The Indian football team will face Malaysia in a one-off friendly on Monday at the GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium in Hyderabad. This is the only fixture where the Blue Tigers will feature in this ongoing November international break.

Malaysia are coming off a positive momentum as they emerged victorious against Laos by a 3-1 scoreline in a friendly game last Thursday. Spanish head coach Pau Martí is now in charge following Kim Pan-gon’s resignation who parted ways after Malaysia's elimination from the World Cup qualification.

Both teams squared off in the Merdeka Cup semi-final last year at the Bukit Jalil Stadium, where the hosts Malaysia secured a 4-2 win over the Blue Tigers. Winger Arif Aiman and defender Dion Cools, who found themselves on the scoresheet in the last face-off 13 months ago, will be in action again for Malaysia in the forthcoming fixture.

Moreover, 14 players from Malaysia’s Merdeka Cup-winning squad are called up for the India match. The Malaysian side will be eyeing to replicate their Merdeka Cup heroics to register their first away win in 2024.

The Blue Tigers’ head coach had words of praise for his counterpart Martí and Malaysia’s style of play as he anticipated a close contest in the coming friendly match.

"Pau Martí is from my city. He's also Catalan. He was working in the Barcelona B team as the assistant coach. He has got experience abroad in Hong Kong and was the assistant coach of Malaysia under the South Korean coach (Kim Pan-gon). They have been playing good football, and it will be a tough game for both sides," Márquez remarked.

History

Nicknamed Harimau Malaya (Malayan Tigers), Malaysia played out a 1-1 draw against Thailand in 1963 in its first international outing. Established in 1926, the Malaysian Football Association (MFA) earned FIFA affiliation in 1956.

The Malaysia football team enjoyed its golden era in the 1970s as they won bronze at the 1974 Asian Games. The Southeast Asian country has won the Merdeka Cup and King’s Cup eight times and four times, respectively.

Malaysia also won the ASEAN Championship (formerly called the AFF Championship) in 2010 and clinched three gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games.

Form Guide: W W W L W

Ranked 133rd in the FIFA rankings, Malaysia have won four of their last five matches. The Harimau Malaya’s last defeat came against New Zealand, where they lost away from home by a 4-0 scoreline. The Malaysia national team won the 2024 Merdeka Cup, beating Lebanon in the final, and registered a 3-1 win over the Chinese Taipei side in the 2026 FIFA World Cup second-round qualifiers.

Head-to-Head record

Since India’s first meeting against Malaysia in 1957 in Kuala Lumpur, both sides have faced each other several times, sharing fierce competition over the years. The Blue Tigers have played 32 matches against Malaysia in international football, which is outright the most against any opponent.

Match Played: 32

India won: 12

Malaysia won: 12

Draw: 8

Key Players

Safawi Rasid

Safawi Rasid, who is known for his sharp footwork and explosive pace, could be an X-factor for Malaysia. The 27-year-old winger has notched seven goals and two assists in 19 appearances for Terengganu FC in the Malaysia Super League and recorded 20 goals in 57 appearances with the national team.

Darren Lok

Darren Lok is one of the most experienced players in the Malaysia squad. Born in England, the 33-year-old forward has six international goals to his name and registered three goal contributions in eight appearances for Sabah FC in the domestic league.

Match Details

Fixture: India vs Malaysia

Date: November 18, 2024

Venue: GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium, Hyderabad

Streaming and Telecast: Jio Cinema, Sports 18

Related tags:

2024-2025