Singapore head coach Gavin Lee believes his players must approach Friday’s (13 November) clash against Paraguay with confidence rather than intimidation, despite facing a side that knocked Germany out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and pushed France to the limit in the Round of 16.
The Lions will face the South Americans at the National Stadium in the opening match of the Mizuho Blue Challenge – The Kallang Football Series Singapore, looking to respond to their recent 6-0 defeat against regional rivals Malaysia.
Paraguay arrive in Singapore following an impressive World Cup campaign that marked their return to football’s biggest stage after a 16-year absence. Under Argentine coach Gustavo Alfaro, they recovered from an opening defeat to hosts United States to progress through the group stage before producing one of the tournament’s biggest upsets.
The South Americans eliminated four-time world champions Germany 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in the Round of 32, with Julio Enciso opening the scoring before Kai Havertz equalised. Paraguay then held France at bay for much of their Round of 16 encounter, eventually losing 1-0 to a second-half penalty from Kylian Mbappé.
Paraguay also boast considerable individual quality, with a squad featuring Premier League players Enciso and Diego Gómez, alongside former Newcastle United winger Miguel Almirón. The trio add further attacking pedigree to a side that proved difficult to break down against some of the world’s strongest teams at the World Cup.
Yet Lee insists the Lions cannot allow the occasion or their opponents’ reputation to dictate their approach.
“One of our challenges is not to allow the occasion to define or intimidate us. The context shouldn’t dictate how we approach the game,” Lee said at Thursday’s pre-match press conference.
“We know it will be difficult, but we’re up for difficult challenges. We want to be uncomfortable because that’s part of our growth and learning process.”
Whilst acknowledging the gulf in international experience between the two sides, the 36-year-old believes his players must retain the conviction that they can compete.
“Tomorrow’s task will be very difficult, but difficult does not mean impossible. That has to guide our approach.”
Lions looking to respond after Malaysia defeat
Friday’s encounter comes just over a month after Singapore suffered a 6-0 defeat to Malaysia in their final Group A match of the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup on 1 October.
The loss in Indonesia ended the Lions’ campaign at the group stage, with Singapore finishing third on three points. Malaysia striker Bergson scored a hat-trick in what was Singapore’s heaviest defeat under Lee and their worst result against their Causeway rivals since 1978.
Lee acknowledged that his side had fallen short of expectations yet stressed that the players had taken responsibility for their performance.
“We made mistakes, and we want to own up to them, get better and improve because we know that performance was not acceptable,” he said.
“Tomorrow, it is important to show people that we are still the same team they were proud of two hours before that final score. Our job is to remind people why they enjoyed supporting us in the first place.”
Defender Lionel Tan echoed his coach’s sentiments, insisting that the squad remained united and determined to respond.
“We were all very disappointed with how the Malaysia match turned out. What’s more important now is what we do next,” Tan said.
“We take it as a lesson and learn from it, but we cannot keep dwelling on it. Our focus is on tomorrow’s game and what comes after that.”
Tan added that Singapore’s preparations had focused on understanding Paraguay’s individual strengths while ensuring the Lions remained committed to their collective approach.
“Paraguay obviously have great players, but for us the focus is on what we can do and how we will compete as a team,” he said.
Tough opposition key to Asian Cup preparations
Beyond Friday’s result, Lee views the matches against Paraguay and five-time world champions Brazil as valuable opportunities to expose his players to the demands of competing against higher-calibre opposition.
Singapore have qualified for the AFC Asian Cup, which has been postponed to December 2027, giving the Lions additional time to prepare for their return to the continental tournament.
Lee explained that facing World Cup-level opposition was a deliberate part of Singapore’s preparations, particularly with two teams in their Asian Cup group possessing similar international experience.
“We wanted to give the boys the chance to play against World Cup teams because there are two opponents in our Asian Cup group at that level,” he said.
“We don’t expect these games to be easy, and we expect to be exposed. That is what we want. The more we are exposed in the lead-up to the Asian Cup, the better we understand ourselves and the areas where we need to improve.”
The Singapore coach also stressed the importance of gaining experience against opponents capable of testing his players physically, technically and mentally.
“The more often you play teams at this level, the more accustomed you become to it. The more exposure we get as a country and as a team, the more comfortable we will be against this level of opposition,” he said.
For Lee, the challenge is not simply to contain Paraguay’s attacking threats but to ensure his players remain composed and committed to their principles throughout the encounter.
Alfaro praises Singapore’s footballing philosophy
Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro, meanwhile, believes the matches against Singapore and Japan will present valuable opportunities to assess younger players and experiment with different tactical approaches following his side’s successful World Cup campaign.
The 63-year-old, who has spent 34 years in professional coaching, is determined to build on Paraguay’s return to the global stage rather than rest on their achievements.
“What we are looking to do is conclude a historic year for Paraguay. This year, Paraguay returned to the World Cup after a 16-year absence,” Alfaro said.
“When we discussed continuing this project, we did so with the understanding that we needed to keep growing and improving in every aspect.”
Alfaro emphasised the importance of developing Paraguay’s next generation, with the Singapore fixtures forming part of a longer-term rebuilding process.
“Young talent is essential. That is why I am particularly concerned with identifying and developing the young players coming through in Paraguay,” he said.
“We do not have any immediate pressure to deliver results in a major competition, so this is an opportunity for us to work on the areas where we need to improve while also giving young players the space to express themselves within the national team.”
Despite the difference in international pedigree, Alfaro praised Singapore’s approach under Lee, highlighting the team’s desire to establish a clear playing identity.
“I can see a very positive intention in the way they approach the game. There is respect for football, a clear desire to play, and technical quality among their players,” he said.
“I see Singapore as a team trying to establish its own footballing identity, built around possession and playing good football.”
Alfaro also offered words of encouragement to his younger counterpart, drawing on his 34 years of coaching experience to emphasise the importance of conviction and continuous learning.
“The only advice I can give him is to trust his instincts and fight for what he believes in,” he said.
“Football is a continuous search and a continuous learning process.”
Chance to win over new supporters
With Paraguay and Brazil bringing some of international football’s biggest names to Singapore, Lee hopes the fixtures will also help strengthen the connection between the Lions and local supporters.
“These two games will certainly bring new eyeballs, and our job is to convert those eyeballs into supporters,” Lee said.
“It is not just about the football we play, but how we conduct ourselves in good moments and difficult moments.”
The Lions face Paraguay at the National Stadium on Friday (13 November), before returning to the same venue to take on Brazil on Tuesday (17 November). Paraguay will face Japan on 17 November, while Brazil meet Japan on Saturday (14 November).
