Rafael Struick Confident Indonesia U-23 Will Appear In The 2024 U-23 Asian Cup Final

Rafael Struick is confident in appearing in the 2024 U-23 Asian Cup final (doc. PSSI).

JAKARTA - Rafael Struick can only provide support through the stands during the U-23 Indonesian national team against Uzbekistan U-23 in the semifinals of the 2024 U-23 Asian Cup.

The attacker had to miss the match for serving a card accumulation sentence.

Indonesia U-23 met Uzbekistan U-23 at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Qatar, on Monday, April 29, 2024, WIB night.

Although Struick could not participate in defending Garuda Muda, he was confident that Indonesia U-23 would be able to win.

"I will support the team (Indonesian U-23 National Team) from the stands. Hopefully we can win. Then I can play in the final," said Rafael Struick in his statement quoted on Monday, April 29, 2024.

Rafael Struick's absence from Indonesia U-23 in the semifinals was because he had received two yellow cards. He got his first yellow card against Jordan U-23 in the group stage. He got the following yellow card in the quarter-finals against South Korea U-23.

Even though he was disappointed to receive the punishment for appearing, Struick was reluctant to drag on. He felt that the most important thing right now is to continue to provide support so that the team could continue to go further.

"Yes, in my opinion, to be honest it (yellow card) was a bit stupid, but that's already the case. Now we have to move on," he said.

Despite his attendance, Struick continued to follow the team's development in the 2024 U-23 Asian Cup, including monitoring the next opponent, namely Uzbekistan U-23.

According to Struick, this opponent is a strong team. However, Indonesia U-23 is not worthy of being underestimated.

"Yes, we watched their (Uzbekistan U-23) match against Saudi Arabia U-23. I think they are a good team."

"They also won with nine points and without conceding (in the group phase). So, yes, this is a strong team, but we (the U-23 Indonesian national team) are also a strong team. So, yes, this will be a good match," he said.