The Indonesian National Team's Defense Line Is "Limping" When Facing Thailand In The 2021 SEA Games Semifinals, Shin Tae-yong: Asnawi Mangkualam Can't Play

Indonesian national team coach, Shin Tae-yong. (Doc. PSSI)

JAKARTA - The U-23 Indonesian national team will face Thailand in the 2021 SEA Games semifinals, Thursday, May 19. The Garuda Muda Squad's line of defense is certain to be limp.

The mainstay right-back, Asnawi Mangkualam, is certain to miss this match. The Ansan Greeners player must undergo a yellow card accumulation sanction.

To fill the position of Asnawi, Rio Fahmi is believed to be an option.

"So Asnawi cannot be played because of the accumulation of yellow cards and for Saddil Ramdani tomorrow (Wednesday, ed) he will arrive in Vietnam," said the Indonesian national team coach, Shin Tae-yong, on the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) official website.

Saddil just joined the Indonesian national team after returning to Malaysia to defend his team Sabah FC. The former Persela Lamongan player is not sure to appear as a starter in the match against Thailand later.

"So we will see first what the condition of the player is like and will think about whether he will play or not on the 19th," he said.

Shin Tae-yong then asked his team to focus on the semifinal match against Thailand. The reason is, the team they are facing is a big power in Southeast Asia.

"For against Thailand we really have to really focus on the match because Thailand is one of the best teams in Southeast Asia," said Shin Tae-yong.