“Indonesian National Team Faces Tough Opponents in Group D of 2023 Asian Cup”

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Indonesian National team joined in Group D of the 2023 Asian Cup which will take place in January 2024 in Qatar. Shin Tae-yong’s Garuda squad will face Iraq, Vietnam and Japan in the group stage.

The General Chairperson of PSSI, Erick Thohir, was present at the draw or drawing Asian Cup 2023 along with trainer Shin Tae-yong. Assessing potential opponents as a tough team, he said that the Indonesian national team would fight with all their might to keep up with the competition in Group D.

According to Erick, the teams in Group D are tough opponents. What’s more, Indonesia will face Japan, which is a four-time champion of the Asian Cup. At the 2022 World Cup, the Samurai Blue team managed to surprise Germany and Spain by defeating Germany and Spain.

Despite facing tough opponents, Indonesia is not afraid and is ready to go all out. “We already know that Japan’s quality is at the world’s elite level, as well as Iraq and Vietnam. All of them are tough teams, but anything can happen in 90 minutes and everything starts with a score of 0-0. We are ready, even though the challenges are not easy,” said Erick during the draw for the Asian Cup in Doha, Thursday, 11 May 2023.

According to Erick, all national team players are ready to fight. Even though he entered pot 4 which is a cluster of non-seeded countries, he asked the players not to be afraid. “Our national team continues to show positive developments. Even though we know this Asian Cup is inhabited because the level is already world. This is clearly a challenge as well as an opportunity for us to further raise the level of the national team’s game,” he said.

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In addition, Erick said Group D was special because it was home to Indonesia’s rival in Southeast Asia, Vietnam. “Vietnam, as we know, is our rival in Asean, whose performance in Asia is very good. All opponents are tough, but our team also has the quality to make surprises,” said Erick.

Erick believes in the squad Shin Tae Yong have the opportunity to compete with elite Asian countries in football matters. “This is our fifth participation in the Asian Cup and we have been absent since 2007 and have only just been able to return to the Asian Cup. We must take advantage of this opportunity by fighting until the final whistle,” he said.

Editor’s Choice: 2023 Asian Cup Draw Results: Indonesian National Team in Group D with Japan, Iraq, Vietnam