Shin Tae-yong Optimistic Brings The U-23 Indonesian National Team To Make History

The U-23 Indonesian national team coach, Shin Tae-yong. (Photo via Antara)

SOLO - The U-23 Indonesian national team is one step away from new history in the Asian Cup arena. The Garuda Muda squad only needed a draw against Turkmenistan in the last match of Group K to qualify for the 2024 U-23 Asian Cup finals.

If the results are achieved, the U-23 national team will advance to the U-23 Asian Cup finals for the first time in history since the tournament was first held in 2012.

The U-23 Indonesian national team coach Shin Tae-yong is optimistic that he can bring his team to create a new history. He has ambitions to repeat his sweet notes when he manages to bring the senior national team to compete in the Asian Cup finals in Qatar from 12 January to 10 February 2024.

"I am very sure, like the senior national team qualified for the finals. The U-23 national team will also be like that," Shin said as quoted by Antara, Sunday, September 10. Armed with playing in front of the public itself and his front players who appeared productive in the inaugural match when they played nine goals against Taiwan, Shin believes his team can play the best game against Turkmenistan later.

However, it is not easy. The reason is, according to the South Korean coach, the quality of the Turkmenistan players is considered a little better. He is also wary of one Turkmen's player numbered 11, Shamammet Hydyrow, who in the match against Taiwan, scored a hat trick.

"I believe in presenting a good match for ourselves, because here there are Indonesian football fans, especially since the ability of Indonesian players is not inferior to Turkmenistan," said Shin. When leading the light exercise at the Sriwedari Shin Stadium, he explained why the players who participated in the training were only filled with 11 players.

The eleven players, namely Komang Teguh, Jeam Kelly Sroyer, Dzaky Asraf, Muhammad Fajar Faturrahman, Muhammad Rayhan Hannan, Muhammad Ferrari, Titan Agung Bagus, Alfeandra Dewangga, Dony Tri Pamungkas, Nuri Agus Wibowo, and Daffa Fasya, underwent training to maintain physical fitness because they did not or did a little bit of playing time against Taiwan.

Meanwhile, 12 other players who played from the start or entered at the beginning of the second half, namely Ernando Ari, Ilham Rio Fahmi, Elkan Baggot, Rizky Ridho, Ivar Jenner, Marselino Ferdinand, Witan Sulaeman, Ramadhan Sananta, Arkhan Fikri, Pratama Arhan, Rafael Struick, and Hokky Caraka, did not participate in training at the Sriwedari Stadium because they were recovering.