The Singapore national football team arrived in Japan in the evening of 12 June in order to participate in the second Asian section of qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Asian Qualifiers Round 2 and the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019. The match will be held in Saitama Stadium 2002 on Tuesday 16 June. The team, which played the first match in Cambodia the previous day on 11 June, showed little tiredness and had a good rest at the hotel amid a good atmosphere. They will hold the first practice session in the evening on 13 June.

Head Coach and Players’Comments

BERND WALTER STANGE, Head Coach
I’m really pleased that we have an opportunity to play against Japan. I believe it means a lot to us, rather than just playing a practice match. Japan’s football has kept progressing these past 20 years. The J.League is a very attractive league and there are many players who are based abroad. Recently, Japan regularly participates in both the World Cup and the Asian Cup, which means the Japan national team will improve even more in pursuit of good results.

Japanese people are very kind and friendly. I visited 10 years ago with the Iraq national football team to face Japan when Zico was the head coach. I remember that I was impressed with the Japanese as a nation, not just their football. Japanese have a favor for education and they are all so nice.

MF  GABRIEL QUAK JUN YI
It will be a game against one of the top teams in Asia, which will be a good chance for the team to learn a lot. Many of the players in the Japan national team play in Europe. I’d like to play professionally to make the game excellent. Personally, I’d like to see each player’s level and learn things by playing on the same pitch. I have always wanted to play in Japan and hope to play in the J.League sometime in the future.

FW  MOHAMMAD SHAHRIL BIN ISHAK
We won’t lose anything by playing against one of the biggest teams in Asia. I’d like to face the match by building on the positive momentum from the game against Cambodia. I played in Saitama Stadium approximately 10 years ago. There were strong players back then as well, such as Nakata and Ono. I think the Japan national team is really strong. I’m glad I came here again.

MF  MUHAMMAD ZULFAHMI BIN MOHD ARIFIN
I’d like to prepare myself well to play against the team that leads Asia. The Japan national team have many excellent players based in Europe. The environment is great in Japan, including the food.

Staff

Head Coach: BERND STANGE (Germany)

Squad

GK
HASSAN BIN ABDULLAH SUNNY (ARMY UNITED FC)
ZAIFUL NIZAM BIN ABDULLAH (BALESTIER KHALSA FC)
MOHAMAD IZWAN BIN MAHBUD (LIONSXII/Malaysia)

DF
ISMADI BIN MUHAMAD MUKHTAR (TAMPINES ROVERS FC)
BAIHAKKI BIN KHAIZAN (JOHOR DARUL TA’ZIM II/Malaysia)
MOHAMAD SHAIFUL BIN ESAH NAIN (TAMPINES ROVERS FC)
ZULFADLI BIN ZAINAL ABIDIN (TAMPINES ROVERS FC)
MUHAMMAD HAFIZ BIN ABU SUJAD (LIONSXII/Malaysia)
MUHAMMAD NAZRUL BIN AHMAD NAZARI (LIONSXII/Malaysia)
MADHU M MOHANA (LIONSXII/Malaysia)
MUHAMMAD SAFUWAN BIN BAHARUDIN (LIONSXII/Malaysia)

MF
MOHAMMAD FIRDAUS BIN KASMAN (LIONSXII/Malaysia)
MUHAMMAD YASIR BIN HANAPI (HOME UNITED FC)
HARISS S/O HARUN (JOHOR DARUL TA’ZIM I/Malaysia)
MUHAMMAD IZZDIN SHAFIQ BIN YACOB (LIONSXII/Malaysia)
GABRIEL QUAK JUN YI (LIONSXII/Malaysia)
MUHAMMAD ZULFAHMI BIN MOHD ARIFIN (LIONSXII/Malaysia)

FW
MOHAMMAD SHAHRIL BIN ISHAK (JOHOR DARUL TA’ZIM II/Malaysia)
MOHAMMAD KHAIRUL AMRI BIN MOHAMMAD KAMAL (LIONSXII/Malaysia)
FAZRUL NAWAZ S/O SHAHUL HAMEED (WARRIORS FC)
MOHAMED IQBAL BIN HAMID HUSSAIN (YOUNG LIONS)
MUHAMMAD KHAIRUL NIZAM BIN MOHAMMAD KAMAL (LIONSXII/Malaysia)

Schedule

Note: The schedule is subject to change.

2018 FIFA World Cup and 2019 AFC Asian Cup Joint Qualifiers Round 2

SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) vs Singapore National Team
Tue. 16 June Kickoff 19:30 (subject to change)　
Saitama / Saitama Stadium 2002
More information