PETALING JAYA: The return of leftback Doan Van Hau is expected to further bolster Vietnam as they plot Malaysia’s downfall in their final Group F Asian Cup qualifier in Nam Dinh on Tuesday (March 31).
The 26-year-old Hanoi defender is eager to make amends in front of home supporters after missing their 4-0 defeat to Malaysia in Bukit Jalil last year.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have since overturned that result after ruling that Malaysia had fielded ineligible players.
Van Hau is now determined to make his presence felt.
“I was injured last year and it was upsetting to watch that loss, but that is football — there are wins and losses,” said Van Hau, who has 38 caps for Vietnam.
“Now I’m back and looking forward to the game. Matches against Malaysia are always big and very tight. The team that makes fewer mistakes will win.
“I hope the fans will fill the stadium and give us the motivation we need. We will fight for them on the field."
Malaysia however, will be playing without many key players but coach Peter Cklamovski has vowed that Malaysia will respond with resilience and pride, insisting that nothing will break them as they prepare to face Vietnam.
"It will be a tough game. Two proud countries will do everything for their nation. We want to play the best football we can," said the Australian.
"Nothing is going to break us. The team spirit is fantastic.
"The players’ desire to do something special for the nation is inspiring. We want to get things right and go for the victory."
Malaysia had looked set to qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup after amassing 15 points from five matches, but their campaign was derailed by the ineligibility of the seven players.
Cklamovski emphasised that Harimau Malaya's mindset remains unchanged despite the disappointment.
"We always have the mentality to win the next game, no matter the opponent or the circumstances. That doesn’t change overnight.
"We use tough moments like this to make sure we are at our best every day. This is an opportunity to measure ourselves as individuals, as a group, and as a national team."
Malaysia have not beaten Vietnam away in 12 years, with their last victory coming in a 4-2 win during the 2014 AFF Suzuki Cup on Dec 11, 2014 — a record Cklamovski hopes his side can overturn.
"It’s something to chase and a challenge we embrace. We will go after it with our football," he said.
"We had a good camp with strong attention to detail. We’re prepared for a tough game and we’re looking forward to the challenge.
Cklamovski also acknowledged Vietnam’s quality while stressing Malaysia’s focus on execution.
"They are a strong side with good players. We respect them, but our focus is on what we need to do to get the result."
"He added that players like midfielder Endrick dos Santos could play a key role, particularly with his experience in Vietnamese conditions.
"Endrick is an important player for us - both as a footballer and as a person. His experience in Vietnam helps with the finer details in our preparation. We leave no stone unturned.
"Ultimately, our focus is on ourselves and being at our best. We have a full squad ready to give everything for the victory."
