JAKARTA, (ERAKINI) - The hashtag #KluivertOut surged to trend on X (formerly Twitter) following Indonesia's 1-5 defeat against Australia during the third round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers on Thursday, March 20, 2025. The hashtag captured significant attention, with 26,600 posts recounting fans' reactions to the humbling loss in Patrick Kluivert's debut as the head coach of the Indonesian national football team.
Not only did #KluivertOut dominate the conversation on social media, but it also highlighted a fierce discontent among fans experiencing disappointment in the team. Following the game, a user noted, "We don’t accept reasons like 'needing time to adjust' or 'building chemistry between coach and players.' From the start, a new coach should have been expected to win since the team is already formed. There should be no excuses. #KluivertOut," wrote the account @lala bby. Another user, @AR-Ahrian, lamented, "Five years of building destroyed in the span of two 45-minute halves."
A barrage of memes about Kluivert’s predecessor, Shin Tae Yong, flooded social media, including one meme that featured a smiling image of Shin with the phrase, "How are you? Was it better in my time?" This backlash illustrates the high expectations and impatience of fans who have followed the team and its development closely.
The match took place at the Sydney Football Stadium, where Australia showcased a dominant performance. The Socceroos scored five goals, with Martin Boyle opening the scoring in the 18th minute, followed by Nishan Velupillay just two minutes later. Jackson Irvine then found the net twice, in the 34th and 90th minutes, while Lewis Miller added one in the 61st minute. Indonesia's only consolation came in the 78th minute when Ole Romeny scored.
Indonesia had a chance to open the scoring early in the match when Kevin Diks earned a penalty in the 8th minute, but his shot hit the post, denying them an opportunity to take the lead. Despite the team's struggles, Australia now sits comfortably in second place in the group with 10 points, while Indonesia is languishing in fifth with just six points. Bahrain currently occupies the third spot, holding steady in a match against Japan, while Saudi Arabia awaits their match against China.
There were discussions before the match about the quality of both teams' players and their current form. While Australia was grappling with injury challenges impacting key players like captain Harry Souttar and others, Indonesia, under Kluivert's new regime, was expected to perform up to par given the squad's experience and past performance.
As Indonesia fans continued to voice their opinions online, Kluivert’s coaching philosophy and its immediate implications for the team’s tactics are now under scrutiny. Considering the recent history of the Indonesian team, supporters are eager to see a swift adaptation to the demands of international football to improve their standing in the qualifiers.
In the immediate aftermath of the match, various sports analysts weighed in on what’s next for the Indonesian national team. With the next game looming, Kluivert and his squad will need to regroup and demonstrate resilience. Fans will be watching closely to see if he can turn this poor start into something meaningful moving forward.
This defeat leaves many questions about Kluivert's approach and whether he can indeed steer the team in a positive direction moving forward. As the 2026 World Cup qualifiers continue, the pressure is on not just to perform but to win, fulfilling the aspirations of Indonesian football supporters.
