Brussels: The National hockey squad (Speedy Tigers) will be looking to put the 1-5 defeat to defending champions Germany in their opening Group B match on Saturday behind them and produce a much-improved performance against France tomorrow as they continue their 2026 World Cup campaign in Belgium.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, National men's hockey squad head coach Brendon Carolan believes France are a good side which would present a stern challenge for his side tomorrow. Carolan acknowledged the strength of the French team, noting their recent performance against Belgium, where they led 2-0 before Belgium came back with a couple of late penalty corners. He emphasized the need for his team to perform better than they did in their previous match against Germany.

Carolan's remarks came in a video shared by the Malaysian Hockey Confederation, where he highlighted France's participation in the Pro League as evidence of their capabilities. He stressed the importance of the Speedy Tigers stepping up their game to face the formidable French side.

In their recent match, Belgium, who secured the 2018 World Cup title in Bhubaneswar, India, narrowly defeated France 3-2. This result underscores the competitive nature of the group, with Malaysia set to face Belgium in their final Group B match on Wednesday.

Malaysia's history in the tournament includes a notable fourth-place finish when they hosted the event in 1975. As they aim to replicate or surpass past successes, the team is focused on improving their performance in the upcoming matches.