The last of the ten teams to get their campaign underway at the 2020 AFF Suzuki Cup are Indonesia and they’re targeting a winning start when they face Cambodia on Thursday.

Having lost in the final on no fewer than five occasions, coach Shin Tae-yong knows that the team can’t afford an early slip-up against the Cambodians.

“I watched Cambodia’s previous match at the stadium and was pleased that we had been preparing in the right way and I’m confident that we can get a good result tomorrow, we will press high and play hard to get that result," said the former Korea Republic coach.

Shin confirmed that English-based defender Elkan Baggott will be unlikely to feature as he only arrived the day before the match, and defended his choice to opt for a young and relatively inexperienced squad.

“Since I became the coach I have looked to bring in young players and those players have developed. We’ve turned into a better team than before so I’m not nervous about how we will go but rather I’m excited to continue seeing the progress of our team and I’m confident we can do well in the tournament.”

Cambodia played well in a 3-1 defeat to Malaysia in their opening clash but they know now that the margin for error is slim if they are to keep the dream of reaching the knockout stage alive.

More than that though, the message has been consistent from the coaching staff – an arrangement where Japanese football legend Keisuke Honda is working alongside head coach Ryu Hirose – with the latter repeating the mantra that the performance is just as important as the outcome.

“It doesn’t matter who we are facing, the aim is the same and that’s to keep developing our team concept and the way we play," insisted Hirose. 

“We want to dominate the game against any team, even Brazil or whoever, maintain ball possession and win the ball in high areas of the pitch and that’s what we’re doing.

“I’m happy to be working alongside Keisuke Honda, who has been driving the project of development for Cambodian football, and help him how I can with my experience.”