In the 2024 Paris Olympic Games Qualifiers and the U-23 Asian Cup, the Indonesian team led by coach Shin Tae-ryong sank the "giant ship" South Korea team after a penalty shootout, and the former was only one step away from qualifying for the Paris Olympics. The local mainstream media wrote after the game: "(The Indonesian team) made the South Korean team's record of consecutive Olympic finals in the past go by." ”
South Korea's U-23 national football team missed out on the Paris Olympics
The Indonesian daily "Compass Daily" reported on the 26th (Beijing time) that "the Indonesian U-23 national team has broken the record of South Korea entering the Olympic finals." On the same day, the Indonesian U-23 national football team led by coach Shin Tae-ryong drew 2-2 with the South Korean team commanded by coach Hwang Sun-hong in 120 minutes in a quarter-finals match of the 2024 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Asian Cup at the Abdullah Benkalipa Stadium in Doha, Qatar, and won the final penalty shootout 11-10.
In the competition, which is also the final qualifier of the men's football team in Asia for the Paris Olympics, the top three teams will get a direct ticket to Paris, while the fourth-placed team will decide whether to qualify through the intercontinental play-offs.
Coach Hwang Sun-hong, who was sent off in the match between South Korea and Indonesia, is walking out of the field.
Since the 1988 Seoul Olympics, the South Korean Olympic team, which has been on the stage of the Olympic finals every time, failed to qualify for the top 8 matches on the same day, failing to achieve the goal of reaching the Olympic finals for 10 consecutive times. This is the first time in 40 years that Korean football has not appeared on the Olympic stage since the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
Instead, Indonesia made history by reaching the semi-finals at their first U-23 Asian Cup and are on track to reach the Olympics for the first time in 68 years since Melbourne 1956.
"This result is a huge shock to the South Korean U-23 national team, which has an overwhelming competitive ability at this age group," said the Compass newspaper. The media highlighted the South Korean team's defeat at the Olympics more than the possibility of their country making it to the Olympics. "[South Korea's] defeat means South Korea will not be able to compete in Paris, and Indonesia has shattered South Korea's dream of making it 10 consecutive Olympic finals since Seoul 1988."
The Indonesian team celebrates after scoring a goal
Another Indonesian daily newspaper, Indonesian Business Daily, reported a congratulatory message from the country's Minister of Youth and Sports, Dito Ariotezzo, who said happily, "I am proud of the Indonesian national team that defeated the South Korean team. This is the pride and happiness of all Indonesian nationals. There was a chance to participate in the Paris Olympics. ”
Another authoritative media outlet, the Antara News, reported that star Rafael Stravik, who scored multiple goals for Indonesia, highlighted "a victory as a team", saying, "This victory was made possible by the cooperation of the whole team, including the coaching staff such as Coach Shin Tai Long, and the support of all parties from Indonesia." ”