Tigers must rise
Malaysia must overcome poor form and record to beat Singapore
SERI KEMBANGAN: The national team are anything but at their best and it will take a brave man to say they can easily defeat neighbours Singapore in their opening match at the National Stadium tonight.
Poor results and mediocre performances have tainted the team’s image and many predict they will have a tough time in the tournament.
So much so, the team management and coach Datuk K. Rajagopal are hoping that the 12th man, the vociferous Malaysian fans, will be the team’s extra spur and get off to a good start in their title defence.
In reality though, Malaysia have a tough task tonight and to hope for fan support to see their team through is hardly reassuring for the side that has been preparing for this tournament for almost a year.
On top of that, their recent record against Singapore is nothing to shout about.
Malaysia have only beaten Singapore once
We have played Singapore so often that we know each other’s game well and it has always been a close affair. And I don’t expect anything different now.
—K. RAJAGOPAL
in their last 12 meetings. And that victory was a hollow one.
Malaysia defeated Singapore 2-0 in a friendly at home in June but that was against a second-string Lions. Nothing really the national team want to boast about.
What would be great though is seeing Malaysia beat the best of Singapore and that too, in the Asean’s premier tournament.
That will erase that terrible defeat to Singapore in the 2014 World Cup qualifying round last year. Malaysia lost the first leg 5-3 away and drew the return match 1-1 at home.
Winning tonight will certainly ease that painful memory for the players and their long suffering fans.
Malaysia will not be short on experience as Rajagopal has retained 11 players from the 2010 squad.
He has also brought in youngsters like midfielder Gary Steven Robbat (pic), winger Wan Zack Haikal Wan Nor, striker Ahmad Hazwan Bakri and defender Mohd Zubir Azmi to add steel to his side.
Despite the current poor run, Rajagopal maintains that his players are all fired up.
“We have prepared well,” said Rajagopal during the pre-match press conference yesterday.
“We have played Singapore so often that we know each other’s game well and it has always been a close affair. I don’t expect anything different now.”
Singapore, who defeated Pakistan 4-0 in a friendly on Monday, have retained most of the players from the World Cup squad.
They have added 12 players from the Lions XII team including the talismanic skipper Shahril Ishak.
For the record, Lions XII finished runners-up in the M-League this year.
The chink in the Lions’ armour would be their aging defence who have only listed five players - Daniel Bennett, Baihakki Khaizan, Shaiful Esah, Irwan Shah and Safuwan Baharuddin.
Lions’ coach Radojko Avramovic is not taking any chances against Malaysia.
“Even if our record against Malaysia is much better, it will be a different game when we meet them tomorrow,” the coach said.
“For us to win the game, we must convert all our chances.”
The Serbian coach is confident of a better outing this year.
In 2010, they did not get past the group stage.
“I think we can go all they way to the final this time. As for Malaysia, they may be under pressure because they are playing at home and must defend their title,” added Avramovic.