Malaysia lives and breathes football. A quick glance at our mamaks during the height of the English Premiere League or UEFA Champions League season will show you just how passionate we are about the beautiful game, and it pains us to know that our chances of seeing the Harimau Malaysia shine on the FIFA World Cup stage are as always so low as to be nearly non-existent.
That said, the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Football rankings for men will give Malaysians everywhere a reason to hold their heads a little taller, because we’ve officially surpassed Singapore and Indonesia, our eternal footballing (and food) rivals in the rankings!
Source: Reddit
According to a post by Reddit user tlst9999, the Malaysian men’s football team is ranked 159th out of 211 countries. Of course, our current ranking is just outside the bottom 50, meaning it’s really nothing much to celebrate, but this new rise in the rankings puts us ahead of Singapore and Indonesia, and to some netizens, that’s reason enough to celebrate.
Source: Reddit
Others wondered about Malaysia’s chances at the World Cup, though there wasn’t quite as much optimism there.
Source: Reddit
Of course, our neighbours weren’t quite as pleased with the rankings, with several Indonesian news outlets proclaiming that the Indonesian men’s football team had been surpassed by Malaysia, calling on their team to rise back up.
Timnas kalah telak lawan Jordania dengan skor 1 – 4.
Indonesia harus rela digeser Malaysia yang kini duduk di posisi 168.
Ayo timnas, jangan kalah dari Malaysia
Garuda di dadaku, bangkit ayo bangkit Indonesia ku#indonesia #timnasindonesia #fifa #peringkatfifa #garuda pic.twitter.com/py3sDGtfjx— Dewi365 (@Dewi3652) June 16, 2019
Best food? Check. Best football? Double check.
With a coalition of ASEAN countries including Malaysia now putting together a joint proposal for the 2034 World Cup and rumours that Premier League Manchester City are looking to buy a local team, perhaps the only way Malaysian football can go is up. However, as long as we keep our regional bragging rights, however high up we go may not be quite as important as who we are above.
That’s awesome and proof of all the hard work Harimau Malaya have put in on the pitch! Do you think this is the start of an upward trajectory for Malaysian football, or just great bragging rights? Let us know in the comments!
Also read: EPL Champions Man City Could Be Taking Over a M’sian Football Club
