Rafael Struick Expected to Start in Indonesia's ASEAN Cup Match vs Laos

TheIndonesia.co - The coach of the national football team is expected to field Rafael Struick and Asnawi Mangkualam for the starting lineup in the second Group B match of the 2024 ASEAN Cup against Laos.

The match will take place at Manahan Stadium, Solo, Central Java, at 8 p.m. Western Indonesia Time (WIB) on Thursday.

Earlier, Struick and Mangkualam were fielded in the second half in the team's first match against Myanmar at Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon, Myanmar, on Monday due to fitness issues as the two only arrived in Myanmar around one day before the match.

In addition, Victor Dethan and Robi Darwis will possibly be part of the starting 11, as the two showed good performance when they were fielded in the second half of the previous match.

Dethan will fill the right-wing position, while Darwis will be the midfielder anchor to accompany Arkhan Fikri, who is most likely set to be a starter again.

In coach Shin Tae-yong's 3-4-3 go-to formation, the three defenders at the back seem unlikely to change. Muhammad Ferarri, Kadek Arel, and Dony Tri Pamungkas will be the last line to defend Cahya Supriadi, who made three saves during the first match.

In the right and left wing-back positions, Mangkualam and Pratama Arhan will work together to pose threats from the wide side.

It will be interesting to see whether Shin will continue to play both of them outside their natural positions.

During the match against Myanmar, Mangkualam was placed in the left wing-back position, while left-footed Arhan played the right wing-back position.

Furthermore, Arkhan Fikri and Darwis are expected to be tasked with maintaining stability in the midfield. Meanwhile, Struick, as the striker, will be supported by Dethan on the right side and Marselino Ferdinan on the left side.

If Indonesia wins Thursday's match against Laos, it will lead the Group B preliminary standings with six points, replacing Vietnam who will play its second match on Sunday (December 15, 2024) against Indonesia.

Here is the predicted lineup for the match against Laos:

• Cahya Supriadi, Muhammad Ferarri, Kadek Arel, Dony Tri Pamungkas, Pratama Arhan, Asnawi Mangkualam, Robi Darwis, Arkhan Fikri, Marselino Ferdinan, Victor Dethan, and Rafael Struick.
• Coach: Shin Tae-yong

[Antara]