Branko Ivankovic’s China lineup faces one other actuality test in World Cup qualifying, with the nationwide crew risking falling additional behind the worldwide ambitions it promoted a decade in the past.
HT Picture
China hosts Australia at Hangzhou in Asian qualifying on Tuesday with its hopes of a direct entry to the 2026 World Cup hanging precariously on the end result. A loss will finish these hopes, leaving China with one other, extra tense route by way of a fourth-round of Asian qualifying.
A decade in the past, because the Chinese language Tremendous League was spending a whole bunch of thousands and thousands of {dollars} on big-name international gamers, the nationwide soccer federation launched a plan laying out a path to a standing of worldwide powerhouse by 2050 and probably the greatest groups in Asia by 2030.
As golf equipment confronted monetary issues, the international stars departed and the league began to battle. By way of continental