The gap between the strength of China and South Korea is obvious, and the national football team lost at home
In the group stage round of the 2026 World Cup Asian qualifiers, the Chinese men's football team lost 0:3 to the South Korean team at home. Before the game, the head coach of the Chinese team, Jankovic, asked the players to handle the details well, maintain a good mentality, and strive to find the opponent's flaws while stabilizing the situation.
As soon as the game started, the South Korean team seized the opportunity to take the lead. In just 10 minutes, Son Heung-min was awarded a penalty in the Chinese team's penalty area and personally scored the penalty for the South Korean team. The backward Chinese team continued to hold up the defensive line and tried to contain the opponent to expand the score. But in the 44th minute, Son Heung-min scored with a header again, expanding the score to 2:0.
Yibian fought again, and the South Korean team, which led by two goals, continued to apply pressure. Although the Chinese team tried to put pressure in the midfield through substitutions, the superior South Korean team still locked the score at 3:0 in the second half. After the game, South Korea coach Jurgen Klinsmann admitted that it was a difficult game, and the Chinese team still tried to fight back despite falling behind, and the fans at the scene also created a lot of pressure on the Korean team.
This game once again reflected that there is a clear gap between the two teams in terms of strength. As a strong team in Asia, the South Korean team blossomed more on the offensive end, and there was no slackness on the defensive end. Although the Chinese team bit the score throughout the whole process, it still seems to be unable to create opportunities.
Review of the history of the confrontation between China and South Korea The strength of the national football team needs to be improved
Looking back at the history of the confrontation between China and South Korea, the Chinese team has been in a backward position for a long time. Since the first meeting in 1963, the two teams have played 41 official matches, with South Korea holding the upper hand with 24 wins, 10 draws and 7 losses.
In the main match of the World Cup, China and South Korea have only met once in 2002, when the host South Korea defeated China 4-0. In the Asian Cup, the two teams meet more frequently, but the Chinese team also has a poor record. In the semifinals of the 2015 Asian Cup, the Chinese team lost 0:2 to South Korea, and in the quarterfinals of the 2019 Asian Cup, the Chinese team lost 0:2 again.
In recent years, with the advancement of the professionalization process of Chinese football, the strength of the national football team has improved, but the gap with Asian powerhouses such as South Korea is still obvious. Taking this game as an example, although the Chinese team bit the score on the defensive end, its ability to create opportunities on the offensive end is still stretched.
The main reasons for the difference in strength between the two teams are: first, China's youth training system is lagging behind and the talent pool is insufficient; second, the level of the Chinese Super League is limited and there is a lack of high-intensity homogeneous competition; third, the international players lack high-level international competition experience.
Korean football is mature at all levels, including youth training, league and national team. For example, international players such as Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in play in Europe's top leagues and have rich experience. In order to narrow the gap with South Korea and other strong teams, the Chinese men's football team needs to make greater efforts in talent training and league improvement.
Fan support is eternal, and the prospect of the national football team is worth looking forward to
Although the Chinese team lost at home in this game, the fans' support for the national team is still unwavering. After the game, the fans spontaneously chanted the slogan "Come on for the Chinese team" to cheer for the players.
On social media, although some fans expressed disappointment with the team's performance, it was more of encouragement and anticipation. "Although the national football team lost, their fighting spirit is worthy of affirmation", "Winning or losing is inevitable, the important thing is to work hard to have hope" and other messages appeared frequently.
Senior international player Zheng Zhi posted on social platforms: "Although the result is regrettable, everyone must believe that the national team will continue to work hard to fight for Chinese football." ＂
The Chinese men's football team has indeed made great progress in recent years. In the 2019 Asian Cup, the national football team once broke into the quarterfinals, and in 2022, they reached the World Cup finals again after 16 years. Although there is still a gap between the strength and the Asian powerhouses, the prospect is worth looking forward to.
At present, the Chinese Football Association is vigorously promoting the reform of youth training and increasing the training of outstanding players. The Chinese Super League is also actively introducing foreign aid to improve the quality and level of competition. I believe that under the impetus of these favorable policies, the Chinese men's football team will one day be able to narrow the gap with Asian powerhouses and win glory for the country.
As fans, we should give the national team more patience and confidence. The farther away the dream, the more it needs our persistence and support. Let us stay with the national football team and look forward to a more brilliant future together!