PREVIEW: Malaysia coach ready for 'very, very difficult game ...

Malaysia head coach Pau Marti has downplayed his team’s chances ahead of Monday’s friendly international against New Zealand.

“We expect a very difficult game,” he told FAM TV ahead of the match at Albany’s North Harbour Stadium.

“I think also they have a lot of players playing in Europe in top leagues, and also New Zealand doesn’t play very often in in New Zealand.

“The national team normally plays away so for them, for sure, to play here will be a big motivation.

“They want to they want to win against us so we must be ready to face a very, very difficult game I think.”

Marti said his 22-player squad would go into the match with no injuries and a chance to make their own history by improving on their FIFA world ranking of #132.

“We have a good chance if we win tomorrow to go below 130 in the FIFA ranking so I think it’s also one more step for this group, for this team, and I think we have also our own motivation to be better and to improve.”

New Zealand are ranked #94.

READ MORE: All Whites stay in top 100 after latest revision of FIFA world rankings >>>>

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Watch Pau Marti’s interview

This story was first published on October 14, 2024.

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