Prior to the "big clash" with the Vietnam national team, the Malaysian squad members are showing strong resolve and believe in securing a win over their rival.
In preparation for the match against the Vietnam national team on March 31, the Malaysian national team is undergoing a training camp in Thailand. Accordingly, even though they have officially lost the chance to qualify for the 2027 Asian Cup finals, the players of the "Malayan Tigers" remain highly determined for the upcoming match.
Naturalized defender Daniel Ting of this team stated that he and his teammates are fully committed to the final group stage match against Vietnam at Thiên Trường Stadium.
"Of course we want to win," he said. "Even if it doesn't change our cup qualification chances, there are still FIFA points. We want to accumulate points and climb up the rankings."
“Everyone is happy to represent the country,” Daniel Ting said. “Even with the current points situation, you always want to win when playing for Malaysia. The spirit is very positive.”
Meanwhile, forward Safawi asserted that the 0-3 forfeit loss to the Vietnam national team does not diminish the team's determination.
"This is our final group stage match, it's about honor. Although we cannot secure an Asian Cup ticket, we are aiming for a positive result even if it's an away match," Safawi said.
"We still have players who regularly feature in the national team. All of us are optimistic and focused on the match against Vietnam."
On the other side, the Vietnam national team is also highly determined on the day they play at home. Speaking ahead of the training session on March 27 morning, midfielder Nguyễn Hoàng Đức affirmed: "The whole team is training very hard, understanding each other better to prepare for the March 31 match against Malaysia,”Hoàng Đức shared.