SINGAPORE - 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 on Saturday (March 23).
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 Saturday'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. 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 full-backs who are very fast. Whoever gets to play will have to stay very focused."
Nazrul Nazari and Irwan Shah started in the full-back 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."
After a seven-month wait, the Lions will play at the National Stadium again, and also welcome a new ringmaster. The Straits Times understands that the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) will unveil Tatsuma Yoshida as the new national coach this week, after announcing yesterday two international friendlies against Solomon Islands on June 8 and Myanmar on June 11.
Singapore national football team - Wikipedia
And once again, it was Saleh who tormented the Lions when he calmly stroked home the winning kick. Still, the Lions, under caretaker coach Nazri Nasir, bowed out with their heads held high as the team tried to take the game to the pacy and technically superior Omanis.
'Give Nazri Nasir the Lions job full-time' - SPORTS247.MY
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The Singapore national football team is the association football national team of the city-state of Singapore. It is organised by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS). The most significant successes of the team have come in the regional AFF Championship , which Singapore has won four times in 1998 , 2004-05 , 2007 , and 2012 .
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He was accompanied by Albirex Niigata Under-15s coach Ryo Ishibashi,serving as a translator, while assistant coach Nazri Nasir also bellowed instructions in Malay. Yoshida said: "Football is all about coordinating your physical abilities with your thoughts, and I wanted the players' passing to be rhythmical.
Football: Lions will not hold back against Oman but must stay
Vincent Subramaniam (born 28 January 1955) is a Singaporean football coach. Educated at Victoria School, Vincent was most recently in charge of Young Lions. He was the national coach of the Singapore national football team from 1998 to 2001.
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