YOGYAKARTA - The U20 football world Cup will be held in Indonesia from May 20 to June 11, 2023. In this international event, the Indonesian national team has the potential to enter the hell group if you look at the distribution of lottery pots. So what are Indonesia's chances like at the U20 World Cup?
A total of 23 teams have confirmed their steps to the U20 World Cup finals. The U20 Indonesian national team benefited from being the host because they joined in the first pot in the group's draw. It was confirmed that the Garuda Muda Team avoided strong opponents, such as France, Italy, Uruguay, the United States, and Senegal.
However, the Indonesian national team is still likely to meet tough opponents if they see the distribution of participants in the second, third, and fourth pots in the U20 World Cup. What are the opportunities for the Indonesian national team in this prestigious match?
PSSI General Chair Erick Thohir revealed that the U20 World Cup event was a gamble for the red and white national team. In addition, organizing the international football competition is also a gamble on Indonesia's image in the eyes of the world.
Pot two in the U20 World Cup group draw is filled by a number of football giant countries such as England, Brazil, South Korea, and Ecuador. If you look at a number of participants in the two pots, then Indonesia will face a tough opponent.
The strong opponent threats that Indonesia may face are England and Brazil. England was once the champion in the 2017 edition. Meanwhile, Brazil is dubbed the Selecao Sub-20 which holds the status of the second-largest title winner. Brazil won five times in the 1983 editions, 1985, 1993, 2003, and 2011.
Meanwhile, the South Korean national team will certainly not meet with Indonesia. The South Korean national team cannot be in the same group with the young Garuda national team because the regulations governing the two countries from the same confederation cannot meet at the preliminary.
Participants who enter the three pots are no less tough. Asian countries that have the potential to become difficult opponents of Indonesia in the group stage, including Japan, Iraq and Uzbekistan. The three countries are both included in the 2023 U20 Asian Cup semifinals.
Moreover, Uzbekistan and Iraq have defeated Indonesia in the group stage. The two countries also successfully advanced to the final round. In addition, in pot three there are also other strong countries, namely Nigeria and Honduras. Nigeria managed to rank third in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Meanwhile Honduras was able to advance to the semifinals of the 2023 CONCACAF U20 Cup.
Pot four also needs to be watched out for by the Indonesian national team. This last portrait also contains countries that will be strong opponents, including Guatemala, Slovakia, Gambia, Tunisia, and Israel. But Indonesia will most likely not meet Israel due to the diplomatic relations factor of the two countries.
The tough opponents who are difficult to beat in pot four are Guatemala and Slovakia. The two countries once overwhelmed the Indonesian squad. Slovakia once beat the Indonesian national team with a score of 1-2. Meanwhile Guatemala also forced Indonesia to lose with a score of 0-1.
The Indonesian national team has the potential to be included in the hell group, when viewed from the distribution of participants in each pot in the U20 World Cup. One possible scenario is that Indonesia is in Group A with England, Slovakia, and Nigeria. Another possibility is that Indonesia can be in the same group as Brazil, Guatemala, and Nigeria.
If it turns out that both scenarios have actually occurred, then the opportunity for the Indonesian national team to be able to go far to win the championship title will be difficult. But that doesn't mean the door to victory is fully closed.
That's a review of Indonesia's opportunities at the U20 World Cup. The U20 Indonesian national team needs to work extra in this international event, considering the potential of the opponents they face is very strong. The Indonesian people can't wait to see the maximum and optimistic performance by the young Garuda squad.
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