According to the latest report by Wang Xiaorui, a reporter from Sports Weekly, the head coach of the Indonesian national team, Shen Tailong, had to postpone his scheduled contract renewal and return to the team due to a pleurisy surgery. This sudden health problem has not only affected Shen Tailong's personal schedule, but also indirectly affected the preparation program of the Indonesian national team.
Shin Tae-yong was hospitalized with a high fever the day after he returned to South Korea after leading Indonesia through the 36-team tournament. Upon examination, he was diagnosed with pleurisy and required immediate surgery. According to the man himself, four liters of fluid had accumulated in his pleura and his condition was so critical that he had to undergo a six-hour long surgery immediately. This condition directly led to the postponement of Shin's contract renewal and his planned return to Indonesia at an earlier date.
With Shin Tae-Yong's health improving, his latest confirmed return to the team has been set for around August 12th. However, this timeline is already relatively late and has had a considerable impact on the Indonesian national team's preparations. According to Wang Xiaorui's analysis, it is likely that the Indonesian team will not be able to arrange any more summer training before the start of the 18-team tournament, but will adjust its training program to the period of the international match days in late August and early September, in synchronization with the strongest teams in Asia, such as China and Japan.
Although the Indonesian Football Association (FIBA) made the qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup the primary goal when renewing the contract with Shentai Long and set a specific target of entering the top 100 of the FIFA rankings, there is a general cautious attitude within the Indonesian soccer community towards the realization of this goal. On the one hand, the Indonesian national team in recent years in the international competition performance is mediocre, it is difficult to compete with the first-class Asian powerhouse; on the other hand, Shen Tailong due to illness absence of this period, undoubtedly to the team's preparations for the work of a lot more difficult.
However, Shen Tailong's return as an experienced coach will undoubtedly inject new energy and confidence into the Indonesian team. In the coming time, he will need to quickly adjust the team's tactical system and improve the players' athleticism to fully prepare for the upcoming 18-team tournament. At the same time, the Indonesian soccer community will also need to give more support and trust to Shen Tailong and the national team to work together towards the goal of qualifying for the World Cup.
