Suara.com – The 0-2 defeat to Iraq suffered by the U-20 Indonesian national team in the first match of Group A of the U-20 Asian Cup on Wednesday (1/3/2023) will not make his team despair, emphasized coach Shin Tae-young.
Garuda Muda was able to balance Iraq’s game in the first half, where a number of players such as Hokky Caraka and Ronaldo Kwateh had several good opportunities. Indonesia even had a superior number of players because the Iraqi players received a red card, but they had to admit the superiority of the opposing team.
“In a tournament like this, the first match is very important, so of course the following matches will be very difficult. But we won’t give up, we came here to win matches, not just participate,” coach Shin told a press conference after the match. at Lokomotiv Stadium, Tashkent, Wednesday.
Indonesia U-20 national team coach Shin Tae Yong (left) answers reporters’ questions at a press conference after the U-20 Asian Cup Group A match against Iraq, which was played at Lokomotiv Stadium, Tashkent, Wednesday (1/3/2023). (ANTARA/RAUF ADIPATI)
“Of course it will be very difficult for the second game. But I have to bring a good atmosphere to the team. I will not bring a bad atmosphere to the team,” he added.
Coach Shin also doesn’t want to blame the cold temperature of the match, as the cause of his team’s defeat.
“And as for the problem of cold weather, it is different from the weather in Indonesia. If you say we lost because the weather was cold, that would only be an excuse. So in my opinion the problem is a lack of concentration,” added the man from South Korea.
The U-20 Indonesian national team is currently in the last position in Group A with zero points, the same as the Syrian team who also lost 0-2 to Uzbekistan in their first match. The top two positions are occupied by Iraq and host Uzbekistan.
Indonesian U-20 national team player Hugo Samir (third right) fights for the ball with Iraq U-20 national team player Sajjad Mohammed (second right) in qualifying for the U-20 Asian Cup Group A at Lokomotiv Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Wednesday (1/3/ 2023). The Indonesian U-20 national team lost 0-2 to the Iraqi U-20 national team. BETWEEN PHOTOS/Sigid Kurniawan/foc.
Coach Shin’s boys only have three days to prepare themselves, before Saturday (4/3) they will play their second match in the group phase against Syria at the same venue.
Also Read: Losing 2-0 to Iraq, the U-20 Indonesian National Team has sunk to the bottom of the standings
Garuda Muda will complete the group phase by meeting Uzbekistan at the Istiqlol Stadium, Fergana, on Tuesday (7/3). (BETWEEN)
