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Singapore Feeling Confident Of Defeating Thailand

The Lions are baring their claws...

Nov 14, 2009 2:01:41 AM

Singapore - National Team- GOAL.com/Yuslan Kisra

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Singapore - National Team- GOAL.com/Yuslan Kisra

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Singapore's morale is high ahead of their 2011 Asian Cup Qualification Round match against Thailand on 14th November at the National Stadium.

Fresh from lifting the trophy at the Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) Tournament and beating Indonesia 3-1 in a friendly match just a week ago, the Lions are brimming with confidence as they look forward to take on Bryan Robson’s Thailand on Saturday.

Aleksander Duric, S.League’s Top-scorer and Man-of-the-Tournament in the HCMC Tournament for one, is happy that his scoring boots have worked their magic so far.

“In every match, it is always good to score goals. The goals from the recent HCMC Tournament, Indonesian friendly game as well as the S.League Top-scorer award will give a confidence boost for myself and the team. I hope that this scoring form will continue for Saturday's game.”

Duric’s room-mate Mustafic Fahrudin added, “Thailand have a good team, but we have prepared well for this match and will be ready for them.”

Despite Robson’s impressive credentials as the former Manchester United and England captain, with managerial stints at various EPL clubs , Lions’ coach Radojko Avramovic is not at all intimidated.

“Bryan Robson may be a good coach, but I don’t think he will make any sort of difference because it is too short a time for him. In the long run, I’m sure he will make changes to the team, but now is a bit too early.”

“The positive results from the HCMC Tournament and Indonesia friendly match have also shown that our team has consistency. All our players had a chance to play in these preparation matches, and it bodes well for Saturday’s game that everyone, regardless whether first XI or substitutes, have shown that they are ready for the task at hand.”

With the exception of Itimi Dickson, who is out of the squad due to a lack of match fitness following a nagging thigh injury, the 22-men Singapore squad is generally injury-free.

Itimi’s Home United team-mate Shahril Alias will take over his position in the squad and look forward to earning his first cap in this tournament. SEA Games captain Isa Halim have also joined the team for training after returning from the National U23 preparation stint in the VFF Cup.

With an old score to settle since their last encounter in the first-leg final match of the 2007 Asean Football Championships, the Thai team is expected to come strongly at the Lions.

Then, the Thai team staged a walkout after the referee awarded a penalty to Singapore. The Lions eventually won the match 2-1.

On the Singapore side, the importance of this match is not lost upon the Raddy and his charges. Not only are the Thailand matches key towards the Lions’ progress in their AFC Asian Cup campaign, it is also an opportunity for the Singapore team to book a place in the hearts of local fans.

“These two Thai matches are crucial for us. After all, the first step is always the most important, and since it happens to be a home game, we should try to turn it into our advantage.”

“Singapore-Thailand matches have always been a big draw for local football fans, so this match is also important to show where we are as a team. We have a reasonably good and matured team, and we must show it to the fans on Saturday”, remarked Raddy.

Coach Raddy is under no illusion that this match will be a walk in the park.

Said the mastermind behind Singapore’s recent football successes, “The Singapore and Thailand team are actually not very different in standard. Both teams are very familiar with each other’s playing style, so in the end it is the little details that will tilt the advantage to either team.

"But every match is unpredictable in its own way - The most important thing is that the team goes into the match believing that they can win the game, and for the players do their best on the pitch.”

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