TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian national football team held their first training session yesterday, December 5, at My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi, Vietnam. Indonesia will face the host in the semifinals second leg of the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Cup on Wednesday, December 7.

The Alfred Riedl men will only need a draw following the 2-1 victory in the first leg on Saturday at Pakansari Stadium in Cibinong, Bogor. Riedl personally led the training session of Boaz Salossa & Co. yesterday morning for an hour.

Aside from physical training, Riedl also asked his players to acclimatize to cold temperatures in Hanoi. The Garuda Eagle team trained at 20 degrees Celsius yesterday. Left winger Rizky Rizaldi Pora said he has no problem with Vietnam weather.

“See, we can train comfortably,” said the 27-year-old Ternate player in a press release issued by the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) yesterday. The Barito Putra player claims that he is ready to play against Vietnam. They will play openly against Vietnam.

“But we have to be more focused and concentrated against them. Because they will play at home,” Rizky said. Riedl has also promised an expansive game like they demonstrated at Pakansari Stadium. The coach said that he will not instruct his players to defend in order to secure a draw.

Vietnam coach Nguyen Huu Thang said he will redeem Indonesia defeat. Huu Thang’s spirit was lifted when he and 23 Vietnam players went home from Indonesia. Upon arrival at No Bai Airport, Hanoi, on Monday morning, they were welcomed by Vietnam supporters.

The 44-year-old coach said he was surprised by Vietnam supporters’ reception after the defeat in Indonesia. As a coach, Huu Thang said he was ashamed of standing before the supporters. “I feel guilty because [Vietnam players] could not give their best nor secure a win,” he said.

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