Indonesia to play friendlies with FIFA World Cup qualifier Iceland

JAKARTA, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian football teams are scheduled to vie against a 2018 World Cup qualifier, Iceland, in friendly matches slated for Jan. 11 and 14 in Yogyakarta and Jakarta respectively.

The friendly matches were part of the respective teams' preparations towards international sports event of Asian Games and World Cup scheduled for next year.

"The visit of the Iceland team to Indonesia was a rare momentum, for them it would be their first tour to Indonesia," Indonesia Football Association (PSSI) said in its twitter account.

PSSI said the matches against Iceland Team would be used to improve improve the performance of national football team players prior to 2018 Asian Games, which was scheduled to commence in August in the country.

PSSI has set target to see national football team among four top teams performing in the upcoming Asiad which was hosted by Indonesian two cities of Jakarta and Palembang.

In its Indonesian tour, the Iceland national team will bring 22 players. Part of the players were the ones who defeated England team in 2016 Euro Cup qualifying match, Iceland Head Coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said.

On Jan. 11, Iceland will vie against an Indonesia Selection team in Yogyakarta's Maguwoharjo Stadium, followed later on Jan. 14 against the Indonesian national team in Jakarta's landmark stadium of Bung Karno.

Besides the scheduled friendly football matches, the Iceland national team will undergo several programs during their tour in Indonesia, among others discussion on football sports development, coaching clinics for young talented Indonesian players and meet and greet with Indonesian fans. Enditem