DOHA: How can Harimau Malaya stop South Korea's superstar Son Heung Min in their Asian Cup Group E match tonight (7.30pm, Malaysian time)?
Malaysia co-captain Dion Cools feels that the only way to prevent Heung Min from scoring is to create a '2 versus 1 (2v1)' situation. That means two Malaysians guarding the Tottenham Hotspur striker.
However, it's not only Heung Min that defender Cools and the rest of the Malaysian backline will have to deal with.
They will deploy the 2v1 to counter Hwang In Beom of FK Crvena Zvezda, Cho Gue Sung of FC MIdtjylland and a few others.
"It's important to defend as a team. It's always hard in a 1 versus 1 situation, so we have to create a 2v1," said Cools.
"We have quality players and this is a team sport, so we need to help in defensive and offensive. If we know how to defend against them, it'll be fine."
Meanwhile, South Korea goalkeeper Jo Hyeon Woo said: "Malaysian football has improved much. They have good setpieces and speed."
Ironically, Hyeon Woo has tasted defeat against Malaysia before. He was part of the South Korea team that lost 2-1 to Malaysia at the 2018 Asian Games.
