Kluivert vows response after nightmare start to Indonesia reign
Patrick Kluivert vowed his side will show a reaction in next week's vital home World Cup qualifier against Bahrain after the Dutch great endured a nightmare start as Indonesia coach.
The visitors were punished for missing an early penalty in Sydney as Australia ran out 5-1 winners on Thursday to inch towards qualification for the tournament next year in North America.
Japan top Group C and have qualified, with Australia currently second on 10 points, with three matches to play. The top two go straight to the World Cup.
Saudi Arabia have nine points and Indonesia, Bahrain and China are all on six, and still in contention.
Teams finishing third and fourth in the three Asian qualifying groups go into a further round of qualifying.
Netherlands and Barcelona great Kluivert, who replaced the sacked Shin Tae-yong in January, said his men must regroup quickly for the clash on Tuesday in Jakarta.
"The positive is that we kept on going and the spirit of the team will always be there," Kluivert, whose side pulled back a consolation through Ole Romeny on 78 minutes, told reporters.
"You guys don't see the spirit... what we have in the team. We will react absolutely against Bahrain.
"But now we have to digest first the defeat and look at each other what somebody did wrong, also me, maybe I did something wrong."
Kluivert felt the outcome might have been different had Kevin Diks' eighth-minute spot-kick gone in instead of hitting the post.
"It's very easy to point your finger and I don't like to point fingers," said Kluivert, who was one of the most feared strikers of his generation but has not scaled the same heights as a coach.
"In the beginning we dominated the game. If the penalty was going in, it was a totally different game. I'm confident about this."
bur-pst/sco
-
Australia prepare for unknown against Kluivert's Indonesia
Tony Popovic admitted Wednesday there will be a degree of unknown when his Australia side face an Indonesia team led for the first time by Patrick Kluivert in a World Cup qualifier.Indonesia held ...Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Australia edge closer to World Cup with 5-1 thrashing of Indonesia
Two goals in two minutes helped Australia secure a 5-1 thrashing of Indonesia on Thursday to inch closer to World Cup qualification as Dutch legend Patrick Kluivert was well beaten in his first ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Romeny scores on international debut for Indonesia
Oxford United forward Ole Romeny scores on debut for international side Indonesia during their World Cup qualifier against Australia.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Australia 5-1 Indonesia: World Cup 2026 qualifier – live reaction
Indonesia left to rue early missed penalty as Socceroos romp to win Man of the match Jackson Irvine scores twice at Allianz Stadium The players are in place and here we go … peeeeep!. Now it’s ...The Guardian - 1d -
Socceroos make Indonesia pay for early penalty miss in World Cup qualifying romp
Australia overcome slow start to thrash Group C rivals 5-1 in Sydney Jackson Irvine scores two to edge hosts closer to qualification Across the opening 15 minutes of this World Cup qualifier, ...The Guardian - 1d -
Bournemouth sensation admits he wanted to play for Barcelona – ‘I thought the quickest way…’
Justin Kluivert has spent years carving out his own path in football, but his ultimate goal remains the same—playing for Barcelona, just like his father, Patrick Kluivert. The Dutch forward started...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
China call up Brazil-born player for vital World Cup qualifiers
China have included Brazil-born midfielder Serginho in their squad for crucial World Cup qualifiers, less than a week after he obtained Chinese citizenship.Brazil-born players Elkeson, Alan and ...Yahoo Sports - 4d -
Japan first nation to qualify for 2026 World Cup
Japan become the first nation to book their place in the 2026 World Cup through qualifying after defeating Bahrain 2-0 in Saitama.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Japan becomes the first team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after host nations
Japan has become the first team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after beating Bahrain 2-0 at Saitama StadiumABC News - 1d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Jiri Prochazka open to facing winner of Jan Blachowicz vs. Carlos Ulberg at UFC London
Jiri Prochazka will have his eyes peeled for the UFC Fight Night 255 co-main event. Jan Blachowicz (29-10-1 MMA, 12-7-1 UFC) meets rising contender Carlos Ulberg (12-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) in a pivotal ...Yahoo Sports - 54m -
Jiri Prochazka open to facing winner of Jan Blachowicz vs. Carlos Ulberg at UFC London
Jiri Prochazka will have his eyes peeled for the UFC Fight Night 255 co-main event. Jan Blachowicz (29-10-1 MMA, 12-7-1 UFC) meets rising contender Carlos Ulberg (12-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) in a pivotal ...Yahoo Sports - 54m -
'It's beautiful': Tennis legends showcase new tennis complex at The Breakers in Palm Beach
Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf, Andy Roddick and Kim Clijsters took part in an exhibition tennis match Friday benefitting First Serve USA.Yahoo Sports - 54m -
'It's beautiful': Tennis legends showcase new tennis complex at The Breakers in Palm Beach
Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf, Andy Roddick and Kim Clijsters took part in an exhibition tennis match Friday benefitting First Serve USA.Yahoo Sports - 54m -
Emma Raducanu storms back to stun world No 10 at Miami Open
Emma Raducanu battled against blisters and was forced to play “every single point like it was going to be my last” to secure a place in the third round of the Miami Open against top-10 opponent ...Yahoo Sports - 54m
More in Sports
-
Men's NCAA tournament: Live updates, highlights, reactions and more
nullESPN - 49m -
Disgruntled Poch: Wearing U.S. shirt 'not enough'
Mauricio Pochettino was left visibly frustrated after the USMNT's shocking 1-0 defeat to Panama in the Concacaf Nations League, bluntly telling his players it was not enough to just simply show up ...ESPN - 54m -
Højlund: Wasn't mocking 'idol' Ronaldo with 'Siu'
Rasmus Højlund said he was not trying to mock Cristiano Ronaldo after hitting the Portuguese star's famed 'Siu' celebration after scoring the winner for Denmark against Portugal in Copenhagen on ...ESPN - 54m -
'You're my idol': Henry joins Panama celebrations
Panama's Cecilio Waterman celebrated one of the biggest goals in his country's history, to defeat the USMNT, with his idol Thierry Henry.ESPN - 54m -
Kane: 'Aura' improved after Spurs to Bayern move
Harry Kane sees a real chance of winning the next men's Ballon d'Or, saying his "aura" as a player has improved since joining Bayern Munich.ESPN - 54m