KUALA LUMPUR: What's wrong with Harimau Malaya? From the high of holding Son Heung Min-led South Korea to a draw in the Asian Cup, the national team now find themselves underperforming against minnows in the ongoing Asean Cup.
This sharp decline in form is causing concern among fans and analysts.
While expectations were high for Pau Marti Vicente's side to comfortably beat lower-ranked Cambodia and Timor Leste in their opening matches, the reality has been far from ideal.
Harimau Malaya battled to a 2-2 draw against Cambodia and eked out a narrow 3-2 win over Timor Leste, a performance seen as underwhelming for a team once riding a wave of success under former coach Kim Pan Gon.
World No. 132 Malaysia's poor showings against 180th-ranked Cambodia and 196th-ranked Timor Leste are worrying.
For context, the world rankings end with 210th-placed San Marino, making these results an indictment of Malaysia's current form.
While some key players are unavailable for the Asean Cup, several larger issues are contributing to the team's lacklustre performances.
A key misstep was Vicente's announcement that he would be stepping down as coach after the tournament.
Such a decision should have been kept private until after the Asean Cup, as these revelations can undermine team morale and focus.
Harimau Malaya's preparations for the Asean Cup could have been better.
The decision to pack the M-League during the tournament has forced clubs to recall players from the national squad during the Asean Cup.
Harimau Malaya have now become a "hotel" with players coming and going, which is rather perplexing, considering that the Asean Cup schedule was known months ahead.
This lack of coordination among football stakeholders has disrupted the team's ability to prepare effectively.
It is puzzling that M-League clubs, with squads of 25 to 30 players, including foreign signings, cannot manage without a handful of players away for national duty.
The situation raises questions about priorities within Malaysian football.
Vicente could have focused on using the Asean Cup as a development platform, selecting players from the Under-23 squad and fringe national team members, particularly if the tournament was not deemed a priority.
Alternatively, the FA of Malaysia (FAM) could have withdrawn from the competition entirely, allowing players to concentrate on domestic competitions.
Such decisions could have "avoided" the current predicament.
The Asean Football Federation (AFF) must also reassess the tournament's format and scheduling.
The month-long competition, held outside the Fifa international window, places unnecessary strain on players and fails to capture fans' attention.
A more condensed format or a single-host model could improve the tournament's appeal.
Additionally, aligning the Asean Cup with Fifa windows would ensure the participation of top players and generate more interest.
Following the 1-0 loss to Thailand on Saturday, Harimau Malaya must now beat Singapore in their next match to keep their semi-final hopes alive.
The stakes are high, and the pressure is mounting.
While Malaysia remain among the stronger teams in the region when at full strength, FAM cannot use the absence of key players as an excuse.
Representing the national team, regardless of a player's status, carries the weight of national pride and expectations.
The AFF must also prioritise addressing impending issues to avoid further stagnation of the Asean Cup.
Without meaningful changes, the Asean Cup risks losing its relevance.
Timesport has reached out to FAM for comment.
Ajitpal Singh is the Sports Editor of NST