5th July, 2011
SEPANG: The friendly match against the two English Premier League (EPL) giants, Arsenal and Liverpool will be the final preparations for the Malaysian squad that meet Singapore prior to the second qualifying round of the 2014 World Cup Asian Zone.
The first game will be held in Singapore on July 23 while the second leg at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on July 28.
National coach Datuk K. Rajagobal said Malaysia will meet Arsenal on July 13, and Liverpool three days later.
“The national squad is really lucky to meet the two Premier League teams. Two friendly matches is enough to think about the preparations before playing against Singapore.
“It is good preparations for the national team where I will give players the opportunity to showcase their best before I choose the starting line-up later.
“I want all players to display their best level of physical fitness,” he told reporters after arriving from Taiwan at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport here yesterday.
Malaysia qualified for the second round despite losing 2-3 to Taiwan at the Taipei Stadium on Sunday leading up to an aggregate 4-4 through regulation on away goals advantage.
In the national team’s first game, they beat Taiwan 2-1 at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil last Wednesday.
Rajagobal said he did not want his players to make the same mistakes they did against Taiwan when they meet the two Premier League clubs.
“Although I am not satisfied with the game, on the whole we did not play that badly actually, but my players did not focus on their defence.
“The third goal from the penalty spot from the host nation put the pressure on us to win there by searching for an equaliser, and it undermined the moral and spirit of our players.”
Rajagobal acknowledged the rhythm of the game was interrupted because of three yellow cards to his players in his own penalty box.
“I do not disagree with the decision of the referee from Vietnam but a penalty should not be given for such a small mistake,” he said.
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