Indonesian newspaper cautious after U22 Indonesia's defeat

The 0-1 defeat against U22 Philippines in the group stage of men's football at the 33rd SEA Games on the evening of December 8 put U22 Indonesia at a disadvantage.

U22 Indonesia unexpectedly lost 0-1 to U22 Philippines.

That same evening, the sports site Tirto updated the results with a neutral tone. The article emphasized the 0-1 score and the risk of early elimination for U22 Indonesia. Bola and DetikSport also used a similar approach. The headlines considered this a surprising result, but did not go into depth to assign responsibility to individuals or the coaching staff.

The focus of the post-match articles was the group stage. Indonesian media emphasized that U22 Indonesia had forced itself into a position where it had to win the final match if it wanted to have any hope of advancing. The safety margin was gone, and the right to self-determination was significantly reduced.

In terms of expertise, the newspapers described the game in the same direction. U22 Indonesia controlled the ball more, but lacked efficiency in finishing. U22 Philippines was highly appreciated for its ability to organize defense and take advantage of a counterattack in the second half to score the decisive goal. The match's developments were reflected concisely, restrained, without getting bogged down in tactical analysis.

Notably, after this defeat, there was no wave of fierce criticism in the Indonesian press, which is often seen after major missteps. Instead, the newspapers chose to keep the news steady, waiting for the team's reaction in the next match.

Before the tournament, U22 Indonesia was considered one of the most competitive teams. Therefore, the defeat against U22 Philippines was not only a slip in points, but also created great psychological pressure. The Indonesian press is temporarily "lowering its voice", but the real pressure will be on the upcoming decisive match.

Source: https://znews.vn/bao-indonesia-de-dat-sau-that-bai-cua-u22-indonesia-post1609586.html