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On the night of June 12, CCTV’s “Football Night” aired a special segment on China’s national team’s World Cup qualifying campaign. In the program, Chinese football legend Sun Jihai spoke frankly in front of the camera: “I believe that every player who wears the national team jersey with the flag on it will fight hard for the country—provided that they have the ability to do so.” This analysis exposed the deepest wound caused by the national team's disastrous defeat in the 18-team World Cup qualifiers.
In the recently concluded 18-team qualifiers, China’s national football team delivered a dismal performance: the opening match ended in a crushing 0-7 loss to Japan, setting multiple disgraceful records, including the largest margin of defeat against Japan and the most goals conceded in a single World Cup qualifier. The must-win match against Indonesia to keep hopes of advancing to the World Cup ended in a 0-1 loss, sealing the team’s elimination from the 2026 World Cup.
What stung even more was the fallout from the devastating loss to Japan. In the locker room after the first match, many players openly criticized head coach Ivankovi? for his tactical mistakes. During the final round against Bahrain, fans’ long-simmering frustration erupted when player Xie Weneng twice sent corner kicks directly out of bounds, further intensifying the anger and disappointment among supporters.
The first match of the 18-team qualifiers was an utter disaster. On September 5, 2024, China’s national team suffered an embarrassing 0-7 defeat to Japan in Saitama. This loss set three shameful records: the largest margin of defeat in history against Japan, the most goals conceded in a single World Cup qualifier, and the most humiliating loss overall. During the match, China’s defense collapsed entirely, and the players’ mental state disintegrated as they were completely overwhelmed by Japan’s fluid and devastating teamwork.
The aftermath of this humiliation triggered a chain reaction. In the next round, China played at home against Saudi Arabia. Despite initially taking the lead and having an advantage in terms of player numbers, the team was eventually overtaken, and tensions within the locker room boiled over. The blame shifted directly to Ivankovi?’s “inadequate adjustments” during the match. Although China lost narrowly 0-1 to Saudi Arabia, the team’s morale was irreparably damaged.
The final blow to the team’s World Cup dreams came in June 2025. In the do-or-die away match against Indonesia, China lost 0-1. In the final five minutes of the match, when trailing by a goal, the players aimlessly passed the ball in their own half, a display of confusion and lack of direction. Sun Jihai was visibly frustrated during his commentary: “Look at them passing aimlessly in the back! Time is running out... No purpose!” He contrasted this with the approach taken by players in his generation, who, under similar circumstances, would have launched long balls or fought with determination. That scene against Indonesia became a symbol of China’s footballing mental collapse.
In response to the ongoing disaster, Sun Jihai offered a sharp critique during the program: “Many may feel that the players aren’t working hard enough or are not trying, but the core issue is their lack of ability.” This statement aligns perfectly with his earlier pointed assessments of the team’s shortcomings.
As early as after the humiliating loss to Japan, Sun Jihai had posed five heartfelt questions:
1. “Our defense is terrible”—This pointed to the collapse of the team’s defensive system, which was not solely due to individual errors but rather poor planning and coordination.
2. “The players’ mentality is a problem”—After conceding multiple goals to Japan, it was clear that the players lacked the mental resilience to cope with pressure, leading to a loss of composure.
3. “Our technical and tactical abilities are lagging”—Not only were the players’ basic skills insufficient, but there was also a significant gap in their tactical understanding and execution.
4. “The team lacks a true leader”—This, according to Sun, is one of the biggest problems with the current team, highlighting the instability created by the absence of a strong core.
5. “It’s not just about passion; it also requires intelligence”—While passion and determination are important, football, particularly as a team sport, requires a strategic approach and a clear head.
In response to the “backward passing” incident in the match against Indonesia, Sun further elaborated: “We need to improve ourselves in terms of mentality, technical ability, and many other aspects to leave the field with a smile.” To him, the ineffective passing at the final moments was not a matter of attitude but a result of the players’ inability to make the right decisions due to a lack of capability. He stressed, “We must follow the rules of football and make the right decisions at critical moments.”
The deficiencies in player ability were laid bare during the qualifiers. In the final match against Bahrain, 24-year-old Xie Weneng, a highly promising talent, failed to clear the corner kick twice, sending the ball out of bounds both times. Despite his diligent training at the club and even undergoing special training in England during the offseason, his technical shortcomings were glaringly exposed on the international stage. Even more absurdly, when the team employed a “crowded goal line” corner kick strategy, some fans sarcastically remarked, “Are we really hoping for a deflection off a player at the near post?”
The head coach Ivankovi? also became a major problem. His insistence on using a 4-4-2 diamond midfield formation with a single holding midfielder ignored the limitations of Chinese players. Former national team player Fan Zhiyi openly criticized this approach: “Our midfield is not strong enough to play with a single holding midfielder.” Li Yi, another former international, was even more direct: “Please stop using the diamond formation!” This tactical failure was punished in the first match, as the lone defensive midfielder could not cover the gaps in the defense, which Japan exploited repeatedly.
When faced with criticism, Ivankovi? shifted the blame to the clubs, claiming that “60% of the national team players don’t get enough playing time in their leagues.” However, when Xie Weneng’s corner kick blunder triggered a public outcry, the media pointed out the underlying issue: the player, who had never taken a corner kick at his club, was simply being pushed into a role that didn’t suit him. This mismatch between the coach’s tactics and the players’ abilities led to an embarrassing spectacle.
Sun Jihai had predicted the situation long before the qualifiers even began. When the 18-team draw took place, he wisely suggested, “It will be difficult to beat the top-seeded teams like Japan and Australia, so we should focus on how to defeat Bahrain and Indonesia. That will determine whether we finish third in the group.” He offered a strategic plan: solidify defense against stronger teams, and go all out for victories against weaker teams.
The urgent need for systemic reform was emphasized once again by Sun after the debacle. He reiterated the fundamental solution: reforming the football system, rebuilding youth training, and cultivating a football culture. His call for reform resonated deeply with his earlier message after the 0-7 loss to Japan: “In order to be reborn, we must overhaul the football system and bring in people who genuinely love the sport and are passionate about representing the country.”
When it came to improving player ability, Sun provided specific guidance: “We need to work on ourselves in terms of mentality, technical ability, and many other aspects”—this was not only a call for individual improvement but also a metaphor for the larger upgrade needed within China’s football system.
As the national team’s journey in the 18-team qualifiers came to an end, the Chinese Football Association was left with a tough decision: should they continue to trust the stubborn Ivankovi?, or find a new coach? Sun Jihai’s dual critique of both player ability and the systemic flaws had already sparked a strong response among fans.
While young players at the youth training centers continue to imitate Xie Weneng’s corner kick technique, perhaps the road to salvation for Chinese football lies in Sun Jihai’s simple but profound words: “The prerequisite for fighting for the national flag is that you must have the ability to do so.”
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