OVERCOME THE GREAT WALL
Malaysia must beat China in World League
MALAYSIA’S last opponents in Group A of the World League Semifinals are China, and coach Stephen van Huizen’s men can’t afford to lose to the 18th ranked team in the world.
It is most likely a do-or-die match for World No 14 Malaysia’s aspiration to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, as all the other teams are much more superior in ranking.
Malaysia will open accounts against World No 1 Argentina followed by hosts and World No 7 England, and then 12th ranked South Korea.
If Malaysia fail to collect any points in these three matches, they will have to knock down the Great Wall of China to qualify for the quarter-finals.
Only the top four teams in each group qualify for the knockout round, and finishing fifth will shut the World Cup door on van Huizen’s men.
China, after a 40-day playing and training stint in Europe under renowned consultant Kim Sang Ryul, have also marked Malaysia as their only hope for three points.
In Group B of the World League Semifinals (June 15-25) in London are the Netherlands, India, Pakistan, Scotland and Canada.
“China have been playing and training in Europe for over a month and their last match against us was very close.
“We need to win this match (in London) to play in the knockout round. And since it’s our last group match, we can’t afford to drop any point against them,” said van Huizen.
For the record, Malaysia and China last played in the World League Round Two in Dhaka, and the regulation time score was 2-2 before Malaysia won the gold 5-3 on penalty shootout.
The fear factor here is that China were leading 2-0 by the 22nd minute, and by then Malaysia had failed to score from 12 penalty corners and a penalty stroke as the team’s No 1 flicker, Razie Rahim was dismally off form.
However, a late fourth quarter charge saw a change in flickers with Shahril Saabah and Najmi Jazlan scoring two penalty corner goals to take the match to a shootout.
China have named the same 18 players who almost snatched the gold medal from Malaysia in Dhaka, with Du Talake the penalty corner dangerman leading the charge.
Talake scored 10 goals in Dhaka to finish second on the top-scorers list, while the closest Malaysian was Shahril on seven.
“That’s why we need to steal at least a point from the first two matches and then win against South Korea before facing China. Otherwise, we might face a big wall of resistance from China who have roped in master coach Kim to revive their fortunes,” said van Huizen.
Kim is recognised as the man who turned South Korea’s hockey fortunes around, and his players almost landed the Olympic gold medal in Sydney 2000 – but after gallantly holding the Netherlands 3-3 in regulation time, they lost the shootout 5-4.
And with Kim sitting on top of the Great Wall to watch over China, Malaysia need to play the best hockey of their lives on June 20 to claim the quarter-final slot in London.