The Indonesian U-23 national team already has 22 players for the play-off round at the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, the team nicknamed Garuda Muda is still waiting for two names.
The two are Justin Hubner and Elkan Baggott. Until now, Cerezo Osaka and Ipswich Town have not released the two of them to the team nicknamed Young Garuda.
The Indonesian U-23 national team will face the Guinean U-23 national team for a ticket to the Paris Olympics at INF Clairefontaine, Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines, France, on Thursday (9/5/2024) evening WIB.
The Indonesian U-23 national team has been confirmed without Rizky Ridho to play against Guinea U-23. Because the Garuda Muda captain is still suspended for the red card he received at the 2024 U-23 Asian Cup.
Most recently, the U-23 Indonesian National Team had the arrival of Alfeandra Dewangga. The defender from PSIS Semarang arrived in Paris on Tuesday (7/5/2024) and is projected to replace Rizky Ridho.
Chairman of the National Team Agency (BTN), Sumardji, confirmed that the number of players for the Indonesia U-23 versus Guinea U-23 national team so far contains 22 names. “Yes, 22 players including Dewangga,” he told , Wednesday (8/5/2024).
Of the 22 Indonesian U-23 National Team players, 21 of them came from the U-23 Asian Cup. Garuda Muda did not make many changes by only calling Dewangga and Baggott.
Regarding Hubner and Baggott, there has been no significant development as to whether the two of them can join the U-23 Indonesian National Team or not. “There has been no good news from the two players’ clubs,” explained Sumardji.
Hubner is still being held by the Japanese team, Cerezo Osaka. Meanwhile, Baggott has not received the green light from next season’s Premier League promotion club, Elkan Baggott.
Previously, the Chairman of PSSI, Erick Thohir, had written to Cerezo Osaka asking for Hubner. Apart from that, he has also persuaded Ipswich Town to give up Baggott.
PSSI Executive Committee (Exco) member, Arya Sinulingga, has even been clear through open requests on social media by persuading Cerezo Osaka and Ipswich Town.
Baggott could actually join the Indonesian U-23 national team because his season had finished with Bristol Rovers and Ipswich Town. Meanwhile, Hubner is still defending Cerezo Osaka in the Japanese League.
22 Indonesian U-23 National Team players
Goalkeepers: Ernando Ari, Adi Satryo, Daffa Fasya
Defenders: Alfeandra Dewangga, Muhammad Ferrari, Komang Teguh, Nathan Tjoe-A-On, Rio Fahmi, Pratama Arhan, Bagas Kaffa
Midfielders: Ivar Jenner, Arkhan Fikri, Ikhsan Nul Zikrak, Rayhan Hannan, Marselino Ferdinan, Dony Tri Pamungkas, Jeam Kelly Sroyer, Witan Sulaeman, Fajar Fathur Rahman
Attackers: Rafael Struick, Ramadhan Sananta, Hokky Caraka
2024 Olympic Play-offs
Thursday, May 9, 2024
Guinea vs Indonesian U-23 National Team
Center National du Football de Clairefontaine stadium, Paris
Time: 20.00 WIB
Level: RCTI
Live Streaming: Vision+
Live Streaming Link: https://www.visionplus.id/webclient/#/page?mainPageId=1184
The Indonesian U-23 national team will clash with Guinea in the 2024 Olympic playoff match, Thursday (9/5/2024) evening WIB. The Garuda Muda team is determined to silence Guinea and win the final ticket to the Olympics.
The Indonesian U-23 national team failed to secure a ticket to qualify directly for the 2024 Olympics, after losing in the match for third place in the 2024 U-23 Asian Cup.
Meeting Iraq at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha, Thursday (3/5/2024) evening WIB, the Garuda Muda Team surrendered with a score of 1-2. In fact, Shin Tae-yong’s men managed to take the lead thanks to Ivar Jenner’s goal in the 19th minute.
As a result, the Indonesian U-23 National Team will face Guinea in the 2024 Paris Olympics playoff match. The duel between the two teams is scheduled to take place at the Center National du Football de Clairefontaine Stadium, Paris, Thursday (9/5/2024).
In order to achieve victory in this match, the coach of the Indonesian U-23 National Team, Shin Tae-yong, will field his best squad. So, what kind of formation will STY use in this duel?
The Indonesian U-23 National Team’s back line is threatened with holes in the clash against Guinea. Two mainstay defenders, Justin Hubner and Rizky Ridho, cannot be played in the match.
Currently, Justin Hubner is in Japan to defend his club, Cerezo Osaka. Meanwhile, Rizky Ridho received a two-match suspension due to the red card he received against Uzbekistan in the semifinals of the 2024 U-23 Asian Cup.
The Indonesian Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora), Dito Ariotedjo, and the Chairman of PSSI, Erick Thohir, asked the Japanese Government to encourage Cerezo Osaka to release Justin Hubner to the U-23 Indonesian National Team for the 2024 Olympic playoffs.
However, until now, there is still no answer from Cerezo to release Justin Hubner to the Garuda Muda Team.
This situation made coach Shin Tae-yong have to rack his brains to find ideal replacements for Rizky Ridho and Justin Hubner. To replace Rizky Ridho’s role, the South Korean coach called Alfeandra Dewangga.
Alfeandra Dewangga arrived in Paris on Tuesday (7/5) morning local time after taking a flight from Semarang, Monday (6/5) afternoon WIB, to Jakarta and transiting in Singapore.
Meanwhile, the role of Justin Hubner will be entrusted to Komang Teguh. So, are there any surprises for the post in the back line?
There is widespread news that Shin Tae-yong will try to summon Elkan Baggott. Elkan’s chance to defend the U-23 Indonesian National Team is quite big, because the player has finished this season.
After being loaned to Bristol Rovers for half a season, this 21 year old player has been returned to Ipswich Town.
Ipswich Town’s journey this season is also complete. The team nicknamed The Tractor Boys has just sealed their promotion ticket to the Premier League for next season.
“We are trying to attract Elkan Baggott. Because, at Bristol Rovers, he is no longer playing. Ipswich Town have also moved up to the Premier League,” said PSSI Chairman, Erick Thohir, some time ago.
Ivar Jenner and Nathan Tjoe-A-On are irreplaceable as double pivots in the U-23 Indonesian National Team. Pratama Arhan has also locked the left wingback post. Doubts are focused on the right wingback.
The Indonesian U-23 national team does not have a permanent player in that position. Rio Fahmi, Fajar Fathur Rahman, and Jeam Kelly Sroyer were tried out in turns at the 2024 U-23 Asian Cup. However, the first lady has better defensive attributes and is suitable to be used against Guinea.
The trident of Witan Sulaeman-Rafael Struick-Marselino Ferdinan will again be the focus of the U-23 Indonesian National Team on the front lines. The three of them often play fluidly and flexibly to fill each other’s positions.
Especially for Marselino Ferdinan, he was able to answer criticism and insults from netizens by becoming a team player against Guinea U-23. You don’t need to control the ball a lot, the important thing is that the 19 year old player has to be right in making decisions.
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