Malaysia are in the Lions’ den – for the much awaited clash in the Asian Zone World Cup second round, first-leg qualifying match scheduled at the Jalan Besar Stadium here tomorrow (7.30pm).
Yes, it is going to be one hell of a fight between two bitter rivals.
The mind games have begun with Singapore coach Radojko Avramovic claiming that his Lions were the underdogs while the local media are hyping up the fact that Taiwan head coach Lee Tae-ho from South Korea had placed Singapore as the favourites after Taiwan lost to the Lions in a friendly (3-2) recently.
National coach Datuk K. Rajagopal and his 24-player squad looked cool upon arrival at the Singapore Changi Airport yesterday before being mobbed by the local media.
“It does not matter what anyone say about us (Malaysian team). If the Taiwan head coach felt that Singapore were the better team so be it. I have no qualms about his opinion. But all I can say is that we are here to take home the points and if possible with the away goal advantage as well,” said Rajagopal yesterday.
Singapore have played three warm-up matches and won all ahead of the qualifiers. They beat Maldives (4-0) and Etoile FC (2-1). They have been seeded to play in the second round while Malaysia had to get past Taiwan (4-4) on the away-goals rule in the first-round last month.
Malaysia began taking part in the qualifying rounds in 1974 and after 10 attempts have never progressed beyond the second round. So, their target is to break a 34-year curse.
But then, these are heady days for Malaysian football, especially after winning the Suzuki Cup Asean Football Federation (AFF) championship last December.
National striker Mohd Safee Sali is the talk of the town here. The stocky player, who was the hero at the Suzuki Cup with five goals and his brace against Liverpool in their 3-6 defeat last week, is a much heralded player in the Singapore media.
There was a one-page write-up on Safee in The New Paper, which also predicted him to reach status of Malaysian legend and prolific striker, the late Mokhtar Dahari.
Rajagopal does not have his best strike force following a hamstring injury on Norshahrul Idlan Talaha, who has been left behind at home to recuperate ahead of the return-leg match at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on July 28.
“It is a pity I am unable to start with the AFF duo. Safee needs no introductions with his power shots and burst inside the box and Norshahrul can get a goal out of nothing,” said Rajagopal.
The strike partner for Safee will either be Abdul Hadi Yahaya or Ahmad Fakri Saarani.
Singapore will be boosted by the presence of five naturalised players led by veteran striker
Aleksandar Duric, Qiu Li, defender Daniel Bennett, midfielders Mustafic Fahrudin and Shi Jiayi.
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