Has the tower built with effort already collapsed? Indonesian soccer fans are sighing over the crushing defeat to Australia.

On the 20th (Korean time), Indonesia suffered a 1-5 loss against Australia in the 7th match of Group C in the third round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, held at Sydney Football Stadium in Sydney, Australia.

As a result, Indonesia fell to 5th place in the group, significantly diminishing its chances of qualifying for the World Cup. If Bahrain or China had just earned 1 point, Indonesia might have dropped to the bottom. Currently, Indonesia, Bahrain, and China are all tied at 6 points, occupying the lowest positions.

This is why losing 5 goals is even more critical. Under coach Shin Tae-yong, Indonesia had shown stable defense and held an advantage in goal difference. However, conceding 5 goals in this match left them with a -7 goal difference, along with Bahrain. In a situation where each goal can determine the ranking, they lost 4 goals in an instant.

This match was the first official game under coach Patrick Kluivert. Indonesia received much anticipation by incorporating a significant number of naturalized players from the Netherlands. In fact, in this match, 10 out of the 11 starting players were naturalized.

However, Indonesia showcased the worst performance. Giving up a golden opportunity for the first goal early in the match proved to be a critical blow. In the 7th minute, Rafael Struick earned a penalty kick. However, Kevin Dicks, who took the penalty, hit the right goalpost with his shot and missed.

Having escaped the crisis, Australia launched a fierce attack. In the 16th minute, Indonesian defense fouled Australian striker Adam Taggart, resulting in a penalty being awarded. Unlike Indonesia, Martin Boyle converted the penalty accurately to make it 1-0.

Indonesia, which conceded a goal, began to falter rapidly. In just 2 minutes, they conceded an additional goal, and by the 35th minute, they allowed a third goal amidst chaos. Their lack of defensive concentration in continuously conceding possession hampered them.

Having conceded 3 goals in the first half, Indonesia's performance did not improve much in the second half. Coach Kluivert hastily tried to introduce more naturalized players, but it was of no use. They conceded two goals just from corner kicks and hung their heads. The only consolation was that Ole Romeni capitalized on a mistake from the opponent to score late in the second half.

After the match, Indonesian fans erupted in anger. Indonesian 'Sindonews' reported, "As Indonesia suffered humiliation against Australia, Shin Tae-yong's name echoed in the stadium," adding that "on social media, Shin Tae-yong's name was mentioned over 11,000 times." It is reported that the hashtag 'Kluivert OUT' exceeded 20,000 posts within an hour.

'CNN Indonesia' also pointed out, "With Kluivert taking over, expectations were high that the comprehensive philosophy he built during his time with the Netherlands national team would be transmitted. However, there was no sign of it at all in the match against Australia," One fan criticized, saying, "It's not total football, it’s total failure."

'Troll Football' mocked that the achievements Shin Tae-yong built over five years collapsed in just one match under Kluivert. The media said, "Going back to the dark ages," and included a picture of a building under construction next to Shin Tae-yong's face, while placing a picture of a collapsed building next to Kluivert's face.

Indonesian 'Bola' stated, "Kluivert's gamble was a complete failure. He wanted the Indonesian national team to play aggressively, but it fell apart against Australia," adding that "most netizens believe that the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) making a coaching change in the middle of the qualifiers was a big mistake. The dismissal of Shin Tae-yong sparked controversy among many fans.

After the match, PSSI President Eric Thohir tried to calm public sentiment. He posted on social media, "I will continue to support the Indonesian national team regardless of whether they win or lose, because I completely love this country," and stated, "I will keep working to help the national team qualify for the World Cup. Players, don’t hang your heads. There are still opportunities."

Nevertheless, the fans' reactions are cold. Indonesian 'Java Post' reported, "Thohir treats Kluivert and Shin Tae-yong differently when the national team loses," adding, "This attitude makes it impossible not to compare. Many people pointed out that Thohir’s treatment of Shin Tae-yong was not as warm when they lost to China and Japan. Everyone feels that Shin Tae-yong faced much more pressure."

According to reports, one fan sneered, "Why didn’t they act like this when they lost to China and Japan?" while another fan said, "Under coach Shin Tae-yong, the fans' support and positive energy became unified. You broke that unity, Thohir. Changing coaches after beating Saudi Arabia was fatal." Another fan expressed anger, saying, "Hahaha. If Shin Tae-yong had lost, he would be screaming in the locker room. This one can go take a hike."

Even Vietnamese fans mocked President Thohir. According to Bola, Vietnamese fans commented, "When Shin Tae-yong was in Indonesia, the door to World Cup qualification was wide open. But PSSI self-destructed by bringing in Kluivert. A wise move," "We miss Shin Tae-yong. A good player does not necessarily become a good coach," and "The dismissal of Shin Tae-yong was a big mistake. He is an excellent coach."

PSSI shocked everyone by abruptly dismissing coach Shin Tae-yong last January. At that time, Indonesia was in 3rd place in the group with 1 win, 3 draws, and 2 losses. Unlike Kluivert, they even managed to draw 0-0 against Australia at home.

However, after Indonesia was eliminated in the Mitsubishi Cup with young players, fractures grew larger. Ultimately, President Eric Thohir fired Shin Tae-yong, who had dedicated five years, overnight and immediately appointed Kluivert. At that time, President Thohir stated, "We need a leader who can implement the agreed strategy better, facilitate better communication, and create a better program for the entire national team."

The problem is that Coach Kluivert does not even have a proper coaching career. Naturally, fans had great concerns, but President Thohir proceeded with the appointment of Kluivert. Some analysts suggested that it was a decision because he wanted additional naturalized players from the Netherlands. In fact, Indonesia naturalized several players, including Emil Audero and Joy Perpesi, who are originally from Juventus youth.

Nevertheless, Kluivert's debut ended in a disastrous defeat. The decision to form a team primarily with naturalized players, while excluding local players, turned out to be a mistake. The hopes of Shin Tae-yong, who supported his disciples' aspirations to qualify for the World Cup, also risk becoming futile.

[Photo] ⓒGettyimages (No unauthorized reproduction or redistribution), Bola, Indonesian Football Association, Troll Football social media.

[OSEN]