Indonesia U-20 National Team Believed to Be Able to Contain Iran in the 2025 AFC U-20 Asian Cup: Play with Short Passes!

The Indonesia U-20 national team is set to begin its journey in Group C of the 2025 AFC U-20 Asian Cup in China. The team, known as Garuda Nusantara, will face the Iran U-20 national team. Indonesia U-20 will take on Iran U-20 in their first Group C match of the 2025 AFC U-20 Asian Cup at the Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Centre Stadium in Shenzhen on Thursday (February 13, 2025) night WIB.

Previously, Jens Raven and his teammates held their first training session in China on Monday (February 10, 2025) as part of their preparations to face Iran U-20. The Indonesia U-20 national team consists of 23 players for the 2025 AFC U-20 Asian Cup. In addition to Jens Raven, key players such as Dony Tri Pamungkas and Kadek Arel Priyatna will be the backbone of Garuda Nusantara.



The Indonesia U-20 national team is aiming to reach the semifinals of the 2025 AFC U-20 Asian Cup. By doing so, Garuda Nusantara would secure a spot in the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.

To achieve this, Indonesia U-20 must finish as one of the top two teams in Group C to advance to the quarterfinals of the 2025 AFC U-20 Asian Cup. They will then need to secure a victory in the quarterfinals to progress to the semifinals.

National football analyst Kesit Budi Handoyo stated that Indra Sjafri’s squad is entering this crucial tournament with confidence.

"In general, the preparations have been solid. Even if there are some shortcomings, they are not critical. The match against Iran is just around the corner, and it won't be easy. They are no pushovers—they have experience, a lot of young talents, and have been tested in major tournaments," he said on Nusantara TV’s YouTube channel.

"The most important thing is that the opportunity to win is there, and so is the chance to reach the semifinals. It’s not about doubting our strength, but rather recognizing this as a challenge. The first match is crucial and won’t be easy to get through," he added.



In addition to competing against Iran, the Indonesia U-20 national team will also face Yemen and defending champions Uzbekistan. Iran and Uzbekistan are clearly stronger on paper compared to Indonesia, while Yemen could be an opponent that Garuda Muda has a good chance of defeating.

Facing Iran, a team known for its fast-paced play and excellent physical fitness, presents a unique challenge for Welber Jardim and his teammates. According to Kesit Handoyo, utilizing short passing could be an effective strategy to counter Iran.

"This squad is indeed the best prepared for the AFC U-20 Asian Cup. Physically, Iran’s players are bigger and stronger, but in terms of height, Indonesia is not far behind. Players like Jens Raven, Muhammad Ragil, and Dony Tri Pamungkas can compete in terms of stature," he said.

"Avoiding direct physical duels with Iranian players and relying on short passing would be a much more effective approach, minimizing one-on-one battles," Kesit explained.

"As for Iran’s weaknesses, U-20 teams often struggle with consistency. Despite Iran’s potential, they are not necessarily better than Uzbekistan, for example. Sometimes they perform well, but at other times, they lack stability," he added.



The Indonesia U-20 national team has the potential to surprise a team as strong as Iran U-20. Indra Sjafri has a chance to leave the opponents questioning the hidden strengths of Dony Tri Pamungkas and his teammates.

Even Argentina U-20 once suffered a defeat against Indonesia U-20 in a tournament held in South Korea last year.

"The opponents will surely be evaluating how strong Indonesia is, especially after frequently changing tactics in the recent mini-tournament. Perhaps Indra Sjafri will spring a surprise in terms of formation and playing style when facing Iran," said Kesit Budi Handoyo.

"On Iran’s side, they remain a strong team. If Indonesia manages to hold them to a draw, that would already be a good result. However, if Iran underestimates Indonesia, that could actually work in Indonesia’s favor," he emphasized.