Indonesian U-23 national team coach Gerald Vanenburg touched on the lack of playing time for his players at their respective clubs, after the Garuda Muda team was defeated by South Korea (Korsel) 0-1 in the final match of the 2026 U-23 Asian Cup Qualifiers at Gelora Delta Stadium in Sidoarjo, Tuesday.
"When they return to their clubs, they need playing time so they're ready for a tournament like this," Vanenburg said at a press conference after the match at Gelora Delta Stadium in Sidoarjo on Tuesday.
This defeat means that the Young Garuda failed to qualify for the U-23 Asian Cup finals for the second time after the 2024 edition in Qatar.
On the other hand, while the hosts' performance fell short of expectations, South Korea showed its mettle as the team that won the 2020 U-23 Asian Cup.
In their three qualifying matches, Lee Min-sung's team performed flawlessly, winning all three. They scored 13 goals and conceded none.
