Kuala Lumpur: Vietnam head coach Kim Sang Sik is experiencing difficulty in analyzing Harimau Malaya’s gameplay ahead of their critical second Group F match in the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil. The match is set to take place tomorrow night.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the South Korean coach attributes this challenge to the complex composition of head coach Peter Chlamovski’s Malaysian squad, which comprises local, naturalised, and heritage players. Kim Sang Sik acknowledged the challenge at a pre-match press conference, stating, “I think it will be a difficult match. From what I know, Malaysia have 18 players in the squad and there are five new faces for the game against Vietnam. It’s true, we are having a hard time evaluating their players, there is not much information for us, but we are preparing well. We aim to be ready and put up a strong performance tomorrow.”
The Vietnamese coach specifically noted the inclusion of five new heritage players in the Harimau Malaya squad. These players are forwards Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, and Joao Figueiredo, as well as defenders Jon Irazabal and Facundo Garces. Their addition completes the roster of seven heritage players in the Malaysian national team this year, following the earlier inclusion of midfielder Hector Hevel and defender Gabriel Palmero.
Vietnam’s team captain, Do Duy Manh, also expressed his views on the upcoming match, emphasizing the challenge posed by the Malaysian squad’s new composition. Despite Vietnam’s favorable head-to-head record against Harimau Malaya, Duy Manh remains cautious about the potential impact of these heritage players. He remarked, “There are many foreign players. They are very good players. Tomorrow’s match will not be easy for us, but we have our goals and determination. This match won’t be like 2018. Malaysia have a new coach and a new squad.”
Duy Manh was referencing the 2018 ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Cup final, where Vietnam triumphed over Malaysia with a 3-2 aggregate victory. Both Vietnam and Malaysia currently share the top spot in Group F, each having secured three points after winning their opening matches.
Historically, Malaysia last claimed victory against Vietnam in the 2014 AFF Cup semi-finals in Hanoi with a 4-2 win. Since that match, Malaysia has faced seven defeats and one draw against the Golden Star Warriors in various competitions. Duy Manh emphasized the importance of tomorrow’s match, stating, “This will be the most important match, (and) could be the most difficult match to advance to the 2027 Asian Cup. We will do our best to win tomorrow’s match. If we can play to our strengths, like playing as a team and attacking as a unit, we can get the points.”