Korean Media: China’s Heavy Defeat Favors Indonesia; Unexpectedly, China is the Weakest in the Group

According to Korean media NATE, in the match between China and Japan, China suffered a heavy 0-7 defeat, with their performance and technical issues raising many doubts. Some jokingly referred to China’s style of play as “Shaolin Football,” implying that their playing style was overly rough and lacked tactical sophistication. In contrast, the Indonesian team, coached by Shin Tae-yong, demonstrated greater competitiveness.

Korean media stated that in the first game of the top 18 matches, China was severely beaten by Japan. This loss cast a shadow over China’s journey in the group stage. Group C consists of six teams: China, Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Indonesia. Typically, Japan, Australia, and Saudi Arabia are considered strong opponents in this group, while Indonesia, Bahrain, and China are relatively weaker.

China’s performance against Japan was disappointing. Despite adopting a dense defensive strategy, they failed to effectively stop Japan’s precise combinations and frequently made mistakes during transitions from defense to attack. Throughout the match, China was unable to mount any effective offensive moves, instead committing frequent fouls due to overly aggressive defensive actions.

The match exposed many problems within the Chinese team, such as rough technique and lack of teamwork. Such performances not only affected the match result but also reflected the overall inadequacy of the team’s strength.

For the Indonesian team coached by Shin Tae-yong, this might be a positive signal. In recent years, the Indonesian team has improved its defensive quality through the introduction of naturalized players and excels at creating threats through quick counterattacks. Good organizational ability and tactical execution have made the Indonesian team more competitive in this qualifying round.

Korean media stated that although it was generally believed that the Indonesian team was the weakest in Group C, from the current situation, it seems that the Chinese team is actually the weakest in the group.