KUALA LUMPUR: Coaches Lionel Scaloni, Pablo Aimar and Walter Samuel, who guided Argentina to their third World Cup triumph in Qatar on Sunday, have one thing in common.
They were members of Argentina's team who won the 1997 World Youth Championship in Kuala Lumpur.
Lionel Messi thanked head coach Scaloni and his assistants Aimar and Samuel for their coaching touch after their World Cup victory over Les Bleus on penalties.
Ex-national player Rosle Md Derus, who played in the 1997 world youth event, said: "I was excited when the three were appointed as Argentina coaches.
"I am proud that Malaysia were in the same competition as Argentina at the world youth event.
"Malaysia, however, did not play against Argentina in 1997.
"The trio are now part of Argentina's World Cup triumph.
"I hope Malaysia will qualify for the World Cup one day. However, it will probably take 50 years or so to see a Malaysian team in football's biggest competition."
While Argentina won the tournament in 1997, Malaysia lost all their Group A matches to Morocco (3-1), Uruguay (3-1) and Belgium (3-0).
Rosle played in all three matches.
Former Terengganu coach Nafuzi Zain, who was also a member of Malaysia's 1997 youth team, said: "In 1997, we watched Argentina in action, and they were a class above.
"How we see them now is how they were before... playing at a very high level."
Malaysia edged Uruguay 2-1 to become world youth champions at the Shah Alam Stadium in 1997.
Aimar signed a two-year contract with Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) but was released by the club in early 2014 after making just eight appearances and scoring two goals.