Indonesia's squad is broken, Vietnam's chances at AFF Cup soar

(Dan Tri) - Indonesia will likely not have all three naturalized players in the match against the Vietnamese team in the group stage of the AFF Cup 2024. The chance for coach Kim Sang Sik's team to enter the semi-finals has increased dramatically.

According to the original plan, the Indonesian team will call up a squad consisting mostly of players in the U22 age group, including three naturalized players: Justin Hubner, Ivar Jenner and Rafael Struick. However, it is highly likely that the team from the archipelago will not have all three of these players when they meet the Vietnamese team.

Justin Hubner and Ivar Jenner were not allowed by their clubs to participate in the AFF Cup 2024 (Photo: Bola).

Sharing with the media, Head of the Indonesian football delegation, Sumardji, admitted that because the AFF Cup 2024 is not part of the FIFA competition system, the clubs managing the three players above did not release them.

It is worth mentioning that Justin Hubner and Ivar Jenner are only youth players of Wolves (England) and Utrecht (Netherlands), but the two clubs mentioned above did not accept them to return to play for the Indonesian national team. Meanwhile, Rafael Struick was not allowed to play in the group stage by Brisbane Roar (Australia). The possibility of this striker participating in the semi-finals is also open.

"On November 28, we contacted the clubs of the three players above, but it is highly likely that they will not release them," Mr. Sumardji said.

Not only missing three naturalized players, Indonesia also received other bad news when midfielder Tito Wiratama (Bali United) and defender Dzaki Asraf (PSM Makassar) were both forced to leave the AFF Cup 2024 due to injury.

Head of delegation Sumardji confirmed that coach Shin Tae Yong will not call up additional players because the Indonesian team's training list still has 31 people.

Rafael Struick cannot participate in the match against the Vietnamese team (Photo: Getty).

Sending only the U22 team, plus the absence of the above 5 players, has caused the Indonesian team to face real difficulties. Although coach Shin Tae Yong still boldly set the goal of winning the AFF Cup 2024, it is clear that his ambition has been greatly affected.

The Vietnamese team's chances of reaching the semi-finals of the AFF Cup 2024 have also increased dramatically as their main opponent, Indonesia, is in trouble. In the upcoming tournament, coach Kim Sang Sik's team will be in the same group with Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Laos. The team will play their opening match against Laos on December 9.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/indonesia-tan-nat-doi-hinh-co-hoi-cua-tuyen-viet-nam-o-aff-cup-tang-vot-20241130155319580.htm