KUALA LUMPUR: Bayern Munich for heavyweights Germany and the Selangor side for mighty Malaysia in the 1970-1980s
Players from these illustrious sides would take up many of the places in the starting 11 in their national teams.
Envision the Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) team doing such a role for Malaysia.
A national team, packed with JDT players who have had the experience of slugging it out with top teams in the Asian Champions League.
The J-factor seemed to have kicked in when the national team took on Timor Leste in the two-legged World Cup qualifiers at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on June 7 and June 11.
The nine JDT players donning national colours are goalkeeper Farizal Marlias, utility ace Adam Nor Azlin, leftback La'Vere Corbin-Ong, centreback Dominic Tan, leftback Syazwan Andik, midfielder Syamer Kutty Abba, forwards Safawi Rasid, Akhyar Rashid and Syafiq Ahmad.
Against Timor Leste, Harimau Malaya won as expected, but the surprise was the huge margins of victories.
The team, led by JDT custodian Farizal, hammered Timor Leste 7-1 in the first leg and 5-1 in the second leg.
Previously, Malaysia struggled even against mediocre teams. But now it seems the Tigers have really changed their stripes — by upping their game a notch.
The ferocity with which they ripped apart Timor Leste showed a remarkable new level of progress in their play.
But consideirng the quality of the opposition (World No 168 Malaysia were expected to beat World 195 Timor Leste), coach Tan Cheng Hoe’s men are well aware that they still have a long way to go. But still, 12 goals in two matches against Timor Leste, is something to be proud of.
Notably, for the first time, Cheng Hoe was able to assemble his best team, the players who he wanted, all came, no injuries, no withdrawals, and no cases of players failing to get release from their clubs. .
“I’m quite satisfied with the attitude of the players,” said Cheng Hoe who has warned his men to be braced for matches against much better teams in September.
“I’ve told the players to be ready for the next stage which won’t be easy,
“We could be facing Iran, South Korea or Saudi Arabia,” said Cheng Hoe.
The Malaysian attack, which is heavy with JDT firepower. has given Cheng Hoe plenty of options.
Attacking midfielder Mohamadou Sumareh said: “It was an excellent performance and we really played as a team. For the second game, we rotated the team but still the players that came in did very well.
“From the defence to attack, we now have so many options. Players who can come in and maintain the quality of the team. So the coach is doing a really good job with the players.”