KUALA LUMPUR: National head coach Tan Cheng Hoe believes it is time for the Harimau Malaya to finally end their four-game winlesss streak against Vietnam when the teams square off tomorrow (12.45 am Saturday Malaysian time).
The 2022 World Cup/2023 Asian Cup Group G second-round qualifier at the Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will be the fifth time Cheng Hoe leads the squad out against the Golden Dragons since being appointed head coach in December 2017.
Cheng Hoe, 53, feels that with his team showing a better understanding, from both the technical and tactical aspects, the time was ripe for Malaysia to end their Vietnam jinx.
His confidence also stems from the spirit shown by his charges in a bid to bounce back from their 4-0 loss to the UAE last week and revive their chances of qualifying to the 2023 Asian Cup Finals.
"I feel this is our best chance as we (coaches) can see improvements in technical aspects and the understanding of tactics in every player. We need to make the most of this chance to gain a positive result.
"We hope that any player fielded will give their full focus against an opponent we have found hard to get a positive result from each time we've met," he said during an online media conference from Dubai today.
For the record, the Harimau Malaya have only managed to eke out a draw in their last four matches against Vietnam, with the latest result being a 1-0 loss during the qualifying campaign in Hanoi in October 2019.
Vietnam are doing well in the qualifiers, leading the standings with 14 points after winning four and drawing twice in six matches and conceding just one single goal, thus far.
Cheng Hoe, meanwhile, is also hoping that naturalised striker Guilherme De Paula will be back to his lethal best against Vietnam after struggling to make an impression against the UAE.
"If we see De Paula's quality, he has never failed to be among the top scorers in whichever league he has played in... so we hope he can do something in tomorrow's match given his confidence and experience," he said.
Cheng Hoe, who is counting on his defence to hold the Vietnamese attackers at bay, is still unsure if the injured Junior Eldstal will be available. Otherwise, he will have to rely on the combination of captain Mohamad Aidil Zafuan Abd Radzak and heritage player Dion Cools, who is of Malaysian-Belgian parentage, at the heart of the defence.
"We see improvement in training daily... all the players are working well with Dion (Cools) and we hope that together with Aidil, who has extensive experience, the duo can marshal the defence," he said.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Thu Jun 10 2021
National head coach Tan Cheng Hoe believes it is time for the Harimau Malaya to finally end their four-game winless streak against Vietnam when the teams square off tomorrow (12.45 am Saturday Malaysian time). - stadiumastro.com photo
Kerajaan teliti kaedah baharu lantikan tetap, pastikan kewangan negara lebih mampan
Kerajaan sedang meneliti kaedah baharu lantikan tetap bagi memastikan pengurusan kewangan negara yang lebih mampan.
PDRM gerak unit skuba forensik, K9 cari telefon, rantai Nur Farah Kartini hari ini
Proses mencari bahan bukti akan dimulakan sekitar jam 9 pagi di kawasan parit berhampiran ladang kelapa sawit berkenaan.
Bangkai pesawat MH17 tanpa sayap imbau kekejaman tragedi menyayat hati
Keadaan serpihan pesawat MH17 Malaysia Airlines (MAS) yang cuba dibina semula tanpa sayap, tayar, ekor dan tempat duduk penumpang cukup menggerunkan sekali gus mengingatkan pada kekejaman yang meragut
VOP akan diselesaikan dalam tempoh sebulan - Ahmad
Pelaksanaan Syarat Perubahan Harga (VOP) susulan penyasaran subsidi diesel dijangka diselesaikan dalam tempoh sebulan lagi, kata Timbalan Menteri Kerja Raya Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.
Industri minyak sawit disaran guna semula sisa untuk bahan api penerbangan mampan - Liew
Industri minyak sawit perlu mengkaji penggunaan semula sisa sebagai stok suapan penting untuk bahan api penerbangan mampan (SAF), di luar penggunaan tradisional minyak sawit.
SDG: UTP lahir pelajar berkemahiran, tinggi tanggungjawab sosial
UTP berhasrat mendidik pelajar bukan sahaja untuk mahir dalam aspek teknikal tetapi juga untuk menjadi warganegara yang bertanggungjawab.
MAA semak semula unjuran jualan kenderaan 2024 kepada 765,000 unit
Persatuan Automotif Malaysia (MAA) telah menyemak semula unjuran jualan kenderaan bermotor baharu bagi 2024 kepada 765,000 unit daripada anggaran sebelumnya sebanyak 740,000 unit.
RUU 355: Pindaan perlu untuk praktikaliti, keadilan
Apa sahaja pindaan terhadap akta itu perlu berjalan selari dengan persediaan mereka yang bertanggungjawab melaksanakannya.
Rasionalisasi RON95 dijangka beri impak lebih besar kepada PKS - SAMENTA
SAMENTA menjangkakan rasionalisasi RON95 akan memberi impak yang lebih besar kepada perusahaan kecil dan sederhana (PKS) berbanding pelarasan subsidi diesel.
Malaysia sasar pengeluaran 40 peratus sektor akuakultur menjelang 2030
Malaysia menyasarkan pengeluaran 40 peratus hasil sektor akuakultur menjelang 2030 dalam usaha membantu mengimbangi keperluan perikanan negara.
COVID-19: Perlawanan sosial remehkan SOP boleh pengaruhi Liga-M
Dijalankan mengikut norma baru, segelintir peserta bagaimanapun dikatakan gagal mematuhi prosedur operasi standard (SOP) yang ditetapkan.
[INFOGRAFIK] Rekod karier Aaron Ramsey di Arsenal
Pemain tengah Arsenal, Aaron Ramsey sudah lama berkhidmat sejak dari 2008 lagi dan di penghujung musim EPL ini beliau akan menyertai pasukan Juventus. Ini adalah rekod karier beliau.
Debar sepak mula makin terasa, semangat #webelangtogether kian membara
Penyokong Malaysia dan Thailand mula membanjiri Stadium Nasional Bukit Jalil bagi menyaksikan pertemuan separuh akhir pertama Kejohanan Bola Sepak Piala AFF Suzuki 2018 malam ini.
Ronaldo signs for Juventus from Real Madrid
Five-times world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo has signed for Italian champions Juventus from Real Madrid.
Kenali Alireza Beiranvand, bekas gelandangan jadi wira gagalkan penalti Ronaldo
Beiranvand pernah melarikan diri dari rumah semasa kanak-kanak kerana impiannya menjadi pemain bola sepak dihalang oleh keluarga.
Former England captain Wilkins dies aged 61
Former England captain Ray Wilkins died on Wednesday in a London hospital at the age of 61 following a heart attack.
Virgil van Dijk sertai Liverpool dengan nilai 75 juta pound sterling
Pemain Southampton Virgil van Dijk sah menyertai kelab Liverpool dengan nilai 75 juta pound sterling, rekod tertinggi pernah dicatat untuk pemain pertahanan.
M'sia gagal ke pusingan akhir kejohanan AFC B-23 2016
Hasrat Malaysia meraih slot ke pusingan akhir Kejohanan Konfederasi Bola Sepak Asia (AFC) Bawah 23 2016 tidak kesampaian selepas mengalami kekalahan kedua malam tadi.
FAM ambil tindakan tegas terhadap pihak cetus kekecohan
Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) akan mengambil tindakan terhadap mana-mana pihak dan individu yang mencetuskan kekecohan pada perlawanan bola sepak di negara ini.
Gerrard dinamakan Pemain Terbaik England 2012
Steven Gerrard dinamakan Pemain Terbaik England tahun 2012 selepas memenangi lebih 40 peratus undi peminat, mengikut Kesatuan Bola Sepak England.