Indonesia U23's main striker Jens Raven is facing the risk of missing the final match of the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship against Vietnam U23 on July 29, due to exhaustion after the dramatic 120-minute semi-final match against Thailand U23. Although the tournament has a 4-day break after the two semi-finals, his ability to play is still uncertain.
According to the media in the archipelago, especially CNN Indonesia , Raven fell into a state of serious fatigue after scoring the equalizer in the 83rd minute and successfully taking the decisive penalty kick, helping Indonesia win a ticket to the final.
Head of the Indonesian U23 delegation, Mr. Ahmed Zaki, confirmed: "After the match, Jens Raven was almost exhausted. We do not know his current condition yet."
However, the medical team is currently actively supporting the Dutch-Indonesian striker to recover in time.
Jens Raven - Indonesia's main striker and top scorer in this year's tournament
Without Raven, who has scored 7 goals since the start of the tournament, U23 Indonesia will certainly lose their most dangerous striker. The Bali United striker not only possesses impressive speed, positioning and scoring instincts, but is also a great source of inspiration for the team's playing style.
Coach Gerald Vanenburg will have to recalculate his attack plan against U23 Vietnam, as the reign under coach Kim stands out with disciplined play and a solid defense.
List of top scorers before the final
Not stopping there, U23 Indonesia may also lose two more midfield pillars, Arkhan Fikri and Toni Firmansyah.
According to assistant coach Frank van Kempen, both have not been able to return to normal training after the semi-final: "I don't think they can play at the moment. However, we have three more days. Hopefully one of them will recover in time, especially Arkhan Fikri. The case of Toni Firmansyah is more difficult."
Arkhan Fikri and Toni Firmansyah are the "backbone" of the U23 Indonesia midfield thanks to their ability to control the rhythm and support the defense. Without both of them and "Top scorer" Jens Raven, coach Vanenburg will face many challenges, despite being flexible in adjusting the tactical scheme.
The final match against U23 Vietnam is not only a top-notch competition but also the biggest test of U23 Indonesia's mettle and fitness. The risk of losing three key players makes Garuda Muda's dream of winning the championship even more fragile.
Source: https://nld.com.vn/indonesia-lo-sot-vo-vi-mat-vua-pha-luoi-o-chung-ket-voi-u23-viet-nam-196250728113308593.htm
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