Veteran striker Safee Sali says that Malaysia are ready to prove their critics wrong at this month's AFF Suzuki Cup, despite losing four of their last five international games.
Malaysia play their first match of the elite Southeast Asian tournament against Myanmar on Sunday at Singapore's Jalan Besar Stadium. Safee said the team were encouraged by their bright first half performance in the 3-1 away defeat to Vietnam last weekend.
"We played great football in the first half in Hanoi. If we can play like that for 90 minutes, we would be a team to watch in Singapore," Safee told the New Straits Times.
"It has given my teammates self-belief and confidence. There is a lot of pressure but it is nothing new for a footballer."
Although he has played in three previous AFF tournaments and scored eight goals, 30-year-old Safee is likely to start on the bench at the Suzuki Cup. National coach Dollah Salleh prefers Norshahrul Idlan Talaha and Amri Yahyah as his two forwards.
Safee did not play regularly for Malaysia Super League (MSL) champions Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) as he struggled for fitness. This also does not help his cause of claiming a starting berth in the Suzuki Cup.
But the former Indonesia-based superstar says that he has shaken off his injury worries and is raring to go.
"My condition is good. I am mentally and physically ready for my fourth AFF Cup appearance," Safee said.
"I can play with anyone in attack. My job is to train hard and try my best to score goals for the country."
Meanwhile, Malaysia received a much-needed boost when coach Dollah was told that central defender Mohd Muslim Ahmad will be able to play against Myanmar in the weekend, despite being sent off in the defeat to Vietnam.
That's because red cards in friendlies don't impact on the Suzuki Cup, according to the Football Association Malaysia (FAM). The Police centre-back is thus likely to serve a one-match suspension in Malaysia's next friendly instead of the upcoming game in Singapore.
Muslim was a member of Malaysia's victorious 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup squad under former coach K. Rajagobal.
Malaysia Squad for Suzuki Cup:
Goalkeepers: Mohd Farizal Marlias, Khairul Fahmi Che Mat, Khairul Azhan Khalid.
Defenders: Mohd Afif Amiruddin, Mahali Jasuli, Mohd Azmi Muslim, Shukor Adan, Zubir Azmi, Mohd Muslim Ahmad, Fadhli Shas.
Midfielders: Mohd Safiq Rahim, Mohd Badhri Mohd Radzi, Gary Steven Robbat, S. Kunalan, Azamuddin Akil, Mohd Hafiz Kamal, Baddrol Bakhtiar.
Strikers: Norshahrul Idlan Talaha, Safee Sali, Indra Putra Mahayuddin, Mohd Amri Yahyah, Abdul Manaf Mamat.