Not Just Luck: Analyst Says Indonesia U-17's World Cup Berth Built on Strong Team Foundation

1 week ago 7

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian football analyst Mohamad Kusnaeni believes that the Indonesian U-17 national team’s qualification for the 2025 U-17 World Cup is the result of a well-executed team-building process.

According to him, the team was built through rigorous selection process and thorough preparation.

"This includes undergoing several trial matches against various opponents," he said in Jakarta on Tuesday, April 8, 2025.

Kusnaeni emphasized that coach Nova Arianto and his coaching team consistently implemented focused training sessions to build a cohesive squad.

"The results were evident in the Asian Cup. They appeared solid, disciplined, and confident in facing fairly strong opponents," he said.

Reflecting on the team's victory over South Korea, Kusnaeni said the success wasn’t solely due to luck. He also highlighted the convincing 4-1 win over Yemen as a demonstration of the players’ quality.

"The Indonesian U-17 team is sometimes still nervous and less precise in utilizing opportunities. But they played with great determination, tenacity, and never give up," he said.

He further added that Nova Arianto and his staff deserve recognition for crafting a mature and well-thought-out game strategy.

"Playing pragmatically against South Korea, but appearing more daring and open when facing Yemen, whose quality is slightly below," said Bung Kus, as Kusnaeni is affectionately known.

Kusnaeni believes that Nova Arianto's decision to adapt the strategy according to the opponents' quality was the right decision. According to him, the national team doesn't need to showcase beautiful play but should rather focus on winning.

"Finish the battle in the Asian Cup. After that, there are many things to be addressed before heading to the U-17 World Cup in Qatar," he said.

The Indonesian U-17 national team has secured a spot in the quarter-finals as the champions of Group C, thanks to two consecutive victories over South Korea, 1-0 last Friday and Yemen 4-1 on Monday night, April 7, 2025.

In the last match of the group stage, the Garuda Muda squad will meet Afghanistan on Thursday, April 10, 2025, at 20:15 local time or Friday, at 00:15 WIB. This match will also be held at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, just like the two previous matches.

Editor's Choice: Indonesia Secures Ticket to 2025 U-17 World Cup After 4-1 Triumph Over Yemen

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