national team. They left their own clubs attribute and jersey. Then, they wore the red jersey of Indonesian national team. This was a momentum to make Indonesian football growing to be better and make the citizens unity stronger than before.