How strong is U23 Indonesia?

U23 Indonesia is a formidable opponent for U23 Vietnam in the final of the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship. But U23 Vietnam is still capable of overcoming its opponent if it takes advantage of its opponent's weaknesses.

U23 Indonesia is a formidable opponent for U23 Vietnam in the final of the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship - Photo: BOLA

U23 Indonesia has not lost any match at the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship. After 4 matches, U23 Indonesia has won 2 and drawn 2 (the victory over Thailand on penalties in the semi-finals is considered a draw). U23 Indonesia is the team with the strongest attack in the tournament, having scored 10 goals, and is also the team with the best defense, having only conceded 1 goal.

U23 Indonesia plays in control

Looking at past matches at the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship, it can be seen that U23 Indonesia is a team that plays in control, trying to approach the opponent's goal with the ability to coordinate in small, close groups.

Coach Gerald Vanenburg is very fond of the 4-3-3 formation, which was developed for attacking play. With this formation, U23 Indonesia has 3 midfielders in the middle of the field, helping them easily dominate the game and control the ball. Until the final match, U23 Indonesia was the team with an average ball possession time of up to 71%, the highest in the tournament.

Extremely powerful throw-ins into the penalty area are considered a powerful weapon of U23 Indonesia - Photo: ANH KHOA

U23 Indonesia has two extremely fast players, Rahmat Arjuna (left) and Rayhan Hannan (right). The penetration of the duo on the two flanks is an effective attacking plan for U23 Indonesia.

Inside, the home team has the explosive Jens Raven (Netherlands origin) who plays extremely comprehensively and has the ability to score goals. Raven currently has 7 goals in this year's tournament, and is currently the top scorer.

One of the most effective moves of U23 Indonesia is corner kicks. They will throw the ball straight into the penalty area, creating chaos and seizing the opportunity to score. In the past, U23 Vietnam has also let U23 Indonesia score many times in this way.

U23 Indonesia has many weaknesses

Although rated quite strong, U23 Indonesia still has many weaknesses that coach Kim Sang Sik and his team can exploit. Looking at past matches, U23 Indonesia shows instability, some matches they played quite well but then immediately played below their ability.

U23 Indonesia also revealed many weaknesses at the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship - Photo: ANH KHOA

Indonesia U23 had a lot of possession in the matches, but mainly passed the ball in their own half. Indonesian press said that the home team should increase the pressure by circulating the ball in the opponent's half.

However, another issue that worries fans is the inconsistent physical condition of U23 Indonesia. Many players suffered from cramps in the final stages of the match, showing that the team's physical preparation is having problems. Compared to U23 Vietnam, U23 Indonesia has played more matches in this year's tournament, and that puts them at a physical disadvantage against Vietnam.

Another factor is that the level between the main and reserve squads of U23 Indonesia is quite different. This makes them lack a plan B if the main players play below their ability. But in return, U23 Indonesia has a very strong fighting spirit, they may not be good enough to defeat their opponents but they are not easy to lose.

Obviously, if U23 Indonesia's weaknesses are exploited well, U23 Vietnam's chances of winning are not low. However, coach Kim Sang Sik's team needs to be very focused, especially in defense.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/u23-indonesia-manh-co-nao-20250728125853507.htm