Jakarta – The Indonesian national team and the Philippine national team are intimidating each other ahead of their meeting at Mahahan Stadium, Solo, on Saturday (21/12/2024) at 8:00 PM WIB. Two key players from each team, Muhammad Ferarri and Michael Baldisimo, are the center of attention.
Muhammad Ferrari not only serves as the captain of Indonesia but also as a key defender in the backline. He was present in all three Group B matches of the 2024 AFF Cup against Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam.
Muhammad Ferrari remains the top scorer for the Garuda Squad in this competition with the two goals he scored against Laos. This achievement has earned the defender, who was born in Jakarta 21 years ago, the nickname ‘striker in disguise’.
The player from the Macan Kemayoran club, Persija Jakarta, is one of the senior players brought by coach Shin Tae-yong to this year’s biggest tournament in Southeast Asia, alongside Asnawi Mangkualam, Rafael Struick, Hokky Caraka, Pratama Arhan, and Marselino Ferdinan.
Shin Tae-yong appointed him as the coach who included Muhammad Ferarri in the list of young players for the Indonesian National Team, who also holds the role of captain, alongside Asnawi Mangkualam and Rizky Ridho.
Become an Important Player in the Squad
Muhammad Ferarri repaid the trust placed in him by playing wholeheartedly, although his performance in the backline was not without criticism. When facing the Philippines in the final group match, there is a high possibility that Shin Tae-yong will continue to entrust the captain’s armband to Muhammad Ferarri.
As a leader and key defender, Muhammad Ferarri must learn from the previous three matches, where the defense was still not solid and easily penetrated by opponents. Facing the Philippines, which is reinforced by several dangerous attackers, all the defenders chosen by Shin Tae-yong, including Muhammad Ferarri, must perform more solidly and improve communication on the field.
At Persija club, Muhammad Ferarri’s role is also very important in the BRI Liga 1 2024/2025 competition. Until the 15th week, the team coached by Carlos Peña occupies the fourth position with 25 points. As a defender with a knack for scoring, Ferarri has played in 10 matches and contributed two assists.
Not only in the 2024 AFF Cup, but Muhammad Ferarri is also part of Shin Tae-yong’s grand plan for the third round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers in the Asian zone. It is clear that Muhammad Ferarri plays a very important role for Shin Tae-yong, including in the effort to win the current edition of the AFF Cup.
How Tough is Michael Baldisimo?
So, how tough is Michael Baldisimo? The player, who is three years older than Muhammad Ferarri, is currently strengthening the American club, The Town FC. He plays there on loan from another club in the US, namely the San Jose Earthquakes.
In terms of achievements, Michael Baldisimo has yet to match Muhammad Ferarri, both at the club level and the national team. At The Town FC, the defensive midfielder born in Canada on April 13, 2000, who has also just been naturalized, has played in three matches this season since joining in 2023.
After deciding to become a Filipino citizen and joining the national team in March 2024, this former U-23 Canadian national team player has played in nine matches without scoring a single goal.
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