The Singapore national football team lost 4-0 to Palestine in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers on June 4, 2021 (Singapore time).

Head coach apologised

Speaking after the match, Singapore head coach Tatsuma Yoshida apologised to Singapore fans and expressed his disappointment at the result.

He said:

"I apologise to Singapore fans. We couldn't show our full potential in the match. The result is the result. It cannot change. But I'm really disappointed that we couldn't show our full potential. At 4-0, it's really painful."

Yoshida, who took up his role as head coach in June 2019, had extended his contract until December 2022.

Will not give up

He explained that the players were "a bit nervous" in the first half, and "couldn't deal" with some of the chances they had.

However, Yoshida noted that the team's next match will be happening soon.

He added that the team will have to change and improve on "almost all things".

He also said that the team "will not give up", and will "show [their] potential in the next match".

Singapore will play against Uzbekistan on June 8, 2021 (Singapore time).

Here's Yoshida's full statement after the game:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CPrdaMNIrdb/

Took responsibility

According to the Football Association of Singapore (FAS), Yoshida also took responsibility for the result, saying that the poor performance was not the players' fault.

He said, as reported by FAS:

"I feel big disappointment, big pain… But it’s not on them (the players). It’s because of my management and it’s on me."

Following the match on June 4, Singapore and Palestine are now tied with seven points each in Group D of the FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

However, Palestine has climbed above Singapore due to goal difference and is now in third place.

In September 2019, Singapore beat Palestine 2-1 at home, at the Jalan Besar Stadium

Missing key players

Singapore went into the game against Palestine without three key players: striker Ikhsan Fandi, captain Hariss Harun, and defender Safuwan Baharudin.

Both Ikhsan and Safuwan missed the game due to injuries, while Hariss withdrew from the Singapore squad due to personal family reasons.

Top image screenshot via FAS/IG.