TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian national football team qualified for the round of 16 of the 2023 Asian Cup as one of the four best third-place teams. The Garuda squad is in fourth place in the third-place team standings with three points -3 goals.

During the group phase, coach Shin Tae-yong's team recorded one win and two defeats. The only victory was achieved when they defeated Vietnam with a score of 1-0. Meanwhile, in the other two matches, Indonesia was defeated by Iraq and Japan with the same score of 1-3.

Here are four facts about the Indonesian National Team qualifying for the round of 16 of the 2023 Asian Cup:

1. First Time

The Indonesian national team created history by qualifying for the last 16 of the 2023 Asian Cup. This is the first time Indonesia has advanced to this knockout phase during its participation in the event.

The progress of the Merah Putih team in the previous four editions was always stuck in the group phase. In the 1996 and 2000 editions, Indonesia was ranked fourth. Then in the 2004 and 2007 editions, they finished third.

2. "The Help" of Kyrgyzstan

The success of the Indonesian national team in advancing to the round of 16 of the 2023 Asian Cup cannot be separated from the role of Kyrgyzstan in holding Oman to a draw in the final match of Group F on Thursday, January 25, 2024. The match which took place at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha, Qatar ended with a score of 1- 1.

Oman previously had the opportunity to shift the position of the Indonesian national team in the race for the best third-place slot. Al Ahmar's troops collected one point, while Indonesia had three points. A win over Kyrgyzstan would earn them four points. However, with a draw, Oman only collected two points.

3. Never Miss a Goal in the Group Phase

Qualifying for the round of 16 is not the only history created by the Indonesian national team. The Garuda Troop's performance in the 2023 Asian Cup was the best compared to the previous four editions.

For the first time, the Indonesian national team always scored goals during the group phase. A total of three goals were scored each by Marselino Ferdinan, Asnawi Mangkualam, and Sandy Walsh.

4. Facing Australia in the Last 16

Qualifying for the round of 16 will make the Indonesian national team's journey in the 2023 Asian Cup even more difficult. Next, Marselino Ferdinan and his teammates will meet Australia, who are the winners of Group B.

Socceroos dominated the encounter over the Merah Putih. Of the last 18 total duels, they won 14 times, while the Indonesian national team only recorded one win, and the remaining three ended in draws. Indonesia vs Australia national teams duel is scheduled to take place at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar on Sunday, January 28, 2024.

Randy Fauzi Febriansyah

Editor's Choice: Indonesia to Face Australia in Asian Cup Round of 16

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