Southeast Asian newspapers react when their team is in a difficult group at the U23 Asian Cup

According to the draw results of the U23 Asian Cup, U23 Indonesia is in the same group with host U23 Qatar, U23 Australia, U23 Jordan, while U23 Thailand is in the same group with U23 Saudi Arabia, U23 Iraq and U23 Tajikistan.

Phản ứng của báo Đông Nam Á khi đội nhà vào bảng đấu khó ở giải U23 châu Á - 1 — Indonesian press complained because the home team was in a difficult group (Photo: PSSI).

Witnessing the results of the draw for the U23 Asian qualifiers, the Indonesian and Thai press both reacted strongly when their team fell into a difficult group.

Bola Sport (Indonesia) even suspected that the draw results were fraudulent. The newspaper wrote: "The whole of Asia was focused on the draw ceremony but for some reason, the live TV signal suddenly went dead, including on the homepage of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

That makes fans have the right to doubt the fraudulent results. U23 Indonesia has fallen into a difficult group. Besides the host U23 Qatar, the opponents U23 Australia and U23 Jordan are both very strong.

Kompas (Indonesia) also admitted that the home team fell into a difficult group: "U23 Indonesia will have to face U23 Qatar, U23 Australia, U23 Jordan. These are not easy opponents for U23 Indonesia in their first time participating in the U23 Asian tournament.

Qatar U23 has participated in the tournament 5 times. Their best achievement was winning 3rd place at the 2018 AFC U23 Championship. That is also the achievement that Jordan U23 and Australia U23 have achieved in the past. President of the Indonesian Football Federation, Erick Thohir admitted that this is a difficult group for Indonesia but he called on the whole team to show their mettle."

Phản ứng của báo Đông Nam Á khi đội nhà vào bảng đấu khó ở giải U23 châu Á - 2 — Like Sohu (China), Bola Sport suspects that there is a problem with the draw results at the U23 Asian tournament.

Even the Suara newspaper emphasized: "U23 Indonesia has fallen into a hellish group". The reason is because the opponents U23 Qatar, U23 Australia, U23 Jordan are all superior to the team from the archipelago.

Commenting on the group stage of Thailand U23, the press in the Golden Temple also expressed caution. Thairath newspaper admitted that the home team fell into a "quite difficult" group. However, they also affirmed the decision of the Thai people: "Thailand U23 needs to prepare well for the U23 Asian tournament. The team's goal is to win a ticket to the 2024 Olympics".

The newspaper quoted Thailand U23 head coach Issara Sritaro: "We know the draw is not easy for Thailand U23, but I also feel lucky not to be in the same group with Japan U23 or Korea U23.

Thailand U23 once faced Saudi Arabia U23 in the Doha Cup. We will try to study more about this opponent. Meanwhile, the "War Elephants" have never faced Iraq U23 and Tajikistan U23. Anyway, I will try to find videos of these teams to analyze them as thoroughly as possible."

Phản ứng của báo Đông Nam Á khi đội nhà vào bảng đấu khó ở giải U23 châu Á - 3

CNN Indonesia said that only U23 Malaysia and U23 Vietnam were happy after the draw because they avoided many strong opponents in the U23 Asia group stage. That made the two teams optimistic about their chances of advancing.

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