KUALA LUMPUR, March 30 (Bernama) -- Malaysia will face Lebanon in the second round of the 2012 London Olympics qualifying, while the national senior football team play Taiwan in the first round of the 2014 World Cup qualifier.
In the draw held by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) here Wednesday, Malaysia, who defeated Pakistan in the first round, will play in Lebanon on June 19 before the return leg at home on June 23.
Lebanon were given a bye in the first round based on results and achievement in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, together with South Korea, North Korea, Australia, China, Japan, Iraq, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
Based on FIFA rankings, Malaysia should not have any problems against Lebanon since Malaysia are ranked 138 in the FIFA world ranking and 21st in Asia while Lebanon are 169 in the FIFA ranking and 32nd in Asia.
Olympics squad coach Ong Kim Swee however, said rankings aside, the match against Lebanon was vital because both countries have not played each other before.
"We do not know their style of play, so we will now have to analyze their matches. We will also play friendly matches against Syria or Bahrain to beef up the squad," he said.
Malaysia, under the tutelage of Ong, moved into the second round after beating Pakistan 2-0 on aggregate, winning 2-0 in the first match at the Shah Alam Stadium on Feb 23, and drawing the away match 0-0 at the Punjab Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan on Mac 9.
Malaysia last qualified for the Moscow Olympics in 1980 but did not see action due to an US-led boycott after the Russians had invaded Afghanistan, are hoping to return to the scene after 31 years, and see real action.
The last time Malaysian players were involved in real-time action was during the 1972 Munich Olympics, a good 39 years ago.
Meanwhile, the senior squad under coach K. Rajagobal, on a quest to play in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, has been picked to play against Taiwan away on June 29, and at home on July 3.
Rajagobal said though Taiwan, ranked 147 in the FIFA world ranking, cannot be taken lightly but the national squad was confident of a positive result.
Malaysia had never qualified for the World Cup since first taking part in the qualifying rounds in 1974.
In the draw held by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) here Wednesday, Malaysia, who defeated Pakistan in the first round, will play in Lebanon on June 19 before the return leg at home on June 23.
Lebanon were given a bye in the first round based on results and achievement in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, together with South Korea, North Korea, Australia, China, Japan, Iraq, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
Based on FIFA rankings, Malaysia should not have any problems against Lebanon since Malaysia are ranked 138 in the FIFA world ranking and 21st in Asia while Lebanon are 169 in the FIFA ranking and 32nd in Asia.
Olympics squad coach Ong Kim Swee however, said rankings aside, the match against Lebanon was vital because both countries have not played each other before.
"We do not know their style of play, so we will now have to analyze their matches. We will also play friendly matches against Syria or Bahrain to beef up the squad," he said.
Malaysia, under the tutelage of Ong, moved into the second round after beating Pakistan 2-0 on aggregate, winning 2-0 in the first match at the Shah Alam Stadium on Feb 23, and drawing the away match 0-0 at the Punjab Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan on Mac 9.
Malaysia last qualified for the Moscow Olympics in 1980 but did not see action due to an US-led boycott after the Russians had invaded Afghanistan, are hoping to return to the scene after 31 years, and see real action.
The last time Malaysian players were involved in real-time action was during the 1972 Munich Olympics, a good 39 years ago.
Meanwhile, the senior squad under coach K. Rajagobal, on a quest to play in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, has been picked to play against Taiwan away on June 29, and at home on July 3.
Rajagobal said though Taiwan, ranked 147 in the FIFA world ranking, cannot be taken lightly but the national squad was confident of a positive result.
Malaysia had never qualified for the World Cup since first taking part in the qualifying rounds in 1974.
-- BERNAMA
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