Facing Thailand in the opening match of Group B at SEA Games 2017, Indonesia U-22 coach Luis Milla will rely on counter-attack strategy against defending champions.
According to Indonesia U-22 assistant coach Bima Sakti, coach Milla has to find a strategy in order to balance their strengths against the quality of Thailand players in both defending and attacking power.
“We will play using the speed that players have,” explained Bima, as quoted by Banjarmasin Post.
“Thailand play very well in defending and attacking, and their game organization is good,” he added.
Prior to the SEA Games, the Indonesian U22 team face Thailand in the qualifying round of the AFC U23 Championship in Bangkok. But the scoreless draw against their rivals denied their tickets to the finals of the tournament in China next year.
Therefore, the young Garudas are looking for a revenge at next week’s SEA Games, where they have to compete in so-called “Group of Death” with title favorites Thailand and Vietnam.
“The first match [against Thailand] will be very important,” said Bima to the Bangkok Post.