WE are down, but not out.
That's the response from young striker Luqman Hakim Shamsudin following Malaysia's 4-0 defeat to the United Arab Emirates in Thursday's World Cup qualifier in Dubai.
While admitting that the mood in the national camp is a bit gloomy after the heavy defeat, he expects the team to bounce back against Vietnam on June 11 and Thailand on June 15 in their remaining Group G matches.
The 19-year-old, who plays for Belgian side KV Kortrijk, has urged his teammates to take the UAE defeat as a lesson to rectify their weaknesses.
"The 4-0 defeat was bad, but we are more focused on moving forward and are determined to do better.
"No one is dispirited. I am confident we are on the right track to succeed.
"We will work on rectifying the mistakes we made against the UAE in the next six days," he said yesterday.
Luqman earned his second official cap for Malaysia as a second-half substitute against UAE.
He is determined to put to use everything he had learned in Belgium if fielded against Vietnam and Thailand.
"It is up the coach. As a player, it is our duty to be 100 per cent ready.
"So, if given a chance, I will give more than 100 per cent, even 200 per cent… I will give it everything I've got."
UAE, Thailand and Malaysia have each collected nine points but the latter is fourth on goal difference with Vietnam at the top of Group G with 11 points.