National Team Faces Japan And Vietnam In The Asian Cup, Shin Tae-yong Targets To Qualify For The Last 16

JAKARTA - The coach of the Indonesian national team, Shin Tae-yong is aware that his team is included in a tough group in the Asian Cup competition. However, as soon as he remains confident in setting up his team's target to qualify for the round of 16.

In the 2023 Asian Cup, the Indonesian national team is in the same group as Japan, Iraq and Vietnam. Of the three teams in this group, Indonesia became the country with the lowest FIFA rankings.

This did not dampen the enthusiasm of the South Korean coach to spur his team to become the best. Because in order to qualify for the round of 16 only the top two teams, there are four of the best third-placed teams who are entitled to advance.

"In the Asian Cup in Qatar, of course it will not be easy to deal with Japan, Iraq and Vietnam. Indonesia is the team with the lowest rank compared to Asian Cup finalists," he said, quoted from Best Eleven on Sunday, November 5.

"There will be a lot of very difficult things, but our goal is to qualify for the round of 16," said Shin Tae-yong optimistically.

For the Indonesian national team, being able to return to compete in the 2023 Asian Cup which will take place in January 2024 is a historic momentum. This is because the Garuda Squad will again have the opportunity to fight the best Asian teams after it last appeared in 2007.

Regarding the opportunity that came back to the Garuda squad, Shin Tae-yong said that the team he is currently handling has changed much better.

"Maybe Indonesia will appear as a dark horse in the Asian Cup later," said Shin Tae Yong.

In order to show the squad optimally, Shin Tae-yong is keen to make improvements, ranging from technique, physical, to mental.

In addition, the coach also continues to improve the quality of the Indonesian national team with the naturalization program of players. So far, Jordi Amat, Sandy Walsh, Shayne Pattynama, Ivar Jenner, and Rafael Struick have become naturalized players and have strengthened the national team.

With the experience of playing in Europe, these players are expected to make the Indonesian national team appear stronger and more confident in the Asian Cup.