Asian Cup: Indonesia in one group with Japan and Iraq, this is Erick Thohir’s comment

– PSSI Chairman, Erick Thohir, emphasized that Indonesia will fight until the final whistle in the Asian Cup preliminary round despite being in the same group as two former champions, Japan and Iraq.

Based on the results of the draw held in Doha, Qatar, Thursday (11/5/2023), Team Garuda is in Group D with Iran, Japan and fellow ASEAN countries, Vietnam.

Japan has won the Asian Cup four times, namely in 1992, 2000, 2004 and 2011. Meanwhile, Iraq has won it once, namely in 2007. Indonesia’s matches against Vietnam have always been tough.

Erick Thohir was directly present in the draw for the Asian Cup group division together with national team coach Shin Tae-yong. Erick said the national team would struggle with the power squad to compete in Group D.

According to Erick, all opponents are a formidable team. Moreover, Indonesia will face Japan, which is a four-time Asian Cup champion who at the 2022 World Cup successfully beat Germany and Spain.

Despite facing tough opponents, Indonesia is not afraid and is ready to go all out. “We already know that Japan’s quality is at the world’s elite level, as well as Iraq and Vietnam. All of them are tough teams. But anything can happen in 90 minutes and everything starts with a score of 0-0. We are ready, even though the challenge is not easy,” said Erick after the Asian Cup draw at the Katara Opera House, Doha, on Thursday (11/5/2023).

According to Erick, all Indonesian National Team personnel are combat ready. Even though they entered pot 4 which is a cluster of non-featured countries, the national team was not at all afraid.

The Indonesian national team, said Erick, continues to show positive developments. According to him, this is clearly a challenge as well as an opportunity for the Garuda troops to further raise the level of the national team’s game.

“Group D is special because it is home to Indonesia’s rivals in Southeast Asia, Vietnam, whose performance in Asia is very good. All opponents are tough, but our team also has the quality to make surprises,” said Erick.

Erick is optimistic that the team under Shin Tae Yong will have the opportunity to compete. “This is our fifth participation in the Asian Cup and we have been absent since 2007 and have only just been able to return to the Asian Cup. We must take advantage of this opportunity by fighting until the final whistle,” said Erick.

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