One Indonesian World Cup Dream Failed

SHENZHEN, SUNDAY – The ambition of PSSI to qualify three men's teams for this year's World Cup is confirmed to have failed. The Indonesian U-20 team is confirmed to be unable to meet the target of reaching the semifinals of the 2025 U-20 Asian Cup, thus the "Young Garuda" has not been able to make their second appearance in the U-20 World Cup since 1979.

The squad coached by Indra Sjafri suffered a 1-3 defeat against Uzbekistan in the second game of Group C of the U-20 Asian Cup. In the match at the Shenzhen Youth Football Training Center Stadium, China, on Sunday night (16/2/2025) WIB, three Uzbek players, Mukhammadali Urinbaev (21’), Abdugafur Khaydarov (47’), and Saidnurullayev Saidurmarkhon (63’), dashed Indonesia's hopes of advancing to the quarter-finals.

Indonesia only scored a consolation goal through a strike by the central forward, Jens Raven, in the 23rd minute. It was Indonesia's first goal in the 2025 U-20 Asian Cup.

The result placed Indonesia in third position due to suffering two consecutive defeats. Indonesia only scored one goal and conceded six goals.

Indonesia is only better than Yemen, which also sits at the bottom of Group C. Similar to Indonesia, Yemen also suffered two defeats from Uzbekistan and Iran. Yemen's goal difference is worse than Indonesia's, recording -7 goals due to a 0-1 loss to Uzbekistan and a 0-6 thrashing by Iran.

Indonesia will only play a meaningless match against Yemen on Wednesday night (19/2/2025). A draw or a win will help Indonesia finish the 2025 U-20 Asian Cup in third place in Group C.

"We have tried our best. This result is very disappointing," said the left-back and captain of the Indonesia U-20 team, Dony Tri Pamungkas, to the AFC media team after the match.

With the results in the 2025 U-20 Asian Cup, the hope of the national anthem "Indonesia Raya" being played at official FIFA events, the world football authority, is only left at the 2025 U-17 Asian Cup and the 2026 World Cup. The condition is that the Indonesian U-17 team must be able to penetrate the quarter-finals of the 2025 U-17 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, next April, to appear in the 2025 Qatar U-17 Asian Cup.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian national team has four crucial games in the third round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Patrick Kluivert's squad still has hopes of qualifying directly for the 2026 World Cup, if they can finish in second place in Group C.

Performance in the 2025 U-20 Asian Cup made Indra repeat his team's journey in the 2014 Myanmar U-20 Asian Cup. Together with Evan Dimas and friends, Indra failed to bring Garuda Muda through the preliminary round. The Garuda Muda squad a decade ago failed to bring home points from the group phase.

Indra almost brought Indonesia to the 2018 U-20 World Cup because he was able to reach the quarter-finals of the 2018 Indonesian U-20 Asian Cup. Indonesia's ambition to reach the semifinals to win one of Asia's representative tickets to the 2018 U-20 World Cup was thwarted by Japan.

Indra tried to strengthen his team's attack by making three changes in the midfield sector. Evandra Florasta and Marselinus Ama Ola were played from the start. Then, Dony Tri Pamungkas played a more attacking role because the left wing-back position was filled by Fava Sheva.

At the beginning of the match, Uzbekistan's attacks towards both wings became an obstacle for the Garuda Muda squad. Uzbekistan had already scored a goal through a header from winger Muhammadali Urinbaev in the 21st minute.

Saidurmarkhon also managed to exploit Indonesia's weakness in the air to score the third goal for the team nicknamed "White Wolves". The player from Pakhtakor was not disturbed much before meeting Urinbaev's corner cross.

Uzbekistan's two-goal process showed Indonesia's defensive problems that Indra and his coaching staff failed to fix. Indonesia's quartet of defenders, namely Alfarezzi Buffon, Kadek Arel, Iqbal Gwijangge, and Sheva, failed to win an aerial duel with Urinbaev.

In the first game against Iran, Indonesia conceded three goals starting from a cross-pass scheme from the side of the field. The Garuda Muda defenders were in a bad position and made a mistake in deciding the momentum for an aerial duel, thus failing to anticipate Iran's goal.

As if they knew Indonesia's weakness, Uzbekistan continued to dominate by releasing crosses for 90 minutes. Indonesia was lucky not to concede more goals than Uzbekistan. Because, Uzbekistan's shooting accuracy was very bad. The White Wolves squad only produced three shots on target.

Uzbekistan opened the second half well thanks to a goal from attacking midfielder Abdugafur Khaydarov in the 47th minute. He was left unmarked before firing home from a backheel pass by teammate Daler Tukhsanov, fooling two Indonesian defenders, Kadek and Buffon.

"We are grateful that we were able to meet the target of winning the first two games to advance to the next round. We will try to maintain the positive result in the next game (against Iran)," Khaydarov told AFC.

Meanwhile, Indonesia had a quick response through Raven's goal. Evandra's acceleration opened up Uzbekistan's defense, then Ama Ola provided an accurate through ball for Raven. It was Raven's first shot on target in China.

Garuda Muda's double substitution by bringing in two fresh wingers, namely Arlyansyah Abdulmanan and Mufli Hidayat, was able to revive Indonesia's attack from both wings. Evandra managed to produce a shot that made Uzbekistan goalkeeper, Mukhamadyusuf Sobirov, make the only save in the second half in the 57th minute.