Indonesian Vs Japan National Team: Blue Samurai Striker Likes The Final Match

JAKARTA - The Japanese national team striker, Takuma Asano, looks seriously at the third match of Group D of the 2023 Asian Cup. He described the meeting with Indonesia as a final match.

The match between Japan and Indonesia will be held at the Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 at 18.30 WIB. This meeting is very important because it will determine the steps to the knockout phase for both teams.

Japan, which is currently in second place in Group D standings, at least only needs the results of the series against Indonesia to qualify for the last 16 of the 2023 Asian Cup.

Although their target is not too heavy, Japan does not want to underestimate Indonesia. The results of the previous two matches gave important lessons to Hajime Moriyasu's team.

"We just have to do what we can. We didn't succeed against Iraq. The match against Iraq provides an important lesson for the next match (against Indonesia)," Takuma Asano was quoted as saying by Nikkan Sport on Tuesday, January 23, 2024.

Even though it was enough to close the match with a draw, Asano did not seem to want Japan to only rely on the minimum results against Indonesia.

The German club striker, Bochum, wants Japan to go all out against the Garuda Squad like a duel later is the 2023 Asian Cup final match.

"I have no choice but to give everything as if the next match is really the last match like the final match," said Asano.

Japan, which is currently ranked 17th in the world, is superior to Indonesia, which is ranked 146th.

However, the defeat to Iraq and twice being broken into by Vietnam will make Japan alert to face the Indonesian national team. The Garuda squad was able to bag a 1-0 victory against Vietnam in the previous match.