Indonesia National Team’s Strategy to Advance to the Last 16 of the 2023 Asian Cup: Scenarios and Tactics

KOMPAS.com – The Indonesian national team (national team) will try to win tickets to the last 16 of the 2023 Asian Cup against Japan at Al Thumama Stadium, Qatar on Wednesday (24/1/2024).

Reported Kompas.com (21/1/2024), Indonesia is now in second place in the best third place standings for the 2023 Asian Cup. Meanwhile, Bahrain is in first place.

These results were obtained after Indonesia beat Vietnam with a narrow score of 1-0 in the match on Friday (19/1/2024). Until Indonesia now has three points.

However, Bahrain’s ranking, which also has three points thanks to a 1-0 win over Malaysia on Saturday (20/1/2024), is superior. This is because Bahrain has fewer disciplinary points with three yellow cards, while Indonesia has four yellow cards.

As is known, the teams that can qualify for the round of 16 consist of ranks 1 and 2 in groups A to F, as well as four national teams that are in the third best standings for the 2023 Asian Cup.

If Indonesia advances to the last 16 of the 2023 Asian Cup, this will be the first time the Garuda national team has advanced to the knockout stages of the competition.

So, what is the strategy and scenario so that the Indonesian national team can qualify for the last 16 of the 2023 Asian Cup?

Also read: Complete schedule for the Indonesian National Team in Group D of the 2023 Qatar Asian Cup

Scenario of qualifying for the round of 16

Football observer Gita Suwondo revealed that the Indonesian national team has the opportunity to advance to the last 16 of the 2023 Asian Cup.

“I would say there is a 40 to 50 percent possibility that we can still qualify (for the round of 16),” he said when contacted by Kompas.com, Monday (22/1/2024).

Gita believes that the Indonesian national team will probably not win against Japan so they will move up to 2nd place in Group D and automatically qualify for the knockout rounds.

However, according to him, Indonesia still has a chance to qualify even if it loses or before playing against Japan. This depends on the results of the Group A, B and C matches which take place first.

Gita explained that China was runner-up while Group A only had two points. Meanwhile, Tajikistan and Lebanon have only pocketed one point each. This means that the third and fourth places in this group will definitely be eliminated from the competition.

Indonesia, he continued, could qualify when the match between Syria and India from Group B on Tuesday (23/1/2024) ended in a draw. Syria now has one point while India still has 0.

Even so, he said, Indonesia would find it difficult to advance to the next round by relying on Japan’s victory. The reason is, the Samurai Blue team will play it all out after losing 2-1 to Iraq and are now in second place in Group D.

“Maybe it will be difficult for us to hold a draw. The possibility is that we don’t lose too much (score) so we can compete,” he explained.

If Indonesia holds Japan to a draw, continued Gita, the Garuda team will qualify for the knockout rounds with four points. However, the potential for this to happen is high. Alternatively, Indonesia can only lose by a narrow score of 0-1 or 1-2 against Japan.

Apart from that, Gita said, Indonesia needs to pay attention to the number of yellow cards it receives. Currently, Bahrain has received more yellow cards, so the Garuda team is less competitive.

When Indonesia and Bahrain both lose in the next match, the Garuda team could fail to advance to the round of 16 due to having more disciplinary points.

“We have to try not to get a yellow card while hoping that Bahrain gets a yellow card,” he added.

Also read: Foreign Media Says About Indonesia Beating Vietnam in the Asian Cup, Shin Tae-yong is Praised

Strategy to continue to the round of 16

Furthermore, Gita appealed to the Indonesian national team to focus on improving their front line. Reflecting on the previous two matches, the Garuda team had little chance of scoring goals. This condition was made worse by weak goal finishing.

“Against Japan, our chances will be even less. (Indonesian attackers) must be able to complete opportunities by scoring one goal,” he continued.

He also highlighted several names of Indonesian players who have the potential to break through the Japanese goal, including Rafael Struick, Marselino Ferdinan, Yakob Sayuri and Pratama Arhan.

Gita said that the Garuda national team needed to be wary of all Japanese players. However, the East Asian team’s weak point is its goalkeeper who has conceded four goals.

To be able to score goals against opponents, Indonesia needs to increase attacks on the front line and not make mistakes by making wrong passes at the back. Apart from that, the Garuda team needs to make good attacks and crossings from the wings into the opponent’s area.

Asked about Indonesia’s chances in the round of 16, Gita assessed that the Garuda team might find it difficult to face Qatar or Australia in Groups A and B. This is because both of them often represent Asia in the World Cup and have high FIFA rankings.

“(Indonesia’s chances) may be difficult. Maybe what we have to do (is) defend as hard as possible and not make mistakes on the field,” he added.

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2024-01-22 14:30:00
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