The Chinese men's soccer team managed to edge out Thailand to advance to the 18th round of the World Cup Asian qualifiers by virtue of their mutual record.
South Korea (Republic of Korea)
Media outlet interfootball posted an article on the subject, praising the success of China's defensive strategy, which saw them reach their goal of qualification despite ultimately losing 0-1 to South Korea.
Korean media outlet interfootball wrote: "China advanced to the Round of 18 in dramatic fashion. Played in Seoul
World Qualifying Round (WQR)
, South Korea beat China 1-0, who had a clear goal throughout the game to keep South Korea from scoring. China even had their strikers stay in their own half to defend, and when they succeeded in defending, they didn't attack, they just pushed forward without threat."
The report pointed out that the Chinese team's defensive strategy in the game was very clear, and they were not in a hurry on offense, but made every effort to keep their defense solid. Even after conceding a goal in the second half, the Chinese team did not change the
tactics
, remained solid on defense, determined to hold on to the 0-1 score.
China would have only needed a draw to get out of the tournament, and their plan was to not concede a goal and get a point 0-0. However, even though they ultimately failed to hold on to the draw, China opted to continue to hold on to the 0-1 scoreline to secure a goal difference advantage to eliminate Thailand. This strategy ultimately proved successful, as Thailand still failed to qualify despite a 3-1 win over Singapore in the other match.
China's advancement sparked widespread attention and discussion. Many fans and media spoke highly of the Chinese team's defensive performance, saying that the tactical execution was spot on in the crucial game. China's head coach also said after the game that the team's defensive strategy in the game was well-designed and the players showed a high degree of execution and team spirit on the field.
This match not only allowed China to successfully advance to the Round of 18, but also showed the team's tactical wisdom and resilience at critical moments. The Chinese team will continue to face stronger opponents in the upcoming matches, and we expect them to continue to strive for better results in the coming matches.
