Despite three consecutive defeats, China still holds the chance of progressing to the next round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying, and the bottom team of Group C looks to bounce back in the upcoming home game against Indonesia.
by sportswriter Wei Hua
BEIJING, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- China's hopes of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup are hanging by a thread after three consecutive qualifying defeats, but the upcoming clash against Indonesia on home turf provides Branko Ivankovic's side with another opportunity to right the ship.
China opened its qualifying campaign with a fiasco, being humbled 7-0 by Japan, before then being defeated 2-1 by 10-man Saudi Arabia, and then fumbling a 1-0 lead to suffer a 3-1 loss in Australia last Thursday. This losing streak leaves China rock bottom of Group C with zero points and a goal difference of minus 10.
The top two teams in each group will directly qualify for the World Cup, while the third and fourth-placed teams move into a further round of qualifying. Ivankovic hammered home that China is aiming for a top-four finish, while also noting that the Indonesia game is "just the beginning of a real battle."
As it stands, finishing in the top two in the group may prove a daunting task for China, but progressing into the fourth round of qualifying is a tangible target. After losing to Japan, Saudi Arabia and Australia, three regular World Cup participants, China cannot afford to make any mistakes against Indonesia on Tuesday.
Eyebrows may be raised at Ivankovic's statement, with so many problems exposed in China's first three matches - weakness at defending set-pieces, physical issues in the games' closing stages, and failure to string together a consistent run of play. Nevertheless, the coach and players have expressed their ambitions, and to most home fans, anything other than a home victory would be deemed a failure.
The team still has several fitness issues, as Fei Nanduo has left the training base, while Xie Wenneng, the scorer against Australia, has also suffered a minor injury. But there is also good news, as the team's top scorer Wu Lei has returned along with Brazil-born striker A Lan.
With China looking for a resounding response, Indonesia also expects to take home the three points. The Southeast Asian squad had long been a walkover for China, but now things are different.
Despite an inferior head-to-head record against China, Indonesia is a much-improving side compared to their previous outings. With the help of more than 10 naturalized players, most of whom play in European leagues, Indonesia has become an emerging side that cannot be ignored, as evidenced by strong performances in their opening matches, with draws against Saudi Arabia, Australia and Bahrain.
While leader Japan is running away with nine points from nine, the remaining five teams in the group are only divided by four points, so a victory could drastically change the situation.
Finally, Ivankovic is under mounting pressure as he has come under fire for his tactics, substitutions, and even for some comments at press conferences.
Although the Chinese Football Association has declared their faith in the coach, the 70-year-old still needs a morale-boosting win to restore his reputation. ■
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