PSSI Technical Director Indra Sjafri hopes that U-20 Indonesia national team coach Shin Tae-yong will at least bring his squad through the 2023 U-20 Asian Cup group stage, just like his achievements when he was a coach in 2018.
"We must both believe that the national team can qualify for the group, just like the achievements of the Indonesian U-20 team in 2018," said Indra, quoted by Antara from the PSSI website, Wednesday.
In 2018, Indra, who was in charge of the U-19 national team, passed his team to the quarter-finals of the U-19 Asian Cup, the name of the tournament before becoming the U-20 Asian Cup in 2023, which was held in Indonesia.
However, in that round Indonesia lost 0-2 to Japan and failed to reach the semifinals.
In addition to wanting the U-20 national team to qualify from the group, Indra also wants the players to gain experience to become a provision for competing in the U-20 World Cup next year.
"Hopefully four matches in the group phase can be a good opportunity to add to the players' competitive experience before heading to the 2023 U-20 World Cup," said the coach who led Indonesia to win the 2013 AFF U-19 Cup and the 2019 AFF U-22 Cup.
In the U-20 Asian Cup which was held on March 1-18, 2023, Indonesia was in Group A together with the hosts Uzbekistan, Syria and Iraq.
Uzbekistan cannot be underestimated because apart from the hosts, they are also ranked second in the 2008 edition of the U-19 Asian Cup.
While even though only qualifying runners-up, Iraq and Syria are strong teams in West Asia.
Iraq was the holder of five U-19 Asian Cup titles in 1975, 1977, 1978, 1988 and 2000, while Syria won the 1994 edition.
The Indonesian U-20 national team, coached by Shin Tae-yong, will continue to prepare for the U-20 Asian Cup next year.
Currently, Garuda Nusantara is undergoing a training camp (TC) in Turkey, before continuing to Spain.
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