On the first day of 2025, the national football team received another piece of good news. Their first opponent in the new year, Saudi Arabia, has fallen into a slump. In the semi-finals that ended in the early hours of this morning, Saudi Arabia, who had been playing with 11 against 10 for a long time, eventually lost 1-2 to Oman, causing the biggest upset in this Gulf Cup.
The most embarrassing moment came in the last minute of stoppage time when Saudi Arabia's substitute, Abdullah Al-Hawsawi, was sent off by the referee after stepping on an opponent player, following a VAR review. Saudi Arabia not only lost the game but also their dignity, missing out on the Gulf Cup final.
The two main opponents in the last four rounds of the 18-strong national team are Saudi Arabia and Australia. If China can score points against these teams, there is a 99% chance of qualifying.
Saudi Arabia and China currently have the same number of points, and their first battle of the year will be the 7th round of the 18-strong competition on March 20. Judging from the current situation, Saudi Arabia's state is simply unable to compete with the national team. With the addition of two naturalized players to the national team, there is great hope for an away victory over Saudi Arabia to start the year on a high note.
Recently, the Australian team has also suffered a heavy blow. Their core player, Souttar, suffered an Achilles tendon rupture, and doctors predict it will take him a year to recover. As the team's main central defender, his absence will undoubtedly put pressure on Australia's defense.
Although the Australian team is currently ranked second in the group, they only have one more point than the team behind them, which is quite dangerous. A slight mistake could lead to disaster.
In the eighth round of the 18-strong competition, China will face Australia at home. With the weakened defensive strength of the Australian team, it will bring benefits to China's offense. It is believed that the national team's head coach, Ivankovic, will seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to strive for a direct ticket to the World Cup.
For China, the two most competitive opponents in the group are currently in an unfavorable situation. Ivankovic must take advantage of the upcoming training camp to target the opponents' "internal turmoil," seize their weaknesses, formulate targeted offensive tactics, and seize the ranking advantage in the group as early as possible. Do not pin hopes on the final decisive battle!