Indra Sjafri Admits Indonesia U-20 Is More Prepared To Face Uzbekistan U-20

JAKARTA - The U-20 Indonesian national team coach, Indra Sjafri, said his team should be better prepared to face Uzbekistan U-20 in the second match of the 2025 U-20 Asian Cup group stage if they want to keep their chances of qualifying for the quarter-finals.

The second match of Group C will be played on Sunday, February 16, 2025, at the Youth Football Training Center Stadium, Shenzhen, China, at 18.30 WIB.

"We have to be more prepared for Uzbekistan. We do this by looking at their previous matches so that we are ready to face them," said Indra on the AFC website, Saturday, February 15, 2025.

Indonesia U-20 really needed a win when they met Uzbekistan. Indra will make good use of the last two meetings against the defending champion.

Sofascore noted that Indonesia and Uzbekistan had met twice in the last two years. The first meeting took place in March 2023 in the U-20 Asian Cup group stage which ended 0-0.

At the second meeting in the test match, Uzbekistan won 3-2 in January 2024.

"We are familiar with the team and their game because we played against them in the U-23 Asian Cup and twice in Jakarta," said Indra.

"We also saw them act against Yemen U-20 and had to further analyze this match and take any opportunities that come to us," he said.

Two things that must be corrected from the defeat against Iran U-20 in the group's inaugural match are the final finish. There were four attempts on target that failed to produce a goal in that match.

Then, poor anticipation of cross from defense is also the focus. You see, all three Iranian goals came from three crosss.

Indonesia U-20 is currently still the caretaker of Group C after losing 0-3 to Iran in the inaugural match.