MEMBER PSSI exco, Haruna Soemitro, has become a byword in recent days because of his criticism of the achievements of the Indonesian National Team (Timnas) coach, Shin Tae-yong, in the 2020 AFF Cup. with the AFF Cup 2020.
As is known, one of Haruna Soemitro’s criticisms was the crushing defeat of the Indonesian national team from Thailand in the first leg of the 2020 AFF Cup final. At that time, the Garuda Squad lost 0-4 by Thailand. In the second leg, the Indonesian national team was able to hold Thailand to a 2-2 draw, but they still lost 2-6 on aggregate.
The crushing defeat in the first leg became one of Haruna Soemitro’s highlights. He also delivered criticism of the defeat in a podcast.
Haruna Soemitro’s criticism of Shin Tae-yong about the crushing defeat to Thailand turned out to be a byword and went viral. Many fans of the Indonesian national team disagree with Haruna Soemitro and defend Shin Tae-yong.
Youtuber Tommy Desky through his youtube channel gave Haruna Soemitro a place to clarify. On that occasion, Tommy Desky asked Shin Tae-yong’s response in the evaluation meeting of the Indonesian national team when he received criticism about the landslide defeat of the Indonesian national team from Thailand.
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According to Haruna Soemitro, Shin Tae-yong was offended because he didn’t understand the context of his criticism. Haruna Soemitro admitted that he did not compare Shin Tae-yong’s Indonesian national team in the 2020 AFF Cup with the Garuda squad at the 2019 SEA Games.
He just wanted to know why the Indonesian national team could lose badly to Thailand in the first leg of the final. In fact, according to Haruna Soemitro, the squads for the Indonesian and Thai national teams in the 2020 AFF Cup are no different from those that performed at the 2019 SEA Games.
“Yes, offended, maybe he (Shin Tae-yong) understands the context of comparing. In fact, I’m not comparing it,” said Haruna on YouTube’s Tommy Desky, Wednesday (19/1/2022).
“I’m giving facts, giving data, that just now the SEA Games, Indonesia with the same players, Thailand with the same players only added Chanatip and Dangda (in the 2020 AFF Cup), we could win 2-0 at the SEA Games, just now in the Philippines yesterday, right,” he said.
“Then, really, today, with the same players, with a preparation process that is not easy, meaning that this year’s AFF preparation (AFF Cup 2020) is the best preparation as long as I take care of football. TC in Turkey, the call-ups, the league was stopped, then all the process was well prepared, but the result was runners-up. Well, then, what do you think is wrong here? I just want to ask that. Guess what went wrong, right?” he said.
Even so, the Thailand squad at the 2019 SEA Games and the 2020 AFF Cup is actually quite different. Apart from Chanathip and Dangda, Thailand in the 2020 AFF Cup was also strengthened by other senior and experienced players, such as Kawin Thamsatchanan, Theerathon Bunmathan, Thitiphan Puangchan, Adisak Kraisom, Sarach Yooyen, etc.
Only Kristada Kaman, Supachok Sarachart, Worachit Kanitsribumphen, and Supachai Chaided who graduated from the 2019 SEA Games who played for Thailand in the AFF Cup 2020. Because the U-23 squad competed in the SEA Games, while the senior squad appeared in the AFF Cup.
