SINGAPORE - Their chief striker Ikhsan Fandi is jet lagged, having arrived from Norway on Tuesday (June 4) and having spent the following day celebrating Hari Raya with his family.
While Fandi Ahmad acknowledged on Thursday that goals may be a problem at the June 7-9 Merlion Cup, the former national striker promised to stick to his attacking football ethos as his Under-22 side take on the Philippines at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Friday.
"I'm confident in tomorrow's game but the main problem is scoring goals," the 57-year-old said at the pre-tournament media conference at the Copthorne King's Hotel on Thursday. "We need composure in front of the goal. I hope he (Ikhsan) carries on his form but he just arrived, he hasn't had a session with us before and he's jet lagged.
"Yesterday there were celebrations the entire day until the evening and I think I saw him collapse at the end of the day so he needs a good rest. We have some restrictions on him but we will manage.
"I'm sure we will attack and my style is that I like to attack. We always play good high-pressing games. I think the boys are ready and hopefully, they will do another good showing like in the AFC Under-23 tournament qualifiers. We're looking forward to this."
Singapore were undefeated in three Asian Football Confederation U-23 qualifiers in March and scored five goals in the process, although they failed to make the tournament proper in January 2020.
Ikhsan, who has netted four goals in 11 games for Norwegian second-tier club Raufoss this season, told The Straits Times that he will try to replicate his club form for the national side, but "everybody has to play their part" if they were to beat Philippines to earn a place in Sunday's final against Thailand or Indonesia.
The 20-year-old pointed to the likes of Balestier Khalsa's Daniel Goh and Geylang International's Zikos Chua, and said: "We have new players now so I think they will bring something new to the team... some new players who might show themselves during this tournament.
Â
"Who knows, they might play a very big part for us."
Zikos, 17, is eager to make an impression in his first outing for the U-22s, having made his competitive debut for Geylang last year.
"I think they've selected us (youngsters) for a reason and we hope we can try and replicate the good things we've showcased in our clubs and hopefully bring it to the team and try to give our 100 per cent," said Zikos, who pointed to his aerial presence and link-up play as strengths.
"I'm definitely looking forward to the tournament, I think it's going to be a good experience."
While Fandi acknowledged that Thailand and Indonesia have both fielded under-strength teams for this tournament, he believes the competition is beneficial to his side's preparations for the Nov 30-Dec 11 SEA Games in the Philippines.
"At the end of the day, the SEA Games is our target and we want to do well. This tournament is the stepping stone for the boys to push the level higher," he said.
While he joked that his players may be "3kg up" after the Hari Raya festivities, he added: "We'll be fine. We'll give a good fight and a good show. I just hope the fans will come, put their Hari Raya celebrations aside to come and support the U-22 boys, give them more motivation and confidence.
"Hopefully, the real lions (the fans) will come and roar for us."
* Merlion Cup tickets are available at the stadium or online via www.fas.org.sg/tickets
Paris Saint-Germain shook off their Champions League hangover and resumed their canter towards another French title on Tuesday as they cruised to a 4-0 win in Dijon.
PSG win in 1st outing since Champions League nightmare
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is on track to return to training next month, reports say. Liverpool lost Oxlade-Chamberlain late last season, after he suffered knee ligament damage against Roma in the
Jurgen Klopp says Alex Oxlade Chamberlain could return to
At Least Eight Reasons Why the Talk of North Korea Leveling Seoul Is Simply Wrong. Posted at 11:59 pm on August 9, 2017 by streiff
Prospect of Atmospheric Nuclear Test by North Korea Raises
Lionel Messi is back but Lionel Scaloni's Copa squad is littered with new faces. Messi the one constant in a much-changed Argentina squad for Copa America and he has surely played a key
Lionel Messi in 2018: Another underrated year for the little
All eyes on France star in key clash BARCELONA • Antoine Griezmann had been set to move to Barcelona last summer in one of football's biggest transfers of all time. The seemingly nailed-on deal, however, failed to materialise after Atletico Madrid managed to convince the France forward that they were making progress, leading him to sign a new
All eyes on France coach Blanc ahead of key Romania clash
Our Tampines Hub to screen Champions League showdown on Sunday channelnewsasia.com - CNA Winning the Europa League final and returning to the Champions League will earn Arsenal a cash bonanza
Our Tampines Hub x UEFA Champions League Final - YouTube
Richarlison continues to impress but West Ham continue to struggle, while two promising English youngsters shine - Saturday's Premier League talking points.
