Singapore enters the 2024 ASEAN Cup semifinals without their strongest squad due to injuries to key players and some clubs refusing to release their players for national team duty. Despite these challenges, Singapore has secured a semifinal spot by finishing second in Group A.
Their opponent in the semifinals is Vietnam, a top contender for this year’s championship. Statistics reveal that Singapore has not beaten Vietnam for 26 years, with their last victory dating back to 1998. Since then, Singapore has gone 14 consecutive matches without defeating Vietnam.
Addressing this record with the media, Coach Ogura Tsutomu remarked: “Twenty-six years without a win? That’s very interesting. For me, history is meant to be changed and new chapters are meant to be written.”
The Japanese coach expressed confidence in his team, saying: “Our players trust the team’s overall strategy. They have been improving with each game. In some matches, we performed better in the first half, and in others, we were stronger in the second half. However, in every match, the team has shown some kind of progress.
“In our most recent match, we demonstrated strong fighting spirit. This is crucial because tactics and gameplay alone are not enough to secure a victory. We need players who are hungry, determined, and willing to support one another. Only then can we truly function as a team.”
The highly anticipated match between Singapore and Vietnam is scheduled to kick off at 8:00 PM on December 26.
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