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Football / Asia Zone World Cup Qualifiers: Chance to boost confidence Read more: Football / Asia Zone World Cup Qualifiers: Chance to boost confidence

Malaysia’s Safee Sali hopes to build on his club form to score his first international goal of the year today.
Malaysia’s Safee Sali hopes to build on his club form to score his first international goal of the year today. 
 
MALAYSIA are eager to carry their AFF Cup-winning form into the Asia Zone World Cup Qualifiers where they hope to start their campaign on a positive note against Taiwan in a first round first leg match at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil today.




Coach K. Rajagobal has named a formidable 23-man squad that include 14 players from the AFF Cup team. The coach acknowledges the praise for Malaysia following their AFF Cup performance but he wants to put that aside and look forward to "a new chapter".

"It will be our first tournament after winning the AFF Cup. Everyone is eager and excited about tomorrow (today). We need to focus and play at our best level for a good result," said Rajagobal after a team managers' meeting at Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya yesterday.

"We made history by winning the AFF Cup. I told my boys, 'let's make bigger history in the World Cup Qualifiers'.
"We want to beat Taiwan. If we play well, we will get the goals. It does not matter if the final score is 1-0 as long we win. My players are mentally and physically prepared for the match."

Except for first choice goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat, the others are injury-free. Khairul, who is down with a shoulder problem, may not be named in the starting line-up.

The Kelantan player has kept his training light since reporting for national duty after the second round, second leg of the Olympic Qualifiers against Lebanon last Thursday.

Rajagobal, however, declined to reveal whether second-choice Sharbinee Allawee will replace Khairul today.

"I need to look at him (Khairul) again before making a decision. Those who were nursing injuries have recovered from them."

Among those returning from injuries are strikers Norshahrul Idlan Talaha, Ahmad Fakri Saraani and Abdul Hadi Yahya. The trio, however, may not be match-fit but Rajagobal has options in Safee Sali and Baddrol Baktiar.

Safee will be the striker the national team will be counting on today. The AFF Cup top-scorer has been outstanding since joining Indonesia Super League club Pelita Jaya, where he has scored seven goals in 13 appearances. However, he sustained a light leg injury in training yesterday.

However, Safee hopes to build on his club form to score his first international goal of the year today.

The national team, who have never qualified for the World Cup, are undefeated in three international friendly matches since winning the AFF Cup.

Captain Safiq Rahim said he and his teammates are hungry for success in the World Cup Qualifiers.

"Our target is to go as far as possible in the qualifiers. We are eager to make an impression. Everyone is mentally prepared for this challenge," said Safiq, who plays for Super League side Selangor.

"We have gone through all the required drills and also watched Taiwan's recent matches on video. As far as we are concerned, we have done our homework on our East Asian rivals."

Probable line-up: Sharbinee Allawee, Mohd Aidil Zafuan Abd Radzak, Mohd Muslim Ahmad, Asraruddin Putra Omar, Mahalli Jasuli, Safiq Rahim, Amar Rohidan, S. Kunanlan, Amirulhadi Zainal, Safee Sali, Baddrol Baktiar.

Read more: NST

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