Qatar
Asia’s three Olympic representatives are decided after the Under-23 Asian Cup in Qatar
Review
For the second successive time Uzbekistan lost out in the final of the Under-23 Asian Cup in May, with Japan winning 1-0 in Qatar and taking the crown from Saudi Arabia. It was harsh on the Central Asians who had the better of a hard-fought match, but a fine 91st-minute strike from Fuki Yamada, stroking home from outside the box after a delightful backheel from Ryotaro Araki, settled the game.
That wasn’t the last of the action though, as there was still time for an Uzbekistan penalty. The effort from Umarali Rakhmonaliev wasn’t a bad one, but Benfica goalkeeper Leo Kokubo guessed right and pushed the ball out for a corner and that was that.
There was considerable consolation for the defeated White Wolves: a first appearance at the Olympics. The top three from this continental tournament were all granted automatic spots in Paris. Uzbekistan had never made that stage before, but sealed their 2024 place by beating Indonesia in the semis.
They had won the Under-23 Asian Cup in 2018, not an Olympic year (and the same happened in 2022 when they finished second), and then took fourth in 2020, losing to Australia in the third-place play off for a place in Tokyo. This time, going to Paris was the main target and Uzbekistan were focused on it from the off, scoring 14 goals without reply in the five games to the final.
Once there, they just could not make the breakthrough when it counted. Japan, without really being exciting or dominant, were just a little too smart and solid. Despite a loss to South Korea in the group stage, Samurai Blue got past hosts Qatar in the quarters after extra-time and saw off Iraq in the semis before taking the title for a second time. Go Oiwa’s team were tidy and solid but did not quite reach the heights of past Japanese teams. Despite that, they remained composed even when under pressure and that proved to be the difference.
The real story, however, was all about the team that finished fourth. Indonesia had never appeared at the tournament before, but arrived in Qatar with many of the same young players that helped the senior side reach the knockout stage of the Asian Cup for the first time ever in January. They also added naturalised talents from Europe who have Indonesian heritage such as Dutch-born duo Ivar Jenner and Rafael Struick.
After an opening game loss to hosts Qatar, Team Garuda sensationally beat Australia in the second match and then saw off Jordan to earn a quarter-final against South Korea. Indonesia were led by Shin Tae-yong, in charge of the Koreans at the 2018 World Cup, and expected to lose; after al
