Malaysian newspaper points out the advantages of Vietnam team before the decisive match

Before Malaysia clashed with the Vietnamese team in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers on June 10, the New Straits Times published a rather long article with the title: "There is no room for sentimentalism in Malaysian football".

In it, the author emphasized that the mass naturalization does not affect the spirit of solidarity in the Malaysian team. This newspaper wrote: “The fact that coach Peter Cklamovski called up many naturalized players to prepare for the match with the Vietnamese team has sparked many controversies. What are the limits on the use of naturalized players?

Báo Malaysia chỉ ra điểm lợi hại của tuyển Việt Nam trước trận quyết chiến - 1 — Malaysia introduced 4 naturalized players of South American origin before the match against the Vietnamese team (Photo: FAM).

Names like Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Jon Irazabal and Joao Figueiredo may still be unfamiliar to most Malaysian fans.

Coach Cklamovski is a famous coach with meticulous tactical thinking and modern playing style. He has not been afraid of change since taking over the Malaysian team. The latest training session of the "Tigers" witnessed the appearance of 5 new names, all of whom are foreign-born players, eligible to play for Harimau Malaya and bring with them valuable experience from top-level environments.

These players are not alone. They will join a squad of established foreign-born mainstays such as Endrick dos Santos, Dion Cools, Corbin Ong, Matthew Davies, Junior Eldstal, Gabriel Palmero, Stuart Wilkin, Nooa Laine, Hector Hevel and Romel Morales.

This is a squad that looks more like a continental club than a national team in the traditional sense, and that has created a lot of controversy among fans.

The question is not whether these players are good enough. What worries many is whether Malaysia is losing its domestic football identity on the journey to the top?

But clearly, modern football has changed. The days when national teams were built solely from homegrown players and domestic academies are long gone. Looking around the world , from Qatar and Indonesia to England and France, it is not difficult to see successful teams that combine homegrown talent with foreign-born talent.

Báo Malaysia chỉ ra điểm lợi hại của tuyển Việt Nam trước trận quyết chiến - 2 — Malaysian newspaper praised the Vietnamese team for their fast, well-organized, and intelligent playing style (Photo: Sohu).

Malaysia are no exception. If anything, it is that the team is starting late. Players like captain Dion Cools, Matthew Davies and Dos Santos have become familiar names to fans.

They have thrown themselves into the Southeast Asian game, faced the pressure and fought hard for the national team. They are not tourists, but real professionals who are committed to the national team and accept the expectations and pressure. Other players like Hevel and Wilkin have also slowly adapted to international duty, showing that the integration process can be smooth if the support system is good enough.

That is the role of coach Cklamovski. He not only builds a team, but also a system, based on clear structure, the ability to press, transition and control the game. To do that, he needs players who understand the strict requirements of modern football, both mentally, physically and tactically.

The New Straits Times also pointed out the advantages of the Vietnamese team. They even considered the “Golden Dragons” as a model for Malaysian football. They added: “The Vietnamese team is the model that Cklamovski is aiming for. They have a fast, well-organized, and intelligent playing style.

To face the Vietnamese team, Malaysia cannot rely on just their fiery spirit or bravery. They need technical precision, the ability to make decisions under pressure and the depth of their squad.

The mix of players in this latest batch of calls-ups gives Malaysia that. Many of the foreign-born players now represent Malaysia not just because they are eligible, but because they have lived here, played here and grown up in the Malaysian football system. It is not about replacing, it is about elevating.

Football is not about emotions, it is fierce and cruel. Malaysia wants to be a regular in the Asian Cup and dream of a World Cup in the future. To do that, they need results, not romantic stories.

Malaysia will be under a lot of pressure when they face Vietnam. The atmosphere will be tense. But at least now, Malaysia will enter the battle with many options. That is something that has not always been the case in the past.

Coach Cklamovski knows what he is doing. He is building a team that can not only compete with strong opponents in the region, but can also surpass the limits of Southeast Asia. This may not be the national team model in everyone's eyes, but it is probably the version that Malaysia needs right now."

The match between Vietnam and Malaysia will take place at 8pm on June 10 at Bukit Jalil Stadium. This is a match that will directly decide the tickets to the Asian Cup for both teams.