“I have promised that there will be eight FIFA Matchdays, seven looking for rankings, one looking for mental improvement and also the perception of world football that Indonesian football is waking up from sleep,” he said.
Erick further stated that the match against Argentina was enough to open up the possibility of Indonesia facing other strong countries in the FIFA Matchday calendar in the future.
With regard to Indonesian soccer lovers who are threatened with disappointment because they are canceled from watching Messi up close, Erick can only remind them that the match is designed for Indonesia against Argentina and not Indonesia against Messi All Star.
Erick stated that he could only pray for Messi to come with La Albiceleste’s squad to Indonesia.
“I pray Messi flies, lands, plays, that’s what I can do. So this is not an Indonesian match against Messi All Star,” Erick concluded.
Indonesia is scheduled to host Argentina at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium, Jakarta, on June 19.
A total of 60,000 tickets for the match have been sold, priced at Rp600,000 for Category 3, Rp1.2 million (Category 2), Rp2.5 million (Category 1), and Rp4.25 million (VIP West and East).
The high enthusiasm was met with disappointment following news from Argentine journalists that Messi, who was already with La Albiceleste squad in Beijing, China, would appear in the match against Australia but was later absent and did not join the group to Indonesia at all.
