Despite heavy PSSI backing, Indonesia's U-22 team crashed out of the SEA Games 2025 group stage on goal difference, prompting scrutiny of preparations and strategy amid Coach Indra Sjafri's accountability.
Following the U-22 team's early elimination from the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand—as detailed in prior coverage—with a group stage record yielding three points but inferior goal productivity to Malaysia, attention has turned to the extensive preparations that failed to deliver.
PSSI halted the domestic league for three weeks, skipped the November FIFA window for winless trials against Mali, and naturalized overseas players Ivar Jenner, Dion Markx, and Mauro Zijlstra. Yet, on-field execution faltered, as Vietnamese media Thao247 and pundit Phan Anh Tu noted: poor strategy, lack of team chemistry, imprecise passing, static strikers, and waning stamina despite dominance.
Indra Sjafri's post-tournament woes compound his dismal 2025 U-20 Asian Cup results, fueling PSSI evaluations. PSSI Vice Chairman Zainuddin Amali framed the gold target as motivational against the government's silver goal, while Football Institute founder Budi Setiawan endorsed the official stance. Malaysian outlets like The Star reveled in their semifinal clash with Thailand on December 15.
