Terry Pathmanathan has the difficult task of lifting the crestfallen young Singaporeans after their 4-1 thrashing at the feet of the Vietnamese in the SEA Games semi-finals as the bronze medal playoff against hosts Laos loom on Thursday afternoon (Singapore time).
Like their last group B "friendly" fixture, the Young Lions will once again have to contend with the loud support of 20,000 Laotians who will be willing their side to win their first ever football medal of the Games.
To make matters worse, Shaiful Esah is sidelined after suffering a serious knock in the last match. Gabriel Quak is set to be his replacement on the left flank, probably the only enforced change for the playoff.
While every Young Lion has seen some action in Vientiane so far, it remains to be seen whether the fringe players such as Firdaus Idros, Madhu Mohana and Shahfiq Ghani could be thrown into the fray as the team look to regain some pride with a bronze.
As usual, it remains to be seen whether the shakiest back four of the tournament (after Timor Leste and Cambodia) can provide some security for the goalkeeper. It is also interesting to see how much possession these boys can retain on the ground without looking silly or nervy.
Honestly it is pointless to talk about the opponents again unless the Singaporeans choose to get their act together and end their Games adventure on a high. Historically for this nation, the game has always been a hit-and-miss affair.
Laos are underdogs, but they are no longer minnows at this level after their brave performances throughout this Games. Alfred Riedl will ensure his side put on a good show in front of their people and provide a satisfactory end to their journey.
More information about Laos can be seen in this previous entry.
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