Malaysia calls up players competing in V.League to face Vietnam

Midfielder Endrick Santos continues to be called up to the Malaysian national team ahead of the match against Vietnam, as the "Malayan Tigers" still maintain faith in their naturalized player squad.

The Malaysian national team continues to draw attention by summoning naturalized midfielder Endrick Santos for the March FIFA Days, preparing for the encounter with the Vietnamese national team in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

Endrick Santos is a familiar name to V.League fans as he currently plays for Ho Chi Minh City Police Club. This Brazilian-born midfielder has shown relatively stable form since the start of the 2025/26 season, with 9 appearances and 2 goals contributed. Possessing solid technical fundamentals, good contesting ability, and effective offensive support, he is considered one of the notable figures in the midfield of the "Malayan Tigers".

The continued opportunity given to Endrick Santos shows that coach Peter Cklamovski still maintains trust in the group of naturalized players, despite the major upheavals in recent times. Previously, Malaysian football faced a crisis when FIFA and AFC determined violations related to the documentation of naturalized players. The consequence was the suspension of 7 players, forcing the coaching staff to adjust the squad.

Nevertheless, Endrick Santos is not among the penalized group and continues to be seen as a key piece in Coach Cklamovski's plans. His inclusion helps Malaysia somewhat maintain squad quality amidst a depleted lineup.

However, the upcoming match against the Vietnamese national team no longer holds much competitive significance. According to AFC's ruling, Malaysia was handed a 0-3 forfeit in both matches against Vietnam and Nepal due to using ineligible players. This penalty resulted in the "Malayan Tigers" losing 6 points and virtually losing any chance of securing a spot in the 2027 Asian Cup finals.

Meanwhile, the Vietnamese national team has officially secured advancement as the top of Group F. Coach Kim Sang-sik has also announced a 23-player list for this training camp, aiming at the two matches against Bangladesh and Malaysia to maintain form and test the lineup.

Even though it is now largely procedural, the showdown between Vietnam and Malaysia still promises to be exciting. This will be an opportunity for Endrick Santos and other Malaysian players to prove themselves, while offering a competitive and honorable match between the two regional football powers.