China soccer struggles with defense and offense ahead of crucial World Cup qualifiers

Can Chinese soccer reach the World Cup finals for the first time in 24 years? A harsh diagnosis has been made regarding the issues of defense and attack.

The Chinese national team will play two matches during the March A-match as part of the final Asian qualifiers for the 2026 North and Central American World Cup. After facing Saudi Arabia on the 21st (Korea time), they will meet Australia at home on the 25th.

The shadow of elimination looms over China. Currently, China stands at the bottom of Group C with 6 points. They share the same points with third-place Indonesia, fourth-place Saudi Arabia, and fifth-place Bahrain, but significantly lag behind Bahrain in goal difference (-10 vs. -5). With four matches remaining, it is a difficult situation to reverse the goal difference.

The remaining schedule consists of matches against Saudi Arabia, Australia, Indonesia, and Bahrain. For China, the ideal scenario is to earn some points in this two-match series and win against Indonesia and Bahrain.

If China fails to qualify for the World Cup again, it would mark a sixth consecutive failure to reach the finals. Since the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, China has not been able to step onto the final stage even once. They have shouted that this time will be different, but nothing has changed.

On the 9th, "Searo" noted, "We need 13 points. One victory will lead to elimination. If we achieve four consecutive victories, we can qualify for the World Cup 100%." The tension surrounding the Chinese national team's qualification for the finals is rising. A battle for survival is imminent, and fans are anxious. "Can a miracle unfold?"

Once again, the reality is that reaching the World Cup finals will not be easy. The media stated, "The Chinese national team is currently dancing on the edge of a cliff. Every step must be taken with caution. A little carelessness can lead to disaster," and pointed out, "Honestly, the national team has faced many ups and downs, and it has been a chilling experience."

Of course, hope has not been abandoned. The media emphasized, "But we are just one point behind second-place Australia! Every remaining match is a life-and-death struggle. The away match against Saudi Arabia will not be easy. However, anything can happen on the football field. If we draw with Saudi Arabia, morale will increase, and confidence will grow. Even if we lose, there are still three matches left, so we must not be disheartened."

The media went on to say, "We must win against Indonesia. Although there are many naturalized players, overall, our skill is still stronger. Losing or drawing would be truly dangerous. The away game against Bahrain will not be easy. However, even just a draw can keep our hopes of qualifying for the finals alive. Our national team is not afraid of tough battles," suggesting a scenario of advancing by overcoming Indonesia and Bahrain.

In fact, China is creating an atmosphere where it is all or nothing for this March A-match. They have put great effort into the training roster. Head coach Branco Ivankovic made the decision to include newcomers while excluding veterans like 1989-born defender Zhang Linpeng. He stated, "The form of the veteran players is no longer good. It is better to let younger players take their place. They will bring a good performance to the national team."

A naturalized player has also joined the team. Midfielder Hou Yongyong, who won the top scorer title in Norway's second division for the 2024 season, has received his first call from Coach Ivankovic. Additionally, Brazilian-born attacking midfielder Serginho (Beijing Guoan) is also set to participate in the March A-match after completing his naturalization process.

However, the outlook is still not bright. "Searo" reported, "To qualify for the finals, the Chinese national team must achieve at least two victories and one draw to reach a total of 13 points for a chance. The Monte Carlo simulation indicates that China's odds of qualifying for the finals are 15% or lower. However, our fans must believe in our national team and that a miracle can happen at any time," encouraging the fans.

Nonetheless, their analysis of the problems was as cold as anyone else's. The media remarked, "However, if the national team really wants to reach the finals, they must resolve two issues: their poor defense and ineffective offense. If they fail to do so, the hopes could become very slim."

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