Indonesia's Attack Dilemma: More Than Just a Missing No. 9

The Indonesian national team continues to struggle with a persistent lack of a reliable number 9 striker, a problem that has stretched across multiple coaching eras, including under John Herdman, Patrick Kluivert, and Shin Tae-yong. Former defender Aris Indarto recently highlighted that this issue remains unresolved and continues to affect the team's attacking effectiveness.

Due to the shortage of quality strikers, Indonesia has heavily relied on Ole Romeny as their primary attacking option. His versatility allows him to operate not only as a traditional striker but also in a deeper attacking role, which gives the team some flexibility. However, this dependence also exposes the lack of depth in the squad, especially during demanding schedules such as the recent FIFA Series 2026.

To address this issue, the football association is considering two main solutions. One approach is to naturalize players of Indonesian descent currently playing in Europe, while the other is to develop and scout local strikers competing in the domestic league. Among these, the naturalization route appears more promising, as local options are still seen as lacking the quality needed at the international level.

Aris Indarto emphasized that finding a striker with the intelligence and adaptability of Ole Romeny is not easy. He pointed out that Romeny's ability to move between roles makes him harder to mark, especially when playing slightly deeper where he can exploit spaces and create opportunities more freely compared to being tightly marked as a central striker.

Beyond the striker issue, Indarto also stressed the urgent need for a creative midfielder to support the attack. He referred to matches like the one against Bulgaria, where breaking down a highly defensive opponent proved difficult. According to him, Indonesia needs more players capable of delivering creative passes and unlocking tight defenses, ensuring that both the striker and attacking midfielders receive better service in crucial moments.