Singapore to face China first in next round of World Cup qualifiers

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SINGAPORE - After outplaying ASEAN champion Malaysia last week, Singapore is hoping to continue the momentum against the likes of China, Iraq and Jordan in the third round of the 2014 World Cup Asian Zone qualifying tournament.

The Lions, who beat their Causeway rivals 6-4 on aggregate in the two-leg second round tie, learnt of their Group A opponents following the draw in Rio de Janeiro yesterday, and the sentiment is that they have a fighting chance of a first-ever appearance in the fourth round.

The Republic will play six matches in the third round, starting with an away game with China on Sept 2 and ending with an away game in Iraq on Feb 29 next year.

Football Association of Singapore president Zainudin Nordin welcomed the draw and reiterated that "there is a good chance" Singapore could make history by advancing to the next round.

He told Today: "We're in a credible group, and we're looking at teams which, fortunately, Singapore has played in recent years.

"This gives us a better understanding of these teams … If we play to our potential, there is a good chance we could make the breakthrough this time.

"Football is very unpredictable. So many good teams fail at the World Cup and who would have expected North Korea to qualify (for the 2010 World Cup), or Uruguay to reach the semi-finals. There are a lots of surprises in store."

This is the second successive time Singapore has made it to the third round. Among the ASEAN teams, Thailand was drawn in the same group as Australia, Saudi Arabia and Oman while Indonesia will play Iran, Qatar and Bahrain.

Lions forward Aleksandar Duric, who turns 41 next week, said: "Looking at the other countries' draws, I thought: 'Oh well, that's not so bad.' We've played these teams before. We have a good chance to take all three points against them at home."

Goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud, 21, who excelled as stand-in for injured regulars Hassan Sunny and Lionel Lewis, added: "I'm happy (with the draw) ... but it's going to be a whole new ball game at this level. We've got to up the tempo."

Singapore has lost seven of its nine previous matches with China; it has beaten Jordan once and lost twice. The Lions also lost three of their four encounters to Iraq, although they beat them 2-0 in an Asian Cup qualifier at the old National Stadium in February 2006, handing the Iraqis their only defeat en route to their 2007 Asian Cup triumph.

The Lions believe their familiarity with the Jalan Besar Stadium's artificial turf will be a crucial factor. Said Duric: "I don't think these teams play on artificial pitches, so we should use this to our advantage."

Singapore's third round fixtures

Sept 2: China vs S'pore (away)

Sept 6: S'pore vs Iraq (home)

Oct 11: S'pore vs Jordan (home)

Nov 11: Jordan vs S'pore (away)

Nov 15: S'pore vs China (home)

Feb 29: Iraq vs S'pore (away)