MALAYSIA MUST BEAT THAIS TO STAY ALIVE

There’s also an added incentive for the Malaysians when they play tomorrow, they want to make up for the loss which was one of their worst defeats in the history of this regional competition and also to avenge their 4-0 defeat to Thailand here in the same competition two years ago. That defeat then sent the Malaysians packing. A defeat again tomorrow to the Thais could spell a similar fate.

“After the first game, I have had to motivate the players to rise up and prepare for the next match. I may have to make some changes, maybe in defence and midfield, possibly also between the posts. I will have to see how the players including their mental state before deciding.”

Rajagobal also knows that Thailand that played Laos and the Thailand that will face Malaysia are likely to be entirely different. “We know they benched a number of their regular players due to their domestic FA Cup finals and AFC Cup. What we saw was not their best. The coach himself told me that they will field their best side tomorrow. I still feel Thailand is the strongest team in this group.”

“Thailand have to get a good result against us.”

Thai coach Bryan Robson made no secrets about the changes in the starting lineup. “I always felt that this would be the big game. It’s even more important now that we win. We need a good result to put a foot in the final.”

“The players that we rested are all better now. When I first spoke to them after the Cup finals, they were just shattered. Some of them played four matches in eight days. Now, they are ok and the lads that played in the match are all also 100 percent fit,” Robson said.

There are approximately seven changes that will happen. Even though Thailand may look strong on paper with the return of top stars like Datsakorn Thonglao, Teerasil Dangda and others, Robson said he was still wary of Malaysia.

“Malaysia have returned some good results lately and the loss may just have been a one-off game.”