KUALA LUMPUR: Though Malaysia didn't get past the Asian Cup group stage in Qatar in January, the team did get a big dose of ginseng tonic for confidence.
Midfielder Stuart Wilkin felt that the 3-3 draw against mighty South Korea will do them a world of good in the World Cup qualifiers against Oman in Muscat on Thursday and the return leg at Bukit Jalil on March 26.
After the rousing show against superstar Son Heung Min's Taeguk Warriors, Wilkin and his teammates now dare to dream of going far into their pre-World Cup campaign. After all, Harimau Malaya led Group D following wins over Kyrgyzstan and Taiwan.
Wilkin told Fifa.com: "That game (against South Korea) was hugely important for all of us, we came back twice from a goal down and if there were doubts about what we could do at this level, we showed that our hard work paid off.
"It was a huge boost for morale and confidence, showing that we can compete even with the likes of nations such as South Korea,
"All of us in the national team have such different back stories, but we are united and it's wild to dream about going to the World Cup. At the start of every camp, the coach puts up our plans and goals and you always carry that dream and hope.
"We're on a big high, we're the only one of the lower-seeded nations to have six points from our first two matches, and even though we didn't get the results we wanted at the Asian Cup, it's important to remember we were back on that stage, in front of those bright lights, having qualified for the first time in 40 years so we are ready for what comes next.
"Just looking down at that Fifa badge on your arm you're reminded of what we're playing for and that's a spot in the World Cup.
"We know we have a massive hurdle in these games against Oman and then more after that but that dream is in the back of your head and it's crazy to think that one day you could be at a World Cup."
Wilkin, in the interview with Fifa, revealed that he was shy and reserved as a child, and that introverted nature almost cost him a chance at making it as a footballer.
The reluctant goalkeeper-turned impressive striker later caught the eye of Southampton and spent his teenage years at the club's famed youth academy, in the same side as current Arsenal defender and England international Ben White.
"When I started playing as a child I was really shy... when it was time to choose positions everyone else went outfield and there was no goalkeeper so that's where they put me," said Wilkin.
"I ended up staying there for a few seasons before most of the good players left, and I asked the coach if I could be put on the pitch. They ended up playing me as a striker from probably the ages of 10-12 and I started regularly scoring goals and that's where it all really began."
Released at the end of that youth stint, Wilkin, 26, then took a familiar path for many academy graduates with a spell in the US college system, where he obtained a marketing degree in addition to furthering his football education before a quirk of fate saw an opportunity arise to head to Malaysia.
"I had an agent in England who went to school with (current Malaysia international) Junior Eldstal and my name was brought up. Some contact was made in Malaysia and before I knew it I had a chance to head over and trial," said Wilkin.
"My mother's family is from Bentong in Pahang, and I would regularly go for childhood holidays to visit relatives there but I didn't really know anything about football in Malaysia at that time.
"When I was playing in the US though, I started to get a lot of messages on social media telling me I should come to play in Malaysia and I'm really glad I did."