FOOTBALL – Bahrain head into their match against Indonesia in Fifa World Cup 2026 qualifying today “with full confidence”, says senior men’s football national team head coach Dragan Talajic.
The Bahrainis are scheduled to lock horns with their Indonesian counterparts at Jakarta’s Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in a crucial away clash, as both sides will be looking to keep their hopes alive in this third round of Asian qualification.
The nationals are fresh from a 0-2 defeat against continental powerhouses Japan in their previous outing last Thursday in Saitama, but Talajic was upbeat as they aim to bounce back and go for the full three points.
Indonesia also lost their last game – a disheartening 1-5 setback against Australia in Sydney.
“We are coming here in good shape and with full confidence, with full respect for the Indonesian national team,” Talajic said yesterday in his pre-game Press conference, where he was joined by Bahrain’s star goalkeeper Ebrahim Luthfallah.
“We know what is our target, and Insha'Allah tomorrow we will show you a good game that you will enjoy and, at the end of the story, we will see what will happen.”
Luthfallah echoed Talajic’s sentiments. “As coach said, we have come here with very good preparations and are focused well for this game,” he said through an interpreter. “We will play for the full three points here and that is what we want to get from this game.”
The contest is scheduled for a 4.45pm kick-off, Bahrain time. It will be the eighth meeting for both sides in Group C in this stage of the Asian qualifiers.
Both Talajic and Lutfhallah played down concerns about the attacks made by Indonesian fans on social media platforms against Bahrain’s national team, which followed their 2-2 stalemate in the kingdom last October. That prompted the Bahrain Football Association to file a formal request to hold today’s game at a different location, but it was not approved.
Although the unpleasant posts have persisted, Talajic and Luthfallah expressed their thanks and appreciation for the warm hospitality they have received from the hosts since they arrived at the Indonesian capital a few days ago.
“Thank you to the Football Association of Indonesia for the good hospitality they are making for us,” said Talajic. “Thank you also for the Indonesian people who are really making a wonderful atmosphere with us in our hotel and at the stadium, with the journalists.
“Everything is okay. What people are talking about on social media – this is not really the Indonesian people. I know how you are good people, and we are really enjoying our time here. Insha'Allah, tomorrow, after the game, we will also enjoy.”
Luthfallah added: “When we arrived here in Indonesia, we had a great reception. Everyone was welcoming us and the Indonesian people were very kind to us here in Jakarta.”
The Bahrainis wrapped up their preparations for the game last night with a training session supervised by Talajic at the match venue.
Also yesterday, the official pre-game technical meeting was held, where all arrangements were ironed out. Officials from both Bahrain and Indonesia were present, including national team manager Mahmood Reyadh, administrator Ahmed Malallah, and media manager Mohammed Abdulghaffar.
Bahrain are currently fifth on the Group C table with six points, tied with the Indonesians and China. Bahrain have just one win to go with three draws and three losses to date. Indonesia are currently ranked above the Bahrainis and the Chinese, as per tie-break rules.
Japan are in first place with 19 points and have already officially booked their berth in next year’s Fifa World Cup with three matches still to play. Australia follow in second with 10 points, while Saudi Arabia are third on nine.
In the other Group C games today, Japan host Saudi Arabia at Saitama Stadium 2002 at 1.35pm, while China welcome Australia to Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium for their match at 2pm. Both times are Bahrain.
Following today’s affair, the Bahrainis will have two more matches in this stage of continental qualification. They will both be in June – first against Saudi at home on June 5 and then against China away on June 10.
Only the top two from each of the three groups in this qualifying stage will punch their tickets to next year’s Fifa World Cup. The third and fourth-placed squads will compete in a fourth round of continental qualification.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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