KUALA LUMPUR – “Miracle” is the right word to describe Harimau Malaya’s chances of qualifying for the next round of the 2026 World Cup/2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.
Their hopes hang in the balance as the team takes on Chinese Taipei at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium tomorrow.
Kim Pan-gon’s team, currently third in Group D of the qualifiers with seven points, must beat the world number 159-ranked Chinese Taipei by a significant margin to even dream of advancing to the next round as a top-two team.
For context, Oman tops the group with 12 points, while Kyrgyzstan is second with 10. Chinese Taipei, on the other hand, sits at the bottom of the group with zero points.
Malaysia must beat Chinese Taipei by at least eight goals and hope that Kyrgyzstan loses to Oman.
However, if Kyrgyzstan loses to Oman and Malaysia wins by less than eight goals against Chinese Taipei, Malaysia will still not make it to the third round.
Speaking to Scoop, national football icon Datuk Dollah Salleh, who made a total of 81 appearances for Harimau Malaya between 1984 and 1996, said that Pan-gon’s charges could score many goals in the match, citing the team’s strong strikeforce.
“It’s going to be a miracle for us to make it to the next round of the World Cup qualifiers, as we are already 90% out of the tournament. We need to win big against Chinese Taipei and hope for a miracle in the game between Oman and Kyrgyzstan.
“Anything can happen in football, and on paper, we are better than Chinese Taipei. We can definitely overcome them, as I believe we have a proper strike force in the team, and the players will give their 200%. They should not worry about the results elsewhere and just focus on their game.
“Our football fans need to be patient and must give Pan-gon the time he needs. I’m aware that they have high expectations and expect us to win all the tournaments we compete in, but we need to realise that we are still not there yet, and everything takes time.
“Last time, we played in high-level matches, and now we are different than we were before. At least we are attacking and defending well. The quality is there, and the standards are better on the pitch. We can match any team, unlike in those days,” said Dollah when contacted.
At the same time, Dollah also commended Pan-gon for handling the team well despite the absence of his stalwart player, Faisal Halim.
Last month, the 26-year-old winger was attacked with acid while out shopping with his family in Petaling Jaya.
Faisal, who has scored a total of 15 goals in 32 appearances for Harimau Malaya since making his debut in 2019, is currently in the first phase of his recovery before starting sports rehabilitation.
“Faisal’s absence from the national team is like losing a big asset for Harimau Malaya. He had just started to reach his prime, and losing him in such a crucial moment would impact the national team in the days and months to come.
“Results for Harimau Malaya would be different if he were around, as he’s a player who makes the perfect runs for the team when it matters the most with his creative passes and movements.
“But I salute Pan-gon for still maintaining a fine performance with the limited resources he has. I pray for Faisal’s speedy recovery, and I hope he can come back and shine again for both his club (Selangor FC) and country,” Dollah added.
Meanwhile, former national goalkeeper Syed Adney Syed Hussein echoed a similar sentiment, hoping that Harimau Malaya will score big to have a higher possibility of qualifying for the next round of the qualifiers for the first time in the nation’s history.
The Liverpool-born player also said that Pan-gon’s charges should not take their Chinese Taipei opponents lightly in their upcoming match.
“There have been mixed results between the two sides over the years – wins and losses from different generations. But beating them in Taipei gives us a confidence boost, and hopefully, the boys will have their shooting boots on as we need plenty of goals and hope Oman can do a job for us against Kyrgyzstan.
“Chinese Taipei comes into this match after a heavy loss against Oman, so we have to be wary of complacency and not take the game lightly.
“We were very unlucky against Kyrgyzstan, so I hope that luck turns our way tomorrow. I am confident that we will win the game; it’s just a matter of how many goals.
“The supporters should pack the stadium and cheer them on,” said Syed Adney, who played for the national team between 2007 and 2011.
For the record, Malaysia edged Chinese Taipei 1-0 in their second Group D match of the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup and 2027 Asian Cup in Taipei on November 21 last year. – June 10, 2024
