Under Spanish Coach Luis Milla, the Indonesian U-23 team has never so far recorded a victory over squads from the West Asian or Middle East regions.
In November 2017, the Indonesian team had to surrender to the U-23 team from Syria with a score of 2-3 in a tryout competition.
The Indonesian national team was again defeated by its rivals from Bahrain with a sore of 0-1 during the PSSI Anniversary Cup 2018. And more recently, the Indonesian national players were outclassed by the Palestinians with a defeat of 1-2 in Group A of the Asian Games 2018.
These teams become a kind of scourge for Indonesia, especially because the senior Indonesian national team almost never wins if they meet representatives of West Asian countries.
And, in round of 16 bout of the men`s soccer match of the 2018 Asian Games today, Friday, Aug 24, the Indonesian U-23 national team has to face opponents from West Asia, this time the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
In the match to be held at the Patriot Chandrabaga Stadium, Bekasi, West Java, at 16:00 local time, the UAE remains to be favored because its players have a higher posture than Indonesian players.
Indonesian U-23 Team has anticipated this. "In training we have anticipated the advantages of the UAE. They are a good team and have players with high posture," said the assistant coach of Indonesia`s U-23 national team, Bima Sakti.
The UAE has the advantage of playing with high overhead ball pass.
Therefore, Indonesia will be as much as possible to intercept the movement of the UAE from the wings which has the potential to endanger the Indonesian defense.
Indeed, the UAE U-23 national team is not a very good team at the 2018 Asian Games. Of the three matches in Group C, they recorded two defeats, namely from Syria and China, and one victory from Timor Leste.
It suffered goals in three games and made five goals. UAE itself is ranked third in Group C standings and qualifies for the final of the 2018 Asian Games through the regulation of U-23 players.
The UAE`s record is worse than Indonesia, hich in four games in Group A, they came out of the group winners, they were only once defeated, namely from Palestine and the rest they won the victory. Indonesia also made 11 goals and only conceded three goals.
Looking at these conditions, Indonesia should not be afraid of the UAE. Indonesia has the advantage of fast players like Febri Hariyadi and Irfan Jaya. It has the technical abilities of several individuals, like Stefano Lilipaly, who are better than the UAE.
However, there is onething that must be considered by Luis Milla in the bout with UAE namely the tactics and strategies to be applied by UEA coach.
Reporting by Michael Siahaan
Editing by Andi Abdussalam
Reporter: Antara
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
