KUALA LUMPUR: Football legend Datuk Jamal Nasir was unimpressed with the way Malaysia qualified for tomorrow's Merdeka Tournament final against Lebanon.
Jamal, who played in the national teams that used to rout the Philippines by three goals or more, saw Harimau Malaya struggle to edge the Azkals 2-1 in the semi-final at the National Stadium on Wednesday.
Jamal, 69, a key member of the Malaysia team that qualified for the 1980 Moscow Olympics, has voiced his concerns about the current team.
And he wonders how many of the current players are worthy of wearing the Malaysia shirt.
"I challenge the players to show they can beat a team like Lebanon. If they can't rise to this challenge, they clearly do not meet the standards required to wear the national jersey," said Jamal.
His remarks came in the wake of Malaysia's narrow 2-1 win over world No. 147 the Philippines. Jamal expressed his dissatisfaction with the team's performance and lamented that Malaysia lack strikers who can convert chances into goals.
"If we struggle against a team ranked below us, our prospects against a higher-ranked team like Lebanon, currently at 116th, are concerning.
"We need players who can deliver goals under pressure, otherwise we remain a step behind."
Jamal said Malaysian football faces systemic issues like lack of competitive domestic competitions and insufficient international exposure for players.