Group competition, final different — Zaquan

KUALA LUMPUR: National squad captain Mohamad Zaquan Adha Abd Radzak warned that the defeat in Hanoi should not be used as a yardstick ahead of the AFF Suzuki 2018 first final match between Malaysia and Vietnam today.

Malaysia lost to Vietnam 0-2 in their third Group A match at My Dinh National Stadium despite dominating the game.

As such, Zaquan personally used the success in winning the gold medal in the 2009 Laos SEA Games defeating Vietnam 1-0, despite losing 1-3 at the group action, as the best example to be brought to tomorrow’s match.

“Overall, the final is a different game. The atmosphere is very different when compared to group competitions.

“I underwent this experience once during the Laos SEA Games. We lost 1-3 at the group stage but won when we met them in the final. What happened at the group stage we’ve learned and improved ... for the final this time it’s definitely going to be more different, “he told a pre-match media conference yesterday.

At the same time, Zaquan, who had scored four goals throughout the campaign, said the team’s preparation this time was more painstaking ahead of tomorrow’s meeting as Malaysia had failed to penetrate the Vietnamese goal.

He also hoped that the improving compatibility and harmony of the team outside the field could continue for the success of the national squad.

“For the final, a different preparation was made by the team because this is the moment awaited by every player ... not only the seniors like me but also the younger players.