Kuala Lumpur, April 25, 2025 – Malaysia’s head coach Peter Cklamovski has sent a defiant “war letter” to Vietnam’s national team, expressing confidence in toppling the regional giants in their pivotal Group F clash at the 2027 Asian Cup final qualifiers. The match, set for June 10 at Bukit Jalil National Stadium, is a make-or-break showdown for the sole group ticket to the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.
Cklamovski, speaking to Malaysia’s The Star on April 24, acknowledged challenges posed by the Malaysian Super League’s mid-season break, which ends April 26, leaving players in a post-season lull. “The timing, post-season, means players are in rest mode, making it tough to regain peak form,” he said, noting Vietnam’s advantage as their V.League continues until June 15, ensuring sharper match fitness for stars like Hanoi Police FC’s Nguyen Quang Hai. Despite this, he remained resolute, stating, “Beating Vietnam isn’t easy, but nothing is impossible in football. We’ll give everything to win.”
Malaysia’s meticulous preparation began early, with a training camp starting May 16—25 days before the match—featuring two high-caliber friendlies against teams ranked above Malaysia’s 130th FIFA position, likely Uzbekistan or Jordan, per Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) plans. Cklamovski, a former Australia assistant under Ange Postecoglou, aims to leverage Bukit Jalil’s 85,500-capacity “cauldron” and Ultras Malaya’s fervor, akin to The Cong Viettel’s fanbase, to unsettle Vietnam.
Both teams sit on three points in Group F after opening wins—Vietnam’s 5-0 rout of Laos and Malaysia’s 2-0 victory over Nepal—with Vietnam leading on goal difference (+5 vs. +2). The June 10 clash, dubbed a “group final” by Indonesia’s CNN, is critical, as only the group winner advances. Malaysia’s seven new naturalized players, including JDT’s Bergson da Silva, bolster their squad, but Cklamovski admitted Vietnam’s dominance, unbeaten in 11 matches against Malaysia since a 4-2 loss in the 2014 AFF Cup.
Vietnam, fresh off the 2024 AFF Cup title under Kim Sang Sik, face challenges with striker Nguyen Xuan Son sidelined until September, relying on Becamex Binh Duong’s Nguyen Tien Linh. Despite Malaysia’s preparations, Indonesia’s Bola Sport predicts Vietnam’s superior cohesion, honed by Song Lam Nghe An’s youth pipeline, will prevail. Bukit Jalil’s history—Vietnam’s 2-2 draw in the 2018 AFF Cup final—promises a fiery battle, but Kim’s “Golden Dragons” hold the edge, backed by Hoang Anh Gia Lai’s tactical depth.
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