Forget the 0-6 thrashing by Argentina, Singapore could pay heavier price for loss to Taiwan

SINGAPORE — Positive news coming out of Singapore football recently has been as rare as a sighting of Lionel Messi in the Lion City, and there could be more misery on the way for the national team in the shape of Turkmenistan.

Forget the sideshow of the Argentina exhibition game and their 6-0 thrashing of the Lions at the Sports Hub in midweek, it is qualification for the 2019 Asian Cup that really matters.

As such, even though Singapore’s 1-2 loss to Taiwan three days earlier on June 10 may have been less noticed in the short-term, it could be more painful in the long run.

After the Lions got their group E campaign off to a positive start by holding Bahrain, probably the strongest team in the group, to a 0-0 draw in Manama in March, Singapore losing at home to probably the weakest team was a very Singapore thing to do.

It was akin to scoring an overhead kick from the edge of the area, and then missing an open goal from a metre.

Despite taking an early lead through Hariss Harun, Singapore allowed Taiwan to come back. And so, instead of moving to the top spot of Group E, the Lions now find themselves propping up the four-team group and in desperate need of a result against Turkmenistan on Sept 5.

In football logic, it is hard to know what to expect in this topsy-turvy group.

Turkmenistan defeated Taiwan (3-1), Taiwan defeated Singapore, Singapore drew with Bahrain, and then Bahrain defeated Turkmenistan (2-1).

Gary White is perhaps the only person in the world who has coached a team against Taiwan, Turkmenistan and Singapore in recent years.

“Turkmenistan are far stronger than Taiwan,” said White who led Guam to wins over both sides.

“They are a strong team physically, and are built more like Europeans than Asians - a Russian style team.

“Technically, they are good, powerful, direct, very direct. They are strong at set pieces and will cause problems.”

The former Soviet Republic, ranked 143 in the Fifa standings, 14 spots higher than Singapore’s 157th, are hardly a continental football powerhouse but are one of those low to mid-ranking nations that the Asian Cup expansion from 16 to 24 teams was meant for.

But Singapore can cause problems for Turkmenistan too.

“Turkmenistan is not the fastest team,” said Taiwan star Chen Po-liang, who scored in his team’s 1-3 home loss to Turkmenistan in March.

“Singapore have some fast players and they can be dangerous against the defence but it will not be easy.”

After a win over Taiwan and a loss at home to Bahrain, Turkmenistan see back-to-back clashes with Singapore as their ticket to the 2019 Asian Cup. Six points, even four, would put the Central Asians in sight of the United Arab Emirates.

“We know all about Singapore,” said Turkmenistan coach Yazguly Hojageldiyev.

“They have some good technical players and got a good result in Bahrain so we know that we need to be at our best but we have time to analyse them more.

“The two games we play together are very important, and if we can get good results, then we can be in a good position.”

There is much to ponder for Singapore coach V. Sundramoorthy from now to September. After a dismal 2016 AFF Suzuki Cup, the draw in Bahrain provided a little hope that was then dashed by Taiwan.

Perhaps worse was the lack of imagination on offer against the East Asian minnows.

Too often, the Lions launched the ball long. It wasn’t pretty but given the pragmatism that has long run through the country’s football scene, that could have been forgiven if it had been successful.

It wasn’t.

It could be that Sundram is happier when having to be reactive against stronger teams than when expected to take the initiative against weaker opposition.

White was in charge of Guam in March 2015 when they came to Singapore for a friendly.

When the game was announced, some fans felt that the Lions should be arranging tougher tests than the one offered by the Pacific islanders.

In the end, it took a late header from defender Baihakki Khaizan to earn Singapore a 2-2 draw.

“That game should have been a wake-up call for Singapore,” said White who left Guam in 2016 to coach Chinese team Shanghai Shenxin.

“It doesn’t seem to have been. Singapore are suffering from poor planning and preparation.

“Of course, tactically you have to be aware of each game as it comes, but the campaign for Asian Cup qualification should have been planned a long time ago.”

“When we beat Turkmenistan, we went into the game knowing exactly how they would play but we had the attitude of ‘let them worry about us.’”.

Ideally, advises White, that is what Singapore should be doing.

“Again it takes preparation and all the players knowing exactly what they have to do and play for the team and each other.”

For the English coach who took Guam, an island with a population of under 200,000, from near 200 in the rankings to close to 150, Singapore’s limited playing pool should not be an issue.

“As a coach you work with the players you have. There is a long history of football in Singapore and there is no excuse,” he said.

“They have a professional league and Singapore players are technically gifted.

“There is plenty to work with, you just have to find the right way and get the players to believe in it.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

TODAY Sports’ guest columnist John Duerden has been based in Asia for almost 20 years and covers the continental football scene for The New York Times, BBC Radio, The Guardian, FourFourTwo and World Soccer magazine