Shin Tae-yong Optimistic Indonesia Beat Malaysia In SEA Games Hanoi 2021 Soccer Bronze

The South Korean coach, Shin Tae-yong is optimistic that the Indonesian national team will beat Malaysia in the scramble for bronze at the 2021 SEA Games in Hanoi, Sunday 22 May 2022. (Doc. PSSI)

JAKARTA - Indonesia U-23 national team coach Shin Tae-yong is optimistic that he can bring his squad to a bronze medal at the 2021 SEA Games Hanoi.

Indonesia will meet Malaysia for third place at My Dinh Stadium, on Sunday, May 22 tomorrow. Preparations have also been made after undergoing a day's rest after the defeat against Vietnam in the semifinals.

"We are preparing well for the match against Malaysia later. Although three players are suspended from red cards and Egy is also injured. We believe the players will fight hard to win the bronze medal," said Shin Tae-yong, quoted on the PSSI website.

The South Korean coach's quest for a bronze medal was met with tough challenges. The reason is that the Garuda squad will certainly not be strengthened by Firza Andika, Rachmat Irianto, and Ricky Kambuaya.

All three are confirmed absent due to serving a red card accumulation penalty. Meanwhile, Egy Maulana may still be sidelined due to an injury he got while strengthening the team against Vietnam.

"This condition makes it difficult for us to determine players in the match. However, there is a good process and the will of the Indonesian U-23 national team players is very strong. So, of course we can pass this difficult situation well," said the 51-year-old tactician.

If Egy can't play in tomorrow's match, Indonesia will only have 15 players against Malaysia. Young Garuda was also unable to play Elkan Baggott because he was not present in Vietnam.

"Indeed, situations like this affect the team a lot. Moreover, at the beginning of the tournament, the quota of 20 players was not filled. Indonesia U-23 only had 18 players after Baggott was not present, Saddil and Asnawi Mangkualam followed to face the 2021 SEA Games," he said.

Indonesia has certainly had a shortage of gold medals for soccer at the SEA Games since 1991. In 2019 Indonesia had the opportunity to finish that record after reaching the final, but unfortunately the team that was managed by Indra Sjafri at that time gave up in the hands of Vietnam.