星媒對於新加坡隊在亞洲盃資格賽表示樂觀 - 足球

Sundram's scowl should now be a smile, thanks to Asian Cup draw

感謝亞洲盃抽籤，新加坡總仔的皺眉如今應該是微笑了

By John Duerden, Published: January 29, 2017 https://goo.gl/bQbiLM

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(快速翻譯，如有錯誤懇請海涵)

At last Monday’s draw for the final round of qualifying for the 2019 Asian
Cup finals, Singapore found itself in the same group with Bahrain,
Turkmenistan and Taiwan. TODAY’s guest writer John Duerden reckons this is
the best opportunity for embattled Singapore head coach V. Sundramoorthy to
send the Lions into their first Asian Cup finals since 1984...

SINGAPORE — Even veteran defender Daniel Bennett struggles to remember the
last time Singapore appeared at the Asian Cup — after all, it was back in
1984.

It takes fans of a certain vintage to remember that the country’s last
meaningful action in the quadrennial tournament came as defender Razali Saad
scored a second-half equaliser against Iran.

That was Singapore’s first and only appearance to date in the competition,
and it came because Singapore hosted the event. To put it simply: the Lions
have never qualified for the Asian Cup. But that could be about to change.

新加坡在亞洲盃資格賽最終輪的抽籤，和巴林、土庫曼與台灣同組，客座作者John
Duerden 認為新加坡總仔V. Sundramoorthy有最好的機會，將新加坡繼1984年首次在亞洲
盃登場後，再次於會內賽亮相。

就算是新加坡的老將，也很難記得上一次新加坡在亞洲杯的登場，畢竟那是1984年的往事
有點年紀的球迷才會記得後衛 Razali Saad在下半場進球追平了伊朗的比賽；這是新加坡
唯一在亞洲盃的亮相，因為新加坡是主辦國。簡單來說，新加坡從未靠自己的力量晉級過
會內賽，但這可能即將改變。

The expansion of the tournament from 16 in 2015 to 24 in 2019 opens up the
tournament to a lot more teams. The draw, held in Abu Dhabi on Monday, has
opened the 2019 edition to the Lions.

Bahrain, Turkmenistan, Taiwan and Singapore. You would struggle to find a
group that better represented the different regions of Asia than this. There
is an Arabian nation from the west, one from the central region with
South-east and East Asia also represented. It means plenty of travel but it
also means plenty of opportunities.

Especially for coach V. Sundramoorthy.

亞洲盃的擴編，讓更多球隊有機會參與，也開啟了新加坡的晉級之路。
你很難找到比巴林、土庫曼、台灣與新加坡更好的分組，能呈現亞洲的不同區域；從西邊
的阿拉伯國家到中亞國家、東南亞國家與東亞國家在同一個分組中。這代表了許多的旅程
，也意味著許多的機會。

特別對於總教練V. Sundramoorthy來說

It is only two months since I sat just a couple of metres away from the
former Tampines Rovers boss in Manila after the Lions had been ejected from
the group stage of the AFF Suzuki Cup by Indonesia.

It was raining outside and the mood inside was equally gloomy. The last
question from a reporter was about whether the coach thought his job was
safe. Sundram’s last word was to turn it around and ask the reporter whether
his job had been in doubt after just six months, before standing up and
walking out.

The scowl from November may have turned into a January smile. Sundram's
contract expires on May 31 but a good start and the job could be his for some
time to come.

去年十一月兵敗東南亞盃時，我在馬尼拉看到總仔的心情鬱悶，飯碗能否保住都是問題。
但當時的皺眉，現在可能轉成微笑，在今年5月31日合約到期前，有個好機會來大展身手


That comes on March 28 when it all kicks off. If Singapore can get a result
in Bahrain, then the whole group opens up and Sundram’s position is looking
good.

The men from Manama are not of the class as the team that came close to
reaching Germany in 2006 and South Africa four years later. Political
upheavals led to the team losing some of its best players and the current
squad is aging somewhat.

Heart can be taken from the Philippines. In the second round of qualification
for the 2018 World Cup, Bahrain lost in Manila and finished behind the Azkals
in the group and did not impress. Of the top seeds among the six groups,
Bahrain are one of the weaker nations.

The Middle Easterners could be the perfect team for the Singapore coach.
Criticised at the AFF Suzuki Cup for focusing too much on defence and
counter-attack, that could be exactly what the team needs in Manama. Bahrain
are under pressure after a series of indifferent tournament performances.

Recent World Cup qualification campaigns have ended prematurely and after a
last-four place at the 2004 Asian Cup, the last three tournaments resulted in
first-round exits.

