Malaysia Builds Confidence For U-20 Qualifiers Through Tough Friendlies

SEPANG, Sept 15 (Bernama) -- The recent experience of competing in the Team China International Friendly Competition in Changsha 2024 has made the national Under-19 (U-19) football team better prepared for the 2025 U-20 Asian Cup Qualifiers to be held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, from Sept 21 to 29.

Head coach Juan Torres Garrido said despite losing all three matches, the national team has gained greater tactical intelligence by playing high-intensity games against older opponents.

“This preparation has been very useful in getting our players to compete at a different level. We are used to a higher pace (now), and the players are ready to beat this kind of difficulty expected in a big tournament. 

"We are quite satisfied despite struggling in some parts of the games. It is about gaining experience through tournaments,” he told Bernama at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) here today. 

In Changsha, China, the U-19 squad lost 0-2 to Uzbekistan, 0-1 to China and 1-2 to Vietnam, who were all represented by U-21 players.

Meanwhile, defender Ariff Safwan Safri believes that the squad can give their best in Tajikistan.

He sees no major tactical issues but acknowledges that the squad need to improve their finishing.

“Our gameplay is okay but we lack finishing. We must convert the scoring chances that come our way. The chemistry between players is good,” he said.

He said it is important to get a good result in the first game to further motivate the players.

In the Group E qualifiers, Malaysia will face Oman on Sept 21, North Korea (Sept 23), Tajikistan (Sept 27) and Sri Lanka (Sept 29), with all matches to be played at the Republican Central Stadium in Dushanbe. 

The 10 group winners along with the five best second-placed teams and hosts China will play in the 2025 AFC U-20 Asian Cup finals from Feb 6 to 23, 2025.

-- BERNAMA