The Chinese national football team lost 1-3 to Japan at home, suffering a "double kill" and failing to score any points from the group stage. However, the response from domestic public opinion and fans was surprisingly positive. The call of "glorious defeat" echoed, with more people recognizing the fighting spirit displayed by the national team in adversity. This match was not only a contest of victory and defeat but also a crucial battle for Chinese football to regain confidence.
The result of this match may not have been unexpected for the fans. As the dominant force in Asian football, Japan's overall strength far surpasses that of the Chinese national team. However, what is noteworthy is that the attitude and tenacity shown by the national team during the match received widespread recognition. There is a saying circulating on the internet: "Although the national team still has 0 points, the paper is filled with answers." This is a high praise for the fighting spirit of the national team on the field.
The national team's fighting spirit has not only earned the acclaim of domestic media but has also attracted the attention of Japanese media. Yahoo Sports reposted a domestic article, using the phrase "snatching one point is like winning in the World Cup" to describe the enthusiasm of Chinese fans. This cross-border attention reflects that although there are still gaps in technical aspects, the national team's performance has won applause in terms of fighting spirit.
Despite the national team's best efforts in the match, the attitude of Japanese fans seemed particularly cold. In the comment section of Yahoo Sports, many Japanese fans expressed disdain for the possibility of China qualifying, with some even bluntly stating that they "do not want the Chinese team to participate in the World Cup." Some comments also mentioned controversial topics such as home atmosphere and venue settings, directing criticism towards the management and style of Chinese football.
Furthermore, some Japanese fans believe that if Japan locks in their World Cup spot early, they might choose to conserve their strength in subsequent matches, which could indirectly affect China's qualification situation. The incident where Japan "let water" to Vietnam at home in the previous World Cup qualifiers is still a topic of discussion. If a similar scenario were to occur again, it would undoubtedly worsen the national team's chances of advancing.
According to the analysis of the famous prediction website We Global Football, Japan's qualification probability has reached as high as 100%. They only need to win one more match to lock in their spot three rounds in advance. However, the situation for the national team is completely different. To aim for the top four in Group C, the national team needs to grab at least six points in the next four matches, especially against Indonesia and Bahrain, two weaker opponents, where they must secure at least four points.
The remaining four matches will be against Saudi Arabia, Australia, Indonesia, and Bahrain. Among them, Saudi Arabia and Australia possess strong competitiveness, while Indonesia and Bahrain are targets that the national team must strive to win. If the national team fails in these key matches, their hopes of advancing will be completely dashed.
Although the national team's qualification situation is not optimistic, it is not without hope. The key lies in how to make good use of the remaining match opportunities and win every point with hard power and good tactical execution.
Facing powerful opponents, the national team needs to maintain strong mental fortitude. Although they lost the score in the match against Japan, the fighting spirit and confidence shown in the game are exactly the qualities needed in future matches.
Teamwork: The national team's tactical execution has always been criticized, but through the recent matches, it can be seen that the team's integrity and coordination are gradually improving. How to transform this improvement into practical effects in the game will be the key to determining qualification.
The charm of football lies in the unknown, and the power of striving lies in never giving up. No matter what the final result is, as long as the national team can continue to maintain the spirit of striving, continuously accumulate experience and progress, we have reason to believe that the spring of Chinese football will eventually arrive.