Young Garuda's Life And Death Match

Indonesian U-24 national team. (Photo: Doc.NOC Indonesia)

JAKARTA - The U-24 Indonesian national team will play a life and death match against North Korea in the last match of the 2023 Asian Games Group F preliminary, Sunday, September 24. The Garuda Muda squad must win to maintain hope.

Indra Sjafri's troops are in unfavorable condition to qualify for the knockout stages. After opening the journey with a 2-0 win over Kyrgyzstan, the U-24 national team surprisingly lost 0-1 to Taiwan in their second match.

These two results make Indonesia now occupy second place with a collection of three points, the result of one victory and one defeat. Indonesia's points are the same as Taiwan, but Indonesia has the right to be in second place because of superior goal productivity.

Candidates against Indonesia, namely North Korea, have already confirmed their escape to the knockout stages. Armed with two victories over Taiwan and Kyrgyzstan, North Korea is now comfortable to occupy the top of Group F standings and will definitely advance to the last 16 whatever results are obtained in the last match.

If in the match against North Korea, the U-24 national team loses, there is still a chance to qualify for the knockout stages. Namely, hoping that Kyrgyzstan will surprisingly beat Taiwan, or qualify by becoming one of the four best third-placed teams.

History sided with North Korea

From a number of meetings that have occurred between Indonesia and North Korea, history sided with the potential opponent.

At the senior level, starting from the meeting in the 1979 Asian Cup qualifiers, the Indonesian national team was beaten 1-3. The poor record continued at the next eight meetings until 2012, with a total of eight defeats and one draw.

Meanwhile, in the U-23 category, the last meeting between the two countries occurred at the 2014 Asian Games. At that time the national team lost 1-3 to North Korea in the last 16 phase.

North Korea U-24 is also experiencing a positive trend, after at this Asian Games they won 2-0 over Taiwan and narrowly won 1-0 over Kyrgyzstan.

Prediction Of Lineup

Indonesian U-24 national team (4-3-3): Ernando Ari; Andy Setyo, Rizky Ridho, Alfeandra Dewangga, Mohammad Haykal; Rachmat Irianto, Syahrian Abimanyu, Ananda Raehan; Egy Maulana Vikry, Hugo Samir, Ramai Rumakiek