The Indonesian National Team Is Beaten By Japan 1-3, PSSI Deputy: From The Struggle We See Performance Is Getting Better

PSSI Deputy General Chair Zainudin Amali sees the Indonesian national team growing (Ulfa Gusti/VOI).

JAKARTA - The Indonesian national team reaped minor results in the final match of Group D of the 2023 Asian Cup. The Garuda squad lost 1-3 against Japan at Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, Wednesday, January 24, 2024.

The Indonesian national team goal escorted by Ernando Ari was broken into first when the game had only been running for two minutes. Shin Tae-yong's team had to accept disaster from Ayase Ueda's penalty which put Japan 1-0 up.

The Japanese advantage was doubled again by Ayase Ueda in the 52nd minute. The Indonesian national team then fell behind after Justin Hubner scored an own goal in the 88th minute while trying to block Ueda's strike.

The Red-White team could only reply to one goal in the 90+1 minute through Sandy Walsh's contribution.

The result of this match missed the target. At first, Shin Tae-yong's team was expected to win or at least draw to increase the hope of qualifying for the last 16 of the 2023 Asian Cup.

Responding to this result, the Deputy General Chairperson (Waketum) of PSSI, Zainudin Amali, continued to give a positive statement. He still appreciated the struggles made by Marselino Ferdinand and his friends.

Amali said, what the players did on the field was a great struggle. Moreover, Japan, who is the opponent this time, is a FIFA ranking team that is higher than the Indonesian national team.

"We have seen how the Indonesian national team struggles, how our children struggle. I think against a country that is ranked far above us, in fact the Indonesian national team can play a Japanese game," he said when met at the GBK Arena, Senayan, after a joint viewing event on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, evening WIB.

Amali further mentioned Hubner's own goal. However, overall he said the Indonesian national team had played with better performance.

"Only, there are indeed some incidents that should not have happened, even the last suicide goal." "However, overall I see that the Indonesian national team is getting better performance. Especially yesterday until they beat Vietnam, I think that's a new hope for us," he said.

The defeat of the Indonesian national team from Japan made the chance to qualify for the last 16 of the 2023 Asian Cup even steeper. The reason is, the Garuda Squad's steps depend on other parties.

The hope is that the Oman vs Kyrgyzstan match, which will appear on January 25, 2024, will end in a series maximally so that the Indonesian national team remains in the top four of the best third-placed route.