Our soccer friendship with Malaysia is like a reunion of old friends that have come a long way, but it has been 10 years since we last met. Ten years ago, our soccer team beat Malaysia 2-0, when they were still young and our team used overhead kicks to keep their opponents at bay. Today, however, the Malaysian team has been transformed.
Prior to the match, the Malaysian head coach spoke eloquently, expressing his respect for our soccer team while declaring his confidence in leading the team to victory over us. His confidence was not empty; the addition of naturalized players and the implementation of a long-term development plan have strengthened the Malaysian team. This change was evident at the start of the match, yet our team appeared to lack confidence.
Knowing that defense alone is not sustainable, Malaysia has adopted a more aggressive attacking strategy. They attacked as four strikers, with only two players in the midfield, and passed the ball to the front line whenever there was an opportunity. This tactic not only brought more pressure on our defense, but also left a gap when the opponent counterattacked.
Obviously, our head coach did not expect Malaysia to give it a go. We continued to go through the motions, trying to adapt to the pace of the game. 451 formation is even more prepared for the World Qualifier 36, even against Malaysia, the first half of our team's offense is also a little weak.
At the beginning of the match, Malaysia started their attack with a 424 formation, and our team would have been in a passive position if not for the offside of the first goal. Although this was a friendly match, our team still had to give their best. In the second half, the substitutes came on the field to find the feeling of the game.
Fortunately, the Malaysian strikers were limited in their ability to capitalize on their chances, and apart from one goal, all other chances were wasted due to hasty or simple mistakes. Our team, playing at home, gradually adapted to the pace of the game after half an hour and the defense became tighter, making it difficult for the Malaysian players to play.
Analyzing the goals our team conceded, the retreat of the defense was formidable and the players were slow to get into position. If they could have seized the opportunity more quickly in the assists, they might have avoided conceding the goal. If we face a strong team, it will take another 20-30 minutes for our team to get into shape, and it will undoubtedly be doubly difficult to win the game.
However, our team was not without its bright spots. The fact that they did not concede a second goal was inseparable from the players' fighting spirit on the pitch. For example, Li Shuai was almost injured during the match, and other players were no less impressive in wrestling with their opponents. Gao Zhunyi shoveled away his opponent's shot in the penalty area, demonstrating both a sense of complementary position and an aggressive spirit.
The "fighting" spirit of the national soccer team has made up for the long awaited expectations of the fans. Fans were willing to cheer for the team even when they lost the game. Our team is still strong, trying to do better on the defensive side, facing Malaysia's full attack, showing an admirable opponent style.
The match lasted for more than 80 minutes, our team started to intensify their attack, and Wu Lei's performance was a sign that our team was expected to score at the end of the match. Obviously, our team also hoped to seize the opportunity when the opponent's physical strength declined.
Before the match, our team should have developed a clearer tactical arrangement, strengthened the understanding between teammates and adapted to the techniques and tactics of the head coach. Otherwise, before the 0-1, our team has started to change the starting lineup and show more players to prepare for the 36 games.
In this match, our team "let go" of Malaysia in a hidden way. If our team continues to attack in the second half, Malaysia will be hard to resist. Although Malaysia has improved significantly, but in terms of physical fitness is still not as good as our team, less than 60 minutes there are players who have cramps or center back players.
Of course, it has to do with the fact that Malaysia is slightly physically tired as they have already finished their friendly tour. Our team did not go all out as Malaysia had already finished their friendly matches. However, our team will also need to consider the physical condition of the players against Syria, especially if they were injured in the friendlies.
Overall, the game was not boring and was more energizing than watching national football matches in the past. Both sides attacked and defended, especially in the second half, giving the spectators a taste of the game. Our goals were not from free kicks, but they were directly related to free kicks, so free kicks are still an important means for our team to score in the World Qualifiers. If our team dares to try ground coordination and improve the efficiency of the offense, the game against Syria will be full of expectations.
With two games in four days, our team is looking forward to going undefeated and I believe they can present an even more exciting game.
