Eleven years after he departed the national U-20 squad with 14 caps under his belt, 31 year-old midfielder Quah Han Kok was called into service again, this time on the right flank of a World Cup Group 11 match against Austria, which ended goalless. Nevertheless, it brought Quah some much-awaited closure, as the second-last of his major dreams was achieved.

"It is just terrific playing for my country again, the hairs on one's skin really rises whenever the supporters roar." Quah recalled. "I thought I would never again feel that as the seasons went by, but this recall came out of nowhere and was, well, simply incredible. It proves that it's never too late."

Quah played the full ninety minutes cutting in from the right in a game of few chances, with burly defender Huang Chi Tao coming closest by clipping an attempt inches wide. The result leaves Singapore in fifth position after the first match, with their next fixture coming next week against Bahrain.

Quah, as he stepped on the pitch for Singapore, set another record for Grilled, as he became the first active national team player to be in Grilled's squad, after being the first active national youth team player (though Hidde van Liere was arguably still a member of the Dutch U-20 when he signed, he soon became ineligible and never played for it again). The vice-captain also follows in the footsteps of current Grilled captain Han Lik-Tsun, who has represented Singapore at both youth and national level.

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