Golden generation The team and the country will need Shin’s touch more than ever

after th, whether or not the squad wins the coveted trip to the Paris Olympics. Editorial Board
(The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, April 27, 2024 Indonesian U-23 men's soccer player Pratama
Arhan Alif celebrates after scoring a goal during a penalty shootout of the 2024 AFC U-23
Asian Cup quarter final match between Indonesia and South Korean asin national soccer
team head coach Shin Tae-yong has paid dividends, with the South Korean guiding Young
Garuda to the semifinals of the U-23 Asian Cup, bringing the squad one step closer to a
historic appearance at the Olympic Games. Shin was the toast of the town after his lads, in an
ironic twist, ended his own national team’s dreams of making it to this summer’s Olympics in
Paris.
The match, which was held at Doha’s Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium on Thursday
evening, was decided in a dramatic penalty shootout after a pulsating 120 minutes of play
resulted in a 2-2 draw. Indonesian goalkeeper Ernando Ari Sutaryadi saved two penalty kicks
and made one of his own to contribute to a 11-10 win against pre-tournament favorite South
Korea. He was also responsible for a brilliant tip that denied Australia a point in Indonesia’s
1-0 upset win in their group match on April 18. Shin’s contract as the national team’s head
coach had been extended until 2027 even before the quarterfinal victory against South Korea.
It was the right decision at the right time, considering the squad’s convincing performance
during his tenure. The team and the country will need Shin’s touch more than ever after the
Asian Cup, whether or not the squad wins the coveted trip to the Paris Olympics. Blessed
with a big pool of talent, Indonesia has been longing for a ticket to the World Cup, and with
Shin at the helm, the dream may just come true in 2026. Fans have dubbed the current
national team the “golden generation” of Indonesian soccer, especially after they won the
country’s first Southeast Asian Games gold medal in the sport for more than three decades.
The squad lost to Qatar in the opening match of this year’s Asian Cup but fought
back, earning two consecutive wins to qualify for the quarterfinals for the first time as the
group runner-up to the host. Viewpoint Every Thursday Whether you're looking to broaden
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registering, you agree with The Jakarta Post's Privacy Policy SIGN UP Few would have
thought Indonesia capable of defeating South Korea, which had won all three prior group
matches. Indonesia has lost seven times to the South Koreans in U-23 encounters, including a
7-0 drubbing in a 2000 Olympics qualifying match. The upset win against Australia was the
turning point for Indonesia. The national team’s confidence grew further with another
shocking victory, 4-1 over feisty Jordan. And having reached the semifinals, the squad may
have what it takes to go all the way. They will take on either Uzbekistan or defending
champion Saudi Arabia in their semifinal match on Monday, where one ticket to the Paris
Olympics is up for grabs. If Indonesia loses, it can still qualify for the world’s biggest
sporting event if it can beat the other losing semifinalist in the playoff for third place. But not
even a defeat in that match will dash Indonesia’s hopes entirely, provided that it can
overcome Guinea in an Asian-African playoff later in May.
The last time an Indonesian soccer team competed in an Olympics was in 1956 in
Melbourne. After being automatically advanced through the first round, Indonesia lost to the
Soviet Union in the quarterfinals. After a long dormancy, Indonesia has slowly but surely
regained its reputation as a regional soccer power to reckon with after its strong showing in
Qatar over the past two weeks. Coach Shin’s contribution has been extraordinary in building
a strong team physically and mentally. Some players have drawn attention to their coach’s
discipline – the key, perhaps, to the team’s winning run in Qatar. He does not hesitate to
criticize his players in public for their lack of discipline, such as turning up late for a training
session. The team faces still greater challenges in its quest for soccer glory. It is our
responsibility to help our golden soccer generation grow as strong as it can be.