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| 사진=XINHUA-XinHua Yonhap News |
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| 사진=EPA Yonhap News |
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China is in the worst situation.
China's national soccer team, led by head coach Branko Ivankovic, lost 0-2 to Australia in Group C of the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 North-China World Cup at Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Stadium in Hangzhou, China on the 25th. China was at the bottom with two wins and six losses (six points). The point gap with second-place Australia (13, 3 wins, 4 draws, 1 loss) widened to 7 points, and the direct advance to the finals was thwarted. In the third Asian qualifying round for the North-China World Cup, six teams that ranked first and second in three groups will go straight to the finals. After that, six teams ranked third and fourth in each group will be divided into two groups and the first-place team in each group will take the ticket to the finals after the fourth qualifying round. The two teams, who finished second in the group in the fourth qualifying round, will go through the playoffs (PO), and the winner will compete in continental POs for the last time to go to North Korea and China.
Soccer Digest, a Japanese soccer media outlet, said 'Despair is approaching. Local media also lamented the lowest-ranking Chinese representative. Goal difference -13 is fatal' reports. Citing a report by the Chinese media Zvova, the media reported 'China fought well from the first half with the support of a large crowd on its back. But it became a difficult situation. It is lamentable that Japan, Saudi Arabia and Australia lost consecutive games without getting a point. Despair is approaching. There is a possibility that he will not be in the top four of the group even if he wins both the Indonesia-Barain match in June. The goal difference of -13 is fatal.
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| Photo = AFP Yonhap News |
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| Photo = AFP Yonhap News |
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Another Japanese soccer media outlet, Football Channel, is also raising questions about Ivankovic's tactics leading China. On the same day, China launched a diamond-type 4-4-2 tactic. However, it fell to 0-2 in the first half. In order for China to achieve its dream of participating in the World Cup, it must first finish in the top four and play the fourth qualifying round. However, in China, they distrust Ivankovic's tactics and criticize the formation. If you interpret it positively, you believe in the players' skills, but strictly speaking, you can't respond flexibly. Citing a report by the Chinese media Sohu, the media quoted 'The only thing I can think of is for China to win the rest of the game with this system. It may be a natural flow to carry out one's tactics. However, to put it bluntly, is winning consecutive victories over Indonesia and Bahrain really Ivankovic's tactical achievement. On the contrary, he said, 'Wasn't he lucky?'
Meanwhile, Soccer Digest said in another article 'Ivankovic showed a positive view to the end. He stressed that the final goal of the third qualifying round is the semifinals.
"I have to say that the opponent is too strong," Ivankovic said. Japan is all playing in Europe. Half of Australia is the same. Indonesia is made up of naturalized players who play in Europe. It has been facing the top Asian team all along. Still, I am very satisfied with the contents of the match against Japan at home, the match against Saudi Arabia at away, and the match against Korea (second qualifying round)." Korea beat China 1-0 at home in June last year.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