Bahrain are good enough to expect to beat Singapore and to attack
aggressively but not good enough to automatically win. A point for the
visitors in the first game is a realistic target, and would send a signal to
the rest of the group. Bahrain are not easy to beat but they are beatable.

新加坡3月28日首戰對手是巴林，如果在巴林能取得積分，對於晉級的情勢一片大好。
巴林隊不再是那隻曾在2006年與2010年差點進入世界盃的那支球隊，政治動盪流失了一些
好手，同時陣容老化。菲律賓就曾在2018年世足賽亞洲區第二輪擊敗過巴林，而且最終巴
林在小組賽的排名也是落後菲律賓，這次資格賽抽籤的第一檔次中，巴林是屬於較弱的國
家之一。
巴林也是新加坡總仔心中的完美對手，正如同他在兵敗東南亞盃時，被批評過於重視防守
與防守反擊，這正是面對巴林時所需要的部分。巴林在一系列的賽事敗北後正承受著壓力
；自從巴林在2004年亞洲盃得到第四名之後，連續三屆的亞洲盃都是一輪遊。
巴林好到可以預期擊敗新加坡，但絕對不是穩贏。首戰在客場逼和巴林是一個合理目標；
這同時能給小組其他球隊一個信號:巴林雖不容易打敗，卻是可擊敗。

Taiwan are easy to beat, or should be, even if this minnow has grown a little
in recent years. The danger for Singapore is that they may become frustrated
with a big fat Taiwan bus parked in front of the goal.

Assuming he is still in place, can a fairly defensive-minded coach like
Sundram get the wins – and they may have to be big ones given that goal
difference could be crucial in the end – against a team that may well be set
up to spoil? Assuming his contract lasts that long, Sundram will need to show
some flexibility.

台灣輕易就能取勝，或應該如此，即是他們在過去幾年有著些微進步。但對新加坡危機在
於，要是台灣在球門前停大巴，可能會令人感到挫折。
假設次戰在主場面對台灣的比賽(6/13)，總仔還在任的話，這位著重防守的教練，需要多
一點變通來獲得大勝，好取得淨勝球數以備萬一。

Turkmenistan are the second seeds in the group but will set their sights on
top spot.

In the second round of qualification for the 2018 World Cup, the Central
Asians finished third, just a point behind Oman after beating the team 2-1, a
result that saw Oman fire Paul Le Guen. The highlight, however, was a 1-1
draw with winners Iran and praise from Carlos Queiroz for their effort.

Hard-working and well-organised, and capable of generating a hostile
atmosphere in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan have plenty of experience.

For a number of the team’s big names such as Nazar Bayramow, Yagmyrmyrat
Annamyradow and Artur Geworkyan, the 2019 Asian Cup is going to be the last
chance they have at a major tournament though Bayramov did make it to the
2004 Asian Cup, the country’s only appearance on the continental stage.

It is the back-to-back games against the Turkmen, at home in September and
then away the following month that will make or break the Lions’ campaign.
Scouting and researching will be crucial as the Emeralds don’t play that
many friendly games.

The Football Association fo Singapore (FAS) will have to help the coaching
staff and put in some calls to India, Guam, Iran and Oman to get their hands
on some tapes.

土庫曼是小組中的第二種子，但他們把目標放放在奪得首位。在2018年世界盃亞洲區資格
賽第二輪中，土庫曼僅以一分之差後於阿曼，排在分組第三。在世界盃資格賽中土庫曼曾
以2-1擊敗阿曼，也以1-1逼和分組第一的伊朗，獲得伊朗總教練Carlos Queiroz的稱讚。
土庫曼有著豐富的經驗能下苦功與良好組織，並在主場營造敵對氣氛。
對於陣中的幾位王牌而言，2019年亞洲盃是他們最後一次能在大賽出場的機會，雖然
Nazar Bayramow曾在2004年，土庫曼僅有的亞洲盃之旅亮相過。
對決土庫曼的比賽剛好是「背靠背」，九月在主場、十月在客場；土庫曼不太常踢友誼賽
，因此球探和研究工作至關重要。新加坡足協必須要協助教練團取得當時土庫曼面對印度
、關島、伊朗與阿曼的比賽資料。

A well-prepared, organised and focused Singapore team can go all the way in
this group. Much depends on the coach but this group may be better suited for
the conservative Sundram than November’s AFF Suzuki Cup pot.

If he starts well, then he may not only get the job long-term but he could
become the first man to lead Singapore through Asian Cup qualification.

一個準備充分、有組織且專注的新加坡隊可以在這組取得一帆風順。總仔保守的風格恰好
適合這個分組，而不是去年東南亞盃的那個分組。
如果開局順利，總仔不僅能拿到長期飯票，更能成為帶領新加坡闖過資格賽的第一人。

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