This World Cup qualifier match was nothing short of an awakening battle for the Chinese team. It's not just about winning against Bahrain but also about regaining the confidence of some fans, particularly in terms of tactical and mental shifts. This transformation, as highlighted by Dong Lu, is a critical step for Chinese football to emerge from confusion and find its direction. Despite Bahrain's dominance in possession, China managed to break the deadlock with a timely counter-attack in the second half, securing a 1-0 victory. This win brought China two consecutive victories in the qualifiers and pushed them up to fourth place in their group. Though the statistics may seem modest, this victory is far from ordinary; it signifies a strategic and mental awakening. Dong Lu described the tactical shift in this game as an "awakening." He suggests that Chinese football has often been trapped by a culture of face, overly focusing on ball possession and field dominance, leading to overconfidence or self-deception. In this match against Bahrain, China finally shed its past baggage and chose a more practical and pragmatic path. Specifically, China opted for a conservative approach: abandoning possession in favor of defense and direct long passes. This decision might appear passive at first glance but is, in fact, a pragmatic one. Facing a strong opponent like Bahrain, attempting to compete head-on for possession could have led to a passive situation. Instead, by relinquishing the ball to strengthen defense and focusing on creating opportunities through counter-attacks, China ensured defensive stability while posing threats through swift attacks. Some fans…