Malaysia no longer pushovers, says pundit Richard Scully ahead of CAFA Nations Cup clash with Iran
He said any opponent would be wise not to underestimate them, as he believes the national squad has undergone a major transformation and is now in the right shape to take on stronger sides.
He said Malaysia's recent resurgence has not gone unnoticed, with opponents beginning to take notice, a clear sign that the team is no longer being seen as underdogs.
'It's too early to predict anything, but what's clear is that teams are starting to pay close attention to Malaysia. The Malaysia of old is not the same as the Malaysia of today.
'Now, any team facing us will be on alert. I don't expect there to be big scorelines from either side,' he told Bernama.
Scully has urged the Harimau Malaya to step onto the pitch without being weighed down by world rankings, insisting that 'numbers are just numbers' and anything can happen once the whistle blows.
He stressed that while a win would be a welcome bonus, a loss should not be seen as a disaster, but rather a chance to identify and address weaknesses ahead of bigger battles to come.
Apart from facing heavyweights Iran, Malaysia (ranked 131st) will also take on hosts Tajikistan (104th) and Afghanistan (160th) in Group B of the CAFA Nations Cup.
Malaysia will kick off their campaign against Tajikistan on Aug 29, followed by clashes with Iran on Sept 1 and Afghanistan on Sept 4. All matches will be played in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
After the tournament, Malaysia will resume their remaining Group F fixtures in the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers, starting with matches against Laos in Vientiane on Oct 9 and in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 14. They will then face Nepal in Kathmandu on Nov 18, before taking on Vietnam away in March next year.
Meanwhile, sports analyst Datuk Dr Pekan Ramli cautioned that three straight defeats in the group stage could shake fan confidence in the new-look Harimau Malaya, especially among those still unconvinced by the inclusion of heritage players.
'At the very least, we need to reach the semi-finals for fans to continue feeling proud of this Harimau Malaya side.
'If we suffer heavy losses or crash out early, expectations will dip and it'll give critics of the heritage player concept the opening they've been waiting for to lash out,' he said.
He also urged for the consistent inclusion of heritage players throughout the tournament, believing their presence is key to strengthening what he described as one of Malaysia's strongest squads in recent memory. — Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Vietnamese official questions Harimau Malaya's future if Tunku Ismail walks away
Harimau Malaya's "naturalisation project" may be roaring now, but what happens if its key player, Regent of Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, is no longer involved? This question was raised by former Asean Football Federation (AFF) vice president Duong Vu Lam, who voiced his concern over Malaysia's naturalisation drive and Indonesia's as well. "One day, Erick Thohir (Indonesia FA (PSSI) president) and Tunku Ismail will no longer be leading football in Indonesia and Malaysia. "What will happen to the national teams then?" said Duong in an interview with Vietnamese news outlet Dan Tri. "Naturalised players won't come anymore because there will be no one paying them, and local players won't have proper successors. What future will their football?" While fans debate in Malaysia over the rising number of foreign-born naturalised players, Duong's remarks point to a deeper issue — sustainability. He warned that Malaysia and Indonesia's heavy reliance on naturalised players is being propped up not by a robust national structure, but by individuals with deep pockets and global football connections. "The PSSI president is billionaire Thohir, the former president (and owner) of Inter Milan. "Meanwhile, the person supporting Malaysia's naturalisation policy is Tunku Ismail. "He is a prince and once negotiated to buy Valencia. Both of them have immense wealth and powerful connections in the football world." Duong said both leaders have the means to run specialised scouting operations and fast-track naturalisation through their networks. "They even have their scouting teams, groups of experts highly skilled in identifying players from all over the world," he said. "This enables them to find players suitable for Indonesia or Malaysia to naturalise. "At the same time, once they've identified suitable players, they can immediately meet the financial demands. "So the players agree to play for Indonesia or Malaysia." Duong also shared his thoughts on Vietnam's 4-0 loss to Malaysia in an Asian Cup qualifier last month. "They used many naturalised players, so their playing style makes it difficult to find cohesion in small coordination situations. "Moreover, most of Malaysia's naturalised players are currently not of very high level," he said in an interview with Duong added that the Malaysian team under former head coach Datuk K. Rajagobal (2010-2012) had a better balance and identity, relying less on physicality and more on spirit and structure. "I liked the Malaysian team from 2010 to 2012 more. The fighting spirit of the Malaysian players at that time was also higher than now," he said.
Barnama
2 hours ago
- Barnama
Ahmad Zahid Congratulates Malaysian Youths For Victory At Bali Barber Battle
KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has congratulated three young Malaysians who clinched first place at the Tuft & Gatsby International Barber Battle, held in conjunction with the Bali Barber Expo 2025 in Indonesia recently. Representing Malaysia, Muhamad Aiman Ms Saad, Muhammad Faikandar and Muhammad Nazzim Safian outshone competitors from 15 other countries to emerge as champions in the Tag Team Barber Battle category. Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Rural and Regional Development Minister, said the victory reflects the ability of Malaysian youths from rural areas to excel on the international stage through skill, style and self-confidence.
Barnama
3 hours ago
- Barnama
Seven Labuan Silat Exponents Selected For SUKMA 2026
LABUAN, July 7 (Bernama) -- Seven silat athletes from Labuan have been selected to represent the Federal Territories in the upcoming 2026 Malaysia Games (SUKMA 2026), following their outstanding performance at the recent Three-Corner Silat Championship SUKMA Selection for the Federal Territories. The championship held on July 4 and 5 at the Financial Park Convention Hall here, saw top silat exponents from the three federal territories - Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya, competing for national-level selection. National Silat Association (Pesaka) Labuan chapter president Mohd Khairul Abdul Ghani, said Labuan's athletes demonstrated remarkable skill and determination throughout the event.
