Recently, coach Shin Tae-yong announced the list of Indonesian players preparing for the AFF Cup (new name is ASEAN Cup) 2024 with 33 players.
The list includes two players over 21 years old: defender Pratama Arhan (born in 2001) and Asnawi Mangkualam (born in 1999). The rest are mostly players born after 2003, the youngest being striker Arkhan Kaka (born in 2007).
According to Bola (Indonesia), coach Shin Tae-yong's squad only has a few key players in the club. Therefore, the media in this country is concerned that the team will not be able to achieve the goal of reaching the final of the AFF Cup 2024.
"Mr. Shin Tae-yong is still very optimistic even though the squad participating in the Southeast Asian championship is only at the U22 age group. The Korean coach once said that he would try his best to bring the Indonesian team to the AFF Cup final. However, looking at reality, perhaps that ambition is very difficult to realize," said Bola newspaper.
The leading Indonesian newspaper emphasized: "Coach Shin Tae-yong cannot use the best force in the upcoming tournament. Only 9 people are on the list for the third qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup but do not play regularly in official matches.
Some prominent faces are Ferdinan, Struick or Arhan... Among them, Struick is only allowed by his home club to return to the national team if he passes the group stage."
Closing the article, Bola commented: "Indonesian fans may have to wait longer to see the national team lift the first trophy at the AFF Cup 2024."
