Today's U-23 Asian Cup: Meeting Qatar, Indonesia Faces Heavy Challenges

The U-23 national team (PSSI)

JAKARTA - The U-23 Indonesian national team will face tough challenges in their inaugural action in the U-23 Asian Cup because they will meet the host Qatar, today Monday 15 April.

Competing at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Al Rayan, Indonesia which is handled by Shin Tae-yong who will meet the host Qatar who is certainly very motivated to win their first match.

Victory in the inaugural match will certainly raise hope to qualify for the second round. The senior Qatar national team itself showed good achievements in the Asian arena. In the last new Asian Cup championship, the Qatari national team successfully won the title after defeating Jordan in the final, 3-1.

The spirit of their senior team will certainly spread to its juniors. This team must be faced by Indonesia in their first work in the U-23 Asian Cup.

Indonesia itself received extraordinary moral provisions after being able to beat the United Arab Emirates in their last trial ahead of taking action in Qatar. In the match in Dubai, Indonesia won thanks to a single goal scored by Witan Sulaeman when the match entered its 52nd minute.

This is clearly a good moral provision because in the previous trial which was also held in Dubai, Indonesia lost 1-3 when they met Saudi Arabia. Indonesia had equalized in the 32nd minute through Komang Teguh after being conceded by Jehad Thakri's goal in the 18th minute.

However, Indonesia's goal was then conceded two goals by Haitham Asiri in the 59th minute and Abdullah Radif (90). The victory that was picked after swallowing defeat became a step forward shown by Indonesia.

Coach Shin Tae-yong is predicted to field the Witan Sulaeman trio, Rafael Struick, Marselino Ferdinand in the attacking line.

The three players will be supported by four players consisting of Rio Fahmi, Ivar Jenner, Arkhan Fikri, and Pratama Arhan. Meanwhile, the back row will be entrusted to the trio of Muhammad Ferarri, Rizky Ridho, and Komang Teguh. They will guard goalkeeper Ernando Ari.

Indonesia also received good news after PSSI General Chair Erick Thohir managed to lobby Heerenven to release Nathan-Tjoe-A-On into the 23rd squad of the Dutch club allowed their players to fight in the U-23 Asian Cup which will take place on April 15, 2024.

The player who was born in Rotterdam will compete for a place on the left back. Thus he will be a competitor to Pratama Arhan in the left wing position. These two players have their own advantages.

Arhan has the power in inward throwing which is often an assist so that a goal for his team occurs. Meanwhile, Nathan has advantages because he plays with Heerenveen who appears in competitions in Europe. Shin Tae-yong must choose one of the two.

This match will start at 18.30 local time or 22.30 western Indonesia time. The match will be held at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium which is one of the venues when Qatar holds the 2022 World Cup and 2023 Asian Cup.