Bangladesh's coach gave a clear response after a 2-9 loss to Indonesia in the FIFA ASEAN Cup.
The Bangladesh coach acknowledged the situation, saying they were overwhelmed by Indonesia's 9-2 thrashing and pointed out they allowed the opponents to play too easily.
Thomas Dooley, coach of Bangladesh's national team, accepted the defeat, noting that the opponent was much stronger after their heavy 2-9 loss to Indonesia in the group stage of the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 last night. He urged the players to learn and continue developing.
Dooley said, “We witnessed football at a different level. We should have pressured them, but instead, we stood among their players rather than marking them tightly. They could coordinate, pass, and receive the ball comfortably.”
Moreover, Dooley emphasized Bangladesh's poor ball possession and easy turnovers, which allowed Indonesia to attack continuously and repeatedly pressure them.
He also admitted that the gap was not only on the field but reflected a wider divide in football development between the two countries. Indonesia has a stronger domestic league, and some Indonesian players have experience playing in European leagues.
This difference was evident in gameplay, first touches, decision-making, and execution. Bangladesh's players need intensive training and regular competition to enhance their technical and tactical abilities.
The experience from the ASEAN Cup should be viewed as a learning opportunity rather than focusing on the disappointing results, as Bangladesh needs to improve in many areas.
Bangladesh ended the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 with three straight losses, finishing last in Group A, while Indonesia won the group and advanced to the final to face Thailand on Monday, 5 Oct 2026 at 20:00 Thailand time.