Walking tall: Dion Cools netted twice in Malaysia’s 4-3 win over Kyrgyzstan but wants teammates to keep a cool head when they play Taiwan next Tuesday.
PETALING JAYA: Footballer Dion Cools will not let the recent win in the World Cup 2026-Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers to get to his head.
Cools scored two goals in Malaysia’s 4-3 win against Kyrgyzstan in the opening Group D match of the world and Asian Cup second-round qualifiers at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Thursday.
The win has raised the Harimau Malaya’s hope to reach the third round of the qualifiers for the first time, but Cools wants the team to take it game by game.
Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin said this was the best chance for Malaysia to get to the next round, while coach Kim Pan-gon believes Malaysia have the potential to be the best 18 in Asia.
Centreback Cools said all of them have also set high targets but it was wise to take it game by game.
“We have set some high targets as a squad. We qualified for the Asian Cup. The next target is the third round. Pressure from the outside won’t influence the way we think. We will take it game by game,” said the 28-year-old.
“In March and June, there will be another four games. We have a good team to progress to the next round.”
Some have opined that if the national team have five players just like Cools, they can do wonders on the world stage but the Buriram United player quashed that thought.
“If any other countries like Argentina, have five other Messis, it would have been easy as well. This is the current squad we have and I believe we have the quality to get to the next round. We have young and experienced players.
Cools hopes not to give in easy goals when they face Taiwan in the second Group D match at the Taipei Municipal Stadium on Tuesday.
“We are incredibly happy to win but as a defender, you want a clean sheet as well,” said Cools, who was unhappy they conceded three goals against Kyrgyzstan.
“As a defensive unit, we have to be compact in all situations. It’s important to be solid and keep it zero, but it’s a learning process,” he said.
“We need another three points. It would be pointless to win against Kyrgyzstan and draw or lose in Taipei, that would be a bit silly.”
Malaysia are entering the game as favourites, as they are ranked 130 in the world, while Taiwan are ranked 152.
But Cools has urged his teammates not to underestimate them.
“The world ranking doesn’t mean anything. We beat Kyrgyzstan, a team that’s thirty places higher than us. We drew against teams that were 40 places higher than us.
“Every game needs to be played and we have to be respectful to them. They might beat us as well even though we are higher ranked. We have to be humble and believe we can beat them.”
