Shin Tae-yong Admits Preparations For The U-23 Indonesian National Team Are Not Perfect Because It's Not The FIFA Calendar

Shin Tae-yong during the press conference session of the 2024 U-23 Asian Cup (doc. PSSI).

JAKARTA - The U-23 Indonesian National Team will face Qatar U-23 in the inaugural match of Group A of the 2024 U-23 Asian Cup at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Monday, April 15, 2024.

Shin Tae-yong admitted that the tournament's opening match was quite tough, especially against the hosts.

In addition, the South Korean coach could not perfectly prepare the team because it was not the FIFA calendar. As a result, a number of players were unable to join the U-23 Indonesian national team because the team did not allow it.

So far, Shin Tae-yong has registered 23 names in the 2024 U-23 Asian Cup. The list does not include a number of names playing abroad because they are doubtful about joining, such as Elkan Baggott and Nathan Tjoe-A-On.

"The 2024 U-23 Asian Cup is not a FIFA calendar. So, I can't prepare the team perfectly," said Shin Tae-yong during a press conference session at Khalifa Stadium on Sunday, April 14, 2024.

However, Shin Tae-yong is very confident in his troops. You see, the U-23 Indonesian national team has been training camp (TC) since April 1, 2024 in Dubai and underwent two trials against Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

In the two test matches, Garuda Muda lost 1-3 to Saudi Arabia (5/4/2024) and defeated the United Arab Emirates 1-0 (8/4/2024).

"After all, we will face this challenge. We had about a month earlier to prepare."

"Players have grown rapidly. I hope we can show a good game in every game and of course enjoy this tournament," said Shin Tae-yong.

The U-23 Indonesian national team is in Group A with the hosts Qatar, Australia, and Jordan. Garuda Muda is targeted to qualify for the quarter-finals.

In fact, the further target is to step into the semifinals of the 2024 U-23 Asian Cup so that it is likely to win tickets to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

List Of Indonesian U-23 National Team Players In The 2024 U-23 Asian Cup

1. MUHAMMAD ADISATHRYO (GK) - PSIS Semarang2. ILHAM RIO FAHMI - PERSIJA3. MUHAMMAD FERARRI - PERSIJA4. KOMANG TEGUH TRISNANDA - Borneo FC5. RIZKY RIDHO RAMADHANI - PERSIJA6. IVAR JENNER - FC UTRECHT 7. MARSELINO FERDINAN - KMSK DEINze 8. WITAN SULAEMAN - Bhayangkara FC9. RAMADHAN SANANTA - Persis Solo10. JUSTIN HUBNER - Cerezo Osaka11. RAFAEL WILLIAM STRUICK ADO Den HaAG12. PRATAMA ARHAN ALIF - SUwon FC 13. KAKANG RUDIANTO - PERIB Bandung 14. MUHAMMAD FAJAR FATHUR - BornEO FC 15. IKHSAN NUL ZIKRAK - BornEO FC 16. BRAN FIKRI - AREMA FC 17. DONY TRI PAMUNGKAS PERSIJA18. MUHAMMAD RAYHAN HANNAN - PERSIJA 19. JEAM KELLY SROYER - PRESS KEDI20. HOKKY CARAKA PRILLIANT PSS SLEMAN 21. ERNANDO ARI SUTARAYADI (GK) - PERSebaya Surabaya22. DAFFA FASYA SUMAWIJAYA (GK) - BornEO FC 23. DZAKY ASRAF - PSM Makassar