Even if the odds are against them - the teams are separated by 75 places in the world rankings - Singapore will continue their attacking football against Oman in the final of the AirMarine Cup tonight.
The world No. 90 Omanis hammered Afghanistan 5-0 on Wednesday, while 165th-ranked Singapore pulled off a 1-0 win over hosts Malaysia in the four-team invitational tournament.
The Republic's victory at Bukit Jalil Stadium was achieved through hard work, a dedication to pass the ball out from the back and players expressing themselves up front.
Caretaker national coach Nazri Nasir wants more of the same in tonight's clash.
Oman reached the round of 16 in January's Asian Cup finals.
Nazri, 48, told The Straits Times yesterday: "We can expect a very tough game, especially since Oman had beaten Afghanistan by a good score.
DEFENSIVE DISCIPLINE
Malaysia penetrated our flanks a few times and I will make sure that won't happen again. We need fresh legs on the flanks who can track back as Oman have fullbacks who are very fast. Whoever gets to play will have to stay very focused.
NAZRI NASIR, caretaker national coach (above), on tonight's final against Oman.
"They will be confident and their morale is boosted. But nevertheless, anything can happen."
The former national captain will stick to the 4-3-3 formation deployed against Malaysia, but he wants the Lions to be more compact defensively to keep the pacy Omanis at bay.
Nazri explained: "I have studied Oman's attacking patterns. Malaysia penetrated our flanks a few times and I will make sure that won't happen again.
"We need fresh legs on the flanks who can track back as Oman have fullbacks who are very fast. Whoever gets to play will have to stay very focused."
Nazrul Nazari and Irwan Shah started in the fullback positions but Emmeric Ong and Faritz Hameed are in consideration for starting places.
And Nazri has reiterated his faith in his men - especially 34-year-old veteran Khairul Amri, who laid on the pass for Faris Ramli's 82nd-minute winner against Malaysia.
Nazri said: "Amri pushed till the last minute. I believe in him and he delivered.
"He is still a very dangerous player who is very intelligent and he waited till the right moment to create that goal."
But the Lions can expect no favours from Oman, who are led by Erwin Koeman, the older brother of Netherlands national coach Ronald. The 57-year-old Dutchman, who was capped 31 times, told the Malaysian media: "In football, there can be no excuses, you have to win. We are here to win the cup, as simple as that.
"The expectations will be higher, but that's normal everywhere. It's good, as it will push the staff and players to do a little better.
"It's the mentality, what's inside you, what you can bring, and everybody can always bring a little bit more."
But Nazri believes that the Lions have bought into his ideas, saying: "They (the players) believe in my style. We are not going to sit back (against Oman).
"We will attack them, but we cannot leave gaps behind. When we don't have the ball, everyone is a defender.
"Honestly, I'm very happy with the team, there is nothing more I can ask from them, they gave 100 per cent (against Malaysia). Determination is our weapon."
AIRMARINE CUP
3rd Place: Malaysia v Afghanistan (4.25pm), Final: S'pore v Oman (8.40pm) - Singtel TV Ch111
"We are all tired after an amazing, crazy and unbelievable night," Pochettino told a news conference Spurs 'still in a dream' after Man City win, says Pochettino Home
Tottenham beat Man City in Champions League: 'We are still in
Crystal Palace put a dent in Arsenal's Champions League qualification hopes after strikers Christian Benteke and Wilfried Zaha made the most of defensive errors in a 3-2 win at the Emirates
Football: Palace punish sloppy Arsenal in 3-2 win at the Emirates
Liverpool could match Arsenal's Invincibles by going through a Premier League season without defeat, according to Unai Emery. Liverpool v Arsenal: Reds can be Invincible says Unai Emery | Goal.com
Liverpool can match Arsenal's Invincibles, says Unai Emery
Football: Home United engage youths in MacPherson through
Victory over Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham could change it all for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, writes Adam Bate. If the five goals scored at Cardiff in that first game in charge were a nod to the days
Three jobs in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's in-tray - United Faithful
Australia's women footballers to earn same base pay as men in win for gender equality Under a new collective bargaining agreement unveiled on the eve of the Women's World Cup in France, the base annual pay for players in the W-League was hiked 33 percent to Aus$16,344 (US$11,393).
Australian female footballers to earn same base pay as men
Sarri: 'Chelsea hard to motivate' By Football Italia staff Maurizio Sarri was furious with "difficult to motivate" Chelsea after a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal, but insisted he knows nothing about
Furious Maurizio Sarri says Chelsea players lack motivation
Manchester City linchpin Bernardo Silva faces a late fitness test before Sunday's Premier League trip to Crystal Palace, his manager Pep Guardiola said on Friday. make late decision on Silva
Football: Guardiola to make late decision on Silva for Palace
Ten-man Real Madrid suffered their seventh La Liga defeat of the season as they fell 2-1 at home to Girona , with Sergio Ramos breaking the Spanish record for red cards with his late dismissal
La Liga: Atletico Madrid win again to keep pressure on
Aguero inches Man City closer to title. Sergio Aguero's 20th Premier League goal of the season left Manchester City just two wins from the title after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Burnley at
Aguero inches Man City closer to title - france24.com
Injuries open the way for Lukaku and Sanchez to shine for Manchester United Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku to step up to help the club in its injury crisis.
Injuries open way for Sanchez and Lukaku to shine for United
Man City star David Silva explains how the scales of respect for Manchester United have tipped in our favour, we have won more games." Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's
The power behind the 'baby-faced assassin' Ole Gunnar
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino was Monday charged with improper conduct by the Football Association following his side's defeat to Burnley. Mauricio Pochettino in an argument with Referee
Football: Tottenham boss Pochettino charged with improper
Lions' new coach Tatsuma Yoshida wants more intensity, confidence Technique is second but, first, I want the players to want the ball. "I want them asking for the ball and not being scared
Newspapers | Media | Virginia Bus
virginiabus.info/sports/football-my-players-must-want-the-ball-says-new-lions-coach-tatsuma-yoshida/
If we want to be a ball-playing team, we need to have confidence first, the players must want the ball." During the informal game, he was seen pulling winger Gabriel Quak aside to give more instructions. After training, Yoshida was also giving forward Adam Swandi pointers.
Lions coach Tatsuma Yoshida unfazed by criticism, Latest
0 comments:
Post a Comment