Premier League talking points: Liverpool go top as Manchester
Football: Man City still teenagers in adult world of
Latest football news and transfer rumours. Get your team updates, match results and upcoming fixtures. Stay ahead of the game plus pictures and videos with The Sun Football
Mario Balotelli - Wikipedia
Football. Home football; Juve foiled by Gervinho brace after leading 3-1. Daniele Rugani put Juventus 2-0 ahead in the 62nd minute after a series of ricochets, Antonino Barilla headed one
Football: Juve foiled by Gervinho brace after leading 3-1
Sao Paulo (AFP) - Pele remains under "observation" in a Brazilian hospital, his doctors said Thursday, describing the three-time World Cup winner as "clinically stable". The latest update on the Brazilian football great's health comes a day after the Albert Einstein hospital in Sao Paulo said he would need an operation to remove a
Pele remains under 'observation' in Brazil hospital: doctors
LONDON (Reuters) - Ajax Amsterdam took a massive stride towards a first Champions League final for 23 years as Donny van de Beek's early goal earned a 1-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur in the first leg of their semi-final on Tuesday. Erik ten Hag's youthful Ajax side, featuring several players polished
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer boosted by Jose Mourinho's work, claims Louis van Gaal Description: Van Gaal's claims seem at odds with the more entertaining football played by United since Solskjaer started a reign that looks set to bring him the manager's job on a permanent basis.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer boosted by Mourinho's work, claims Louis
Mourning Manchester United player Wes Brown is due to abandon a team tour of South Africa following the sudden death of his pregnant half-sister. The footballer was 'stunned' by news of the sudden
Jose Mourinho told Man United should sign 23-year-old as cover
Players past and present have joined fans in paying tribute to England World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks, who has died at the age of 81. The news of his passing was released by his family
Gordon Banks: World Cup-winning goalkeeper dies aged 81
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online youtube
watch soccer online free streaming live app
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online
watch tamil nadu premier league live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live manchester united
watch premier league live in stream
watch champions league live streaming vk
watch soccer online free streaming live canada
watch champions league live streaming xbox one
watch champions league live streaming crictime
how to watch premier league live streaming
watch soccer live streaming mobile
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch live soccer game today
watch soccer live streaming qatar
watch coppa america live streaming nz
watch premier league live streaming free
watch champions league live streaming mobile
watch coppa america live streaming world
watch champions league live streaming match
watch soccer live stream apk
watch soccer online free streaming live english
watch coppa america live streaming hd
watch champions league live streaming bola
watch champions league live streaming zee5
watch coppa america live streaming usa
watch live streaming soccer manchester united
watch soccer live streaming zee tv
watch uefa champions league live streaming sportek
watch coppa america live streaming bola
watch champions league semi final draw live stream
watch live english premier league online free streaming
watch champions league live stream uk
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming
watch premier league live streaming jamaica
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo 7
where to watch free live soccer streaming online
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming online free
watch coppa america live streaming vf
watch champions league live stream gratis
watch coppa america live streaming qatar
watch indian premier league live stream online
watch coppa america live streaming direct
watch premier league live stream reddit
soccer tv live net stream
watch soccer aid live stream
watch coppa america live streaming free
watch premier league live streaming vf
watch premier league games live stream
watch premier league live streaming quality
watch soccer live live football streaming cr7
watch premier league live streaming zimbabwe
watch soccer live streaming hd
watch live premier league football streaming online for free
watch coppa america live streaming gratis
watch soccer live streaming xbox
watch champions league live streaming bt sport
watch live soccer online free streaming now
watch coppa america live streaming app
free live football streams watch live streaming tv premier league
watch barclays premier league live streaming online free
how to watch champions league live streaming
watch iceland soccer live stream
watch coppa america live streaming youtube
watch coppa america live streaming yify
super soccer tv live streaming piala dunia
watch uefa champions league final live streaming free online
watch champions league draw live stream total sportek
watch coppa america live streaming online
free watch soccer live streaming
best site to watch live soccer streaming
super soccer tv live streaming garuda select
watch soccer online free streaming live arabic
watch soccer online free streaming live bbc
watch coppa america live streaming eng
#zinedinezidane #manunited #thomasmeunier #visubal #jadwalbolahariini #trollfootball #myfootballuniverse #chocolatecoffee #Barcelona #oasisengland #championship #manchestercity #midnight #JUVENTUS #nationsleague #mane #MSport #gunners #comico #gooners #livesports #Celtic #gym #valcea #coutinho #klopp #meunier #premierleague #kroenkeout #manchesterunited #hotcoffee #adidasslipon #cristianoronaldo #petercrouch #goodday #kopisusu #golazo #beatifulgame #panini #livestreaming #commentimemorabili #coffeebreak #elcasico #rugby #mancityvsliverpool #oasisandbeatles #ucl #england #golf #noelgallagher #liverpool #rockstar #PartyTime #sunderlandafc #lfc #lovefootball #soccer #soccermemes #livestreams #manchestercity #league1 #mancity #coyg #satira #insegreto #fut #Bar #ronaldo #copaamerica #bayervshoffenheim #GarageCafeDxb #Sunday #crossfit #zidane #liverpool #streamingbolaid #vandijk #nikesoccer #fcbarcelona #arsenal #sumbertv #alissonbecker #footballmeme #tokyo #winner
No comments:
Post a Comment