What did coach Patrick Kluivert say after Indonesia's World Cup dreams were dashed?

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - Speaking at a press conference, coach Patrick Kluivert said that Indonesian fans should be proud of what the team has shown in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Last night, Indonesia suffered a 0-1 defeat against Iraq in the fourth round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers at the King Abdullah Stadium (Saudi Arabia). With this result, the Indonesian team failed to secure a ticket to the biggest football tournament on their journey.

Coach Kluivert believes the entire Indonesian team tried their best (Photo: Reuters).

On social media, Indonesian fans have called for the dismissal of coach Patrick Kluivert. However, the Dutch strategist remained calm after the match. Speaking to the press, he emphasized: "First of all, I am extremely disappointed with this result."

Looking at the match's progression, we played much better than our opponents. I'm disappointed with the final result. Not only me, but Indonesian fans and players alike share the same feeling.

I believe Indonesia achieved good results in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. We have matured a great deal after this journey, both individually and collectively. It's hard to imagine the World Cup dream vanishing after the team's hard work."

Coach Kluivert believes Indonesian fans have every right to be proud of their players. He added: “Indonesian fans have every right to be proud of their team. They worked their hardest to realize their dream of participating in the World Cup. That is not just my dream, or the players' dream, but the dream of the entire Indonesian nation. I am extremely disappointed because all of us, from the coaching staff, the players, the medical team, and the technical staff, tried our best.”

Indonesia succumbed to a single goal in the 76th minute after a shot by Zidane Iqbal (Photo: PSSI).

When asked about his plans for the Indonesian national team after the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, coach Kluivert replied: “There are no plans yet. We need to review and evaluate what we have done.”

Following their victory against Indonesia, Iraq will face Saudi Arabia in a crucial match at 1:45 AM on October 15th. Saudi Arabia currently holds the advantage due to a better goal difference than Iraq. Therefore, the home team only needs a draw to secure their place in the 2026 World Cup.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/hlv-patrick-kluivert-noi-gi-sau-khi-indonesia-tan-mong-du-world-cup-20251012081713697.htm