When was the last time you saw more than 23000 people packed into a stadium for a Bangladesh football match? When did fans last beg for tickets, attempt to break through gates, and prompt an army intervention?

Despite a 2-0 defeat to Singapore in their Asian Cup Qualifiers encounter at the National Stadium on Tuesday, Bangladesh head coach Javier Cabrera insisted his side was the better team and described the result as deeply disappointing.

"Let me be clear, it's not about ideology. It's not about whether I'm right, or you're wrong. It's just about the love of life, about the care of your neighbour."

Bangladesh forward Rakib Hossain found the net but the men in red and green couldn't score more as they lost 2-1 against Singapore in their Asian Cup Qualifiers fixture at the National Stadium in Dhaka on Tuesday. 

Manchester City on Tuesday confirmed the appointment of two former Liverpool coaches to Pep Guardiola's backroom staff, including Jurgen Klopp's ex-assistant Pepijn Lijnders.

Bangladesh coach Javier Cabrera gave a maiden cap to Canada-based Shamit Shome in the starting XI of their crucial AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers against Singapore on Tuesday.

With more than three hours to go before kick-off in the highly-anticipated Asian Cup Qualifier between Bangladesh and Singapore, the newly renovated National Stadium is already transforming into a sea of white -- the colour of Bangladesh's home jersey.

Bangladesh took part in Asian Cup only once in their history. In 1980 Bangladesh played four matches in the tournament held in Kuwait and exited the tournament having lost all four group matches. The dream of making another Asian Cup tournament proper in 47 years, excites the nation.

Banners bearing the portrait of Hamza Choudhury waved high as supporters of all ages celebrated the occasion like a festival-- proving that when the stakes are high, Bangladeshi football can still command a crowd.

Auckland City are an amateur club, their players balancing football with university studies or full-time jobs as teachers, real estate agents and sales reps. They don't earn a salary for playing.

Luciano Spalletti admitted he "did not make a difference" during his time as Italy manager and acknowledged that the team struggled in their 2-0 win over Moldova on Monday. 

Bangladesh find themselves in a peculiar position heading into the second fixture of their Asian Cup Qualifiers: a team rich in midfield talent but notably lacking balance in both attack and defence.

To make sure everyone gets to see the action on TV, the match will be broadcast live on T Sports

Since making his senior debut in 2005, Messi has scored 112 goals in 192 appearances for Argentina, winning the World Cup in 2022, two Copa America titles and a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Former Bangladesh champions Bashundhara Kings will join Bangladesh Premier League runners-up Abahani in the playoff rounds of the AFC Challenge League, the Asian football body, AFC, said in a media release on Tuesday.

The instructions were shared through a press release from BFF’s media department yesterday. According to the notice, although the match kicks off at 7 pm, stadium gates will open for spectators at 2 pm.

Elsewhere Manchester City star Erling Haaland's goal lifted Norway past Estonia, Luka Modric was among the scorers in Croatia's 5-1 rout of the Czech Republic, and the Faroes Islands left it late to down Gibraltar 2-1.

Manchester City completed the signing of left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolves on Monday for a reported £31 million ($42 million).

Ahead of their highly anticipated second-round match of the Asian Cup Qualifiers against Singapore on Wednesday at the National Stadium (7pm Bangladesh Time), the Bangladesh team held a training session under the guidance of head coach Javier Cabrera to fine-tune preparations today.

The Daily Star’s Ekush Tapadar, Anisur Rahman, and Atique Anam delve into Bangladesh’s prospects in this much-anticipated encounter, examine the influence of these high-profile players on the national team and address the persistent issues crippling the country's domestic football.