Indonesia U-23 Overcome Fatigue First, Fight for the Paris Olympics Later

The playoff duel against Guinea will not be easy. Before thinking about rivals, Indonesia must recover from fatigue.

AFP/KARIM JAAFAR

Indonesian player Ivar Jenner (center/6) celebrates his goal against Iraq in the stands during the match for third place in the U-23 Asian Cup at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha, Thursday (2/5/2024). Indonesia will face Guinea in the inter-zone play-off match, in Clairefontaine, France, Thursday (9/5/2024) as the last chance to qualify for the Paris Olympics.

DOHA, FRIDAY — Indonesia U-23 coach Shin Tae-yong ensured that his team would try their best to prepare themselves as best as possible ahead of the inter-zone playoff of the Paris Olympic Qualification against Guinea, Thursday (9/5/2024). However, Shin wants to give his players time to recover after undergoing a busy match at the 2024 U-23 Asian Cup.

The "Garuda" squad played six matches, two of which lasted for 120 minutes, just within a span of 17 days. Shin admitted that his players were very exhausted in facing the heavy physical and mental challenges they encountered during the matches, up to the third-place playoff against Iraq on Thursday (2/5/2024), at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha, Qatar.

Players are very tired, they honestly experience burn out (acute fatigue).

Defeating 0-2 to Uzbekistan in the semifinals, then losing 1-2 to Iraq, in the battle for third place and direct tickets to 2024 Paris Olympics showed that the Indonesian players were experiencing acute fatigue. Indonesian players failed to maintain the intensity of their good game for 2 x 45 minutes.

Also read: Indonesia's fierce match against Iraq in the 2024 U-23 Asian Cup

In both matches, the "Garuda Muda" played well in the first half by applying disciplined tactics. However, after the break, physical limitations led to a decrease in the team's collective performance.

HUMAS PSSI

Indonesian player Jeam Kelly Sroyer dribbles the ball in Iraq's defense area during the third-place match of the U-23 Asia Cup at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on Thursday (2/5/2024).

This makes Shin very cautious in preparing for the battle to secure the remaining spot in the Paris Olympics against African representatives, Guinea. The South Korean tactician wants his team to be in the best physical and mental condition possible, so they can replicate their best performance in their matches against Australia, Jordan, and South Korea.

“The players are very tired. They honestly experience burn out (acute fatigue). In three days I will focus on recovering their condition. "I also forbade them from touching the ball," said Shin after the match against Iraq.

Also read: Falling from Iraq, Indonesia Knocks on the Final Door to the Paris Olympics

After being fully recovered, next week the "Garuda Muda" team is planned to depart to Paris, France, to begin preparations for the match against Guinea. The final ticket match for the Paris 2024 Olympics will take place at the National Training Center Clairefontaine owned by the French Football Federation (FFF). The distance between Clairefontaine and the city center of Paris is around 60 kilometers or almost an hour by land travel.

"Within the next three to four days, we will prepare tactics and analyze the opponent. So, I will fight as hard as possible to help the team secure the last ticket to the Olympics. I hope there will be four Asian teams competing in the Olympics," said Shin, who has experience leading South Korea's participation in the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics.

KOMPAS/ADRYAN YOGA PARAMADWYA

Residents watched the Indonesia vs Iraq match in the U-23 Asia Cup in front of a closed warung (small food stall) on Jalan Palmerah Barat, South Jakarta, Friday (3/5/2024).

PSSI General Chair Erick Thohir, who was only absent from watching Indonesia's match in the U-23 Asian Cup when they met Australia, provided moral support after the match. He said that Indonesia's achievement of reaching the semifinals in its debut participation in the U-23 Asian Cup was a result that made the entire Indonesian nation proud.

Therefore, according to Erick, Ivar Jenner and their friends, they must not be engulfed by their defeat. They must rise up to fight for a chance to secure a ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympics from France.

Also read: Iraq Draws Against Indonesia, 1-1, in First Half

"Our chance to compete in the Olympics is still open. We must fight as a team in the match against Guinea. This is our last opportunity that we must make the most of," said Erick in his official statement while accompanying the Indonesian squad in Qatar.

The second Asian-African duel

The meeting between Indonesia and Guinea is the second inter-zone playoff that brings together representatives from Asia and Africa. The first and last time this moment occurred was in the London 2012 Olympic Qualifications. At that time, Senegal won the final ticket to London 2012 after beating Asia's representative, Oman, 2-0, at Coventry Stadium, England.

If they can become the first Asian team to qualify through the playoffs to the Olympic finals, Indonesia will be included in Group A. In that group, Indonesia will meet the host team, France, then the United States and Zealand New.

Indonesia will open the men's soccer event by facing New Zealand on July 25, 2024, at 5:00 PM local time. The match will be held at the Nice Stadium. After the game, France will host the US at the Marseille Stadium.

Also read: Beware of the Revival of the Spirit of Iraqi Football

In the second match, Indonesia will face France, which is coached by their football legend, Thierry Henry. In the final match of Group A, Indonesia will face the USA.

Shin is not the only one who wants four Asian ambassadors for football in Paris 2024. Ali Jassim, the Iraqi striker who determined the victory of his Indonesian team, also hopes that Indonesia can catch up with the three other Asian teams that have confirmed to appear at the Paris Olympics.

HUMAS PSSI/NOUFAL IBRAHIM

Indonesian player Ivar Jenner dribbles the ball while being shadowed by Iraqi players in the match for third place in the U-23 Asian Cup at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha, Qatar, Thursday (2/5/2024). Indonesia will face Guinea in the inter-zone playoff match in Clairefontaine, France, Thursday (9/5/2024), as the last chance to qualify for the Paris Olympics.

Aside from Iraq, two finalists of the 2024 U-23 Asian Cup, namely Japan and Uzbekistan, have already secured their spots in the Olympics, this summer.

"I am happy to lead Iraq to qualify for the Olympics, but I am also very disappointed that Indonesia couldn't advance to the Olympics," said Jassim.

Also read: "Young Garuda", Never Again End in Regret

"I want four Asian teams to compete in the Olympics, so I hope Indonesia can put up a good match against Guinea. Hopefully they (Indonesia) can join us in Paris," said Jassim, who scored four goals in the 2024 U-23 Asia Cup.

If in Paris 2024, Indonesia becomes the fourth Asian ambassador, then it will be the second time that Asia is represented by four teams in the Olympics. This remarkable achievement, which is still the only one to date, was achieved at the 1948 London Olympics. The representatives of Asia at that time were South Korea, China, India, and Afghanistan.