China’s National Football Team Head Coach Ivan: “Congratulations to the players for achieving a great victory, which brings joy and confidence.”
Zhang Yuning scored! The national team defeated Bahrain 1-0 away, marking their second consecutive victory and rising to fourth place in the group standings.
If the previous home win against Indonesia, where they triumphed 2-1, helped the national team emerge from the ICU, then today’s away win over Bahrain has them singing with newfound hope.
This change came suddenly; after five matches in the first stage, the national team finds themselves tied on points with Saudi Arabia and Australia, achieving a relatively hopeful position thanks to the hard work and effort from the entire squad.
A Turn of Fate
The first 80 minutes of the match were sluggish, but a dramatic twist occurred in the final moments. In the 87th minute, Bahrain scored what seemed like a winning goal, but a VAR review ruled it offside, canceling the potential match-winner. China then launched a counterattack, and in the 90th minute, despite a shaky build-up, a low cross from Shanghai Shenhua’s midfielder set up Zhang Yuning to score the decisive goal!
In just three minutes, the team experienced a rollercoaster of emotions, from despair to elation.
The story in the final moments of this match encapsulated the national team’s journey in the first five rounds of the 18 Asian Cup qualifiers. After a humiliating 0-7 loss to Japan in their opening match, the team stumbled once again, losing 2-1 to Saudi Arabia in a match they led. They then suffered a third loss in Australia, falling 1-3. However, with recent wins against Indonesia and Bahrain, the light of qualification is now visible.
“Never before have we been so high in the standings in the 18 qualifiers. It’s very satisfying to win away,” captain Wang Dalei mentioned after the match. “As I said a few days ago, it feels like a relegation battle in our group; every point is crucial.”
Unity and Determination
The themes of effort and teamwork resonate throughout these initial matches. The national team’s crushing 0-7 defeat by Japan was a total collapse, rendering analysis of the details pointless. Yet only five days later, they displayed remarkable spirit against Saudi Arabia, and despite some errors, they should have secured their first points much earlier.
Even in the face of three consecutive losses, the team did not give up, as evidenced by their gritty 2-1 win over Indonesia, where several players pushed through to the point of cramping. The match against Bahrain required intense effort, with Li Lei and Li Yuan suffering injuries due to their commitment on the field. The match included over 15 minutes of stoppage time, with the players battling for more than 100 minutes to clinch this vital victory.
“I think we’re a very united team now. Everyone has given their all for this team, for our country, for our victory,” said midfielder Wang Shangyuan, echoing the sentiments of teamwork and resilience. “Maybe after the 0-7 defeat, this team really came together. We’re taking steps forward. The heart we each put in for our teammates is the main reason we’re improving.”
An Open Group Stage
For the national team, whose overall strength has been declining in recent years, these two consecutive wins in the second stage of the World Cup qualifiers are truly remarkable.
Since qualifying for the 2002 World Cup, the national team has missed the final stages of the qualifiers in 2006, 2010, and 2014. They participated three times afterward, with their only previous two-game winning streak occurring seven years ago under Lippi, when they defeated Uzbekistan 1-0 at home and turned around to win 2-1 against Qatar away, finishing just one point shy of third place.
For Ivan, this match marked his first clean sheet in nine matches as head coach, and he hailed it as a great victory. Previously, the team had conceded 18 goals in those eight matches.
He realized his goal from the last two matches; he had repeatedly emphasized that the top three teams are Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Australia, while the national team should aim to secure points against Bahrain and Indonesia.
As the first five rounds of the Asian qualifiers conclude, all three groups exhibit a similar pattern: one dominant team leading decisively, with the other five teams embroiled in a chaotic battle.
In the national team’s group, Japan stands out, while Saudi Arabia, Australia, and China each have six points, and Bahrain has five. The race for qualification appears wide open.
Seizing Opportunities Ahead
Social media has been abuzz with comments about the group dynamics, with fans humorously pointing out that apart from Bahrain, the group includes a giant in Japan, a historically weak Saudi Arabia, Australia, and China, along with a surprisingly strong Indonesia.
For the national team, navigating this chaotic competition means they should try to go as far as possible.
Now is the time to calculate points. There are still five matches left in the second stage. Although the chances of gaining points in the upcoming home match against Japan are slim, the national team must seize every opportunity in the last four matches. In March, they will first face Saudi Arabia away and then return home to take on Australia, where they previously lost after taking the lead. This time, they must aim for points.
Crucially, in June, the team will play away against Indonesia and then host Bahrain. If they can win both, they will have a strong chance of finishing in fourth place.
After the match, many players took to social media, posting heartfelt messages filled with keywords like “qualification” and “World Cup,” encouraging one another.
It finally feels like there’s a mutual effort toward a shared goal.