Flooring Guide by Cinvex Shin Tae-yong and Alex Pastoor show different mentalities when asked about the results of the Indonesian National Team in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers Asian zone.
Both coaches were intricately involved in the Indonesian National Team’s journey through the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, yet their reactions to the campaign’s outcome presented vastly different mentalities.
The Indonesian National Team’s ambitious dream of reaching the 2026 World Cup was definitively quashed after a comprehensive failure in the fourth round of the qualification stages. During this crucial phase, under the leadership of then-head coach Patrick Kluivert, Indonesia suffered disappointing defeats to Saudi Arabia (2-3) and Iraq (0-1), marking the conclusion of their qualification bid.
Prior to Kluivert’s arrival, it was Shin Tae-yong who had steered the Indonesian National Team with distinction since the first round of the qualifiers. The 55-year-old coach successfully guided the ‘Merah Putih’ squad to the third round—a historic first for Indonesia in the history of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. During his impactful tenure, Shin Tae-yong commanded the Garuda Squad through 14 matches, securing six victories, four draws, and two losses. A memorable highlight from his period was the impressive 2-0 triumph over Saudi Arabia in Jakarta on November 19, 2024.
However, to the surprise of many, the PSSI (Football Association of Indonesia) abruptly dismissed Shin Tae-yong in January 2025, subsequently appointing former Dutch international Patrick Kluivert as his successor. Despite this sudden change and the subsequent failure to qualify, Shin Tae-yong, the former Ulsan HD tactician, offered words of encouragement and unwavering optimism to the nation’s passionate supporters.
He expressed his belief in future opportunities, stating, “I want to say that it’s a great pity we failed in the fourth round of the World Cup qualifiers, but football doesn’t stop there. There is still hope. There is still a next step,” as quoted by BolaSport.com from Goalpost Korea’s YouTube channel on Tuesday, October 21, 2025.
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In stark contrast to Shin Tae-yong’s hopeful stance, Alex Pastoor, who served as an assistant coach during Patrick Kluivert’s brief tenure, presented a decidedly different and more critical perspective. His candid statement, which proved quite disheartening for many Indonesian netizens, directly questioned the feasibility of the 2026 World Cup qualification target for Indonesia from the outset.
Pastoor was quoted by BolaSport.com from Voetbal International, stating, “A team ranked 119th in the world reaching the World Cup is not realistic. It didn’t work out, and that became clear quickly. On the field and with the staff, we tried to explain what was expected, but it wasn’t enough to beat teams of this caliber. This project should have lasted longer than just chasing the World Cup.”
Summary
The Indonesian National Team’s ambition to reach the 2026 World Cup concluded in the fourth qualification round under coach Patrick Kluivert, following defeats to Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Previously, Shin Tae-yong had guided the team to a historic third round, achieving six victories, four draws, and two losses in 14 matches before his dismissal. Despite the ultimate failure, Shin Tae-yong maintained an optimistic stance, expressing belief in future opportunities for the national team.
Conversely, Alex Pastoor, who served as an assistant coach under Kluivert, presented a more critical perspective, deeming the 2026 World Cup qualification target “not realistic” for a team ranked 119th globally. Pastoor argued that the project should have focused on longer-term development rather than solely pursuing immediate World Cup qualification. This highlights a clear divergence in mentality regarding the team’s capabilities and goals.