Indonesia's Coach Aims to Control Possession Against Brazil in the World Cup

Before facing Brazil, Coach Nova Arianto confirmed that Indonesia's U17 squad intends to take initiative in ball possession rather than just defending passively.

Indonesia U17 coach Nova Arianto delivered a strong message to his players ahead of their second group H match against Brazil at the 2025 U17 World Cup. He demanded confidence from the team, encouraged them not to fear physical challenges, and emphasized the need to control the ball proactively to stand out against one of the world's top teams.

Previously, Indonesia U17 had a rough start, losing 1-3 to Zambia U17 at Aspire Zone Field 7, Al Rayyan. Although Zahaby Gholy scored early in the 12th minute, the young Indonesian side couldn't maintain control and conceded three goals within seven minutes. Zambia's goals came from Abel Nyirongo’s brace (35th and 38th minutes) and Lukonde Mwale’s strike (42nd minute).

According to Coach Nova Arianto, Indonesia U17 showed better fighting spirit in the second half despite missing several scoring chances. He stated that during halftime, he stressed the psychological aspect to his players: “In the locker room, I told them that if they go out afraid, scared of contact or holding the ball, we will always be under pressure.”

The 45-year-old tactician further emphasized: “That was the main point I highlighted during the break.” He wants his players to keep a strong fighting spirit, not shy away from challenges, and confidently control the ball to implement their own style instead of getting caught up in the opponent’s tempo.

Coach Nova hopes young players like Evandra Florasta and the entire team will show determination and bravery when facing Brazil U17 — a team that recently achieved a dominant 7-0 victory over Honduras U17. He believes confidence and fighting spirit will help Indonesia perform better despite facing a superior opponent.

“We can clearly see the difference in playing quality and fighting spirit, especially the players’ confidence between the first and second halves,” he observed. “I noticed more spaces opened up in the second half — that’s exactly what I want the players to demonstrate. Hopefully, this will be applied against Brazil U17,” Coach Nova expressed his hopes.