Just after Japan’s Go Itakura’s second goal in extra time in the first half of the 2026 FIFA World Cup North and Central Asian 3rd qualifying match between China and Japan held in Xiamen, China on the 19th. Reuters = Yonhap News
There was no conversion. Japan defeated the Chinese national football team again. They fell to last place in the World Cup qualifiers and were on the brink of elimination from the qualifiers.
China, led by coach Branko Ivankovic (Croatia), lost 1-3 against Japan in the 6th match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup North and Central America Asia 3rd match held at the Xiamen Egret Stadium in Xiamen, China on the 19th (Korean time). ).
China, who previously suffered a heavy 0-7 loss on the away trip to Japan last September, slumped by allowing 10 goals in two games against Japan alone. In this preliminary round, China allowed 16 goals in 6 games, 10 of them against Japan.
They fell apart, conceding three goals through heads only. China, who conceded a goal to Koki Ogawa on a corner kick in the 39th minute of the first half, could not overcome the set-piece crisis in extra time in the first half and conceded an extra goal to Go Itakura. In the 3rd minute of the second half, Lin Liangming tried to come back with a goal, but in the 6th minute, they allowed an additional goal to Koki Ogawa with another header.
China, which recently improved its ranking by beating Indonesia and Bahrain and won two games in a row after three consecutive defeats, dropped to the bottom of the preliminary round again from after losing against Japan. The points are 6 (2 wins, 4 losses), and the goal difference is -10 (6 goals, 16 conceded). Fortunately, 3rd to 6th place have 6 points, and are 1 point behind 2nd place Australia (7 points), raising hopes of going through the World Cup qualifiers however, they need a two game series to played between Saudi Arabia and Australia in March next year. The remaining schedule in June, including a trip to Indonesia, is very challenging.
Players of the Japan national soccer team celebrate after scoring a goal in the 2026 FIFA World Cup North and Central America third Asian qualifying round against China held in Xiamen, China, on the 19th Photo = Getty Images
In China, it seems that rather than criticizing Japan for not being able to overcome the hurdle, they are taking comfort in the score being better than the lethargic 0-7 affair . In particular, the feeling of satisfaction by scoring one goal against Japan is also an impressive state in Chinese football.
Chinese media Sohu.com said, “No one would have believed that China could beat Japan in this game. “It was too ambitious to expect a draw,” he said, “Instead, just China scoring one goal can be considered a miracle.”
He continued, “Japan did not register a single shot in the first 30 minutes of the match. However, the mood changed when a spectator broke in in the 31st minute of the first half. “This incident cannot be identified as the direct cause of the loss, but after this small incident, the Japanese national team finally attacked the Chinese defense, which ultimately led to a goal loss,” he explained.
The media praised, “The consolation goal that came at a time of opposition in the second half was a display of magnificent organization,” and said, “On this day, China conceded three goals through headers alone.” “We need to strengthen our defense against aerial balls further in the next game,” he said.
Reporter Kim Myeong-seok clear@edaily.co.kr
2024-11-20 01:03:00
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How should coaches adjust their training and game strategies after experiencing significant losses, especially in crucial matches like those faced by the Chinese national football team against Japan?
Thank you for joining us today. I’m here with Dr. Zhang Zhen, a sports psychologist, and coach Xie Yiming of the Chinese national football team. Thank you both for taking the time to speak with us.
Dr. Zhang, you are an expert in the field of sports psychology. As mentioned in the article, China conceded three goals through headers alone in the match against Japan. What do you think could have been the psychological factors behind this? How can teams improve their defensive performances against set-pieces?
Coach Xie, the article also mentions that China allowed ten goals in two games against Japan alone. As the head coach, how are you planning to address this issue within the team? What changes will you make to the team’s strategy or training regimen to improve their performance against Japan in the future?
Both of you, the article hinted that China might have felt some satisfaction in scoring a goal against Japan. However, they still fell apart and conceded three goals. How can teams approach this situation psychologically? Is it better to focus on the positives or address the areas of improvement immediately?
Dr. Zhang, could you share any tips for building team spirit and morale in the face of such a challenging position in the World Cup qualifiers? Coach Xie, what message would you like to convey to the fans and the public regarding the team’s chances of qualifying for the World Cup?
With the remaining schedule being quite challenging, especially with a two-game series against Saudi Arabia, do you think China still has a chance of qualifying for the World Cup? How should the team approach these upcoming matches?
the article mentioned that China’s hopes of qualifying for the World Cup may rest on the outcome of a match between Australia and Saudi Arabia in March. As experts in the field, what advice would you give to the team to prepare for this critical stage of the qualifiers? Do you think it’s possible for China to make a comeback and qualify for the World Cup?
