KUALA LUMPUR: Having just lost 2-0 to Tajikistan in the Merdeka Tournament, Malaysia will host Kyrgyzstan in a World Cup qualifier on Nov 16. Timesport takes a look at how Harimau Malaya fare against the "Stan" nations.
In fact, some national coaches have admitted that these teams from Central Asia are difficult to deal with, and in the coming years, Harimau Malaya will be encountering them more often.
Since 1958, the national teams (senior and Under-23) had played 31 matches against seven "Stan nations": Uzbekistan (world No. 75), Kyrgyzstan (96), Pakistan (197), Kazakhstan (100), Tajikistan (110), Turkmenistan (140) and Afghanistan (158).
Of the 31 matches, world No. 134 Malaysia won 15 times, drew four times and lost 12 times.
Tan Cheng Hoe was the coach of Malaysia when the national team lost 1-0 to Kyrgyzstan in an international friendly in 2018.
He said the "Stan nations" are a force to be reckoned with as they are technically and physically fast.
"Teams like Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have the experience of playing in the Asian Cup final round.
"That will give them the edge (against Malaysia) and the confidence," said Cheng Hoe.
"They have the advantage against Malaysia because they are physically strong.
Cheng Hoe said he expects Kyrgyzstan to be well prepared against Malaysia in the World Cup qualifiers and they always have a solid squad.
"After five years (since Malaysia's 1-0 loss to Kyrgyzstan), they might have new players and coaching staff but I am sure their way of playing won't be much difference.
"Harimau Malaya will need to counter this by being physically strong and mentally prepared."
Since Kim Pan Gon took over from Cheng Hoe early last year, the South Korean had ed Harimau Malaya to a 3-1 victory over Turkmenistan in an Asian Cup qualifier.
But last year, Malaysia lost 3-0 to Tajikistan on penalties in the Thai King's Cup after the match ended in a goalless draw in regulation time.
In March, Pan Gon's men edged Turkmenistan 1-0 in an international friendly in March.
Meanwhile, former national coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee, who had his fair share of matches to Stan nations, said the Central Asia countries' style of play is similar as their mentality is the same.
"Though Malaysia were undefeated in seven games prior to the loss to Tajikistan, I think we cannot take things lightly," said Kim Swee who coached the national team when they drew 1-1 with Afghanistan in an international friendly in 2016 and led the national Under-23 side to a 3-1 win over Kyrgyzstan at the 2018 Asian Games.
"Kyrgyzstan are a higher ranked team and Malaysia played a young Tajikistan side (in the Merdeka Tournament).
"Tajikistan showed they were tactically better than us and their players adapted well.
"We have to be in the right frame of mind in our approach, especially in preparations.
"Kyrgyzstan have a strong mentality. They don't give up, they fight and challenge which would make it difficult for us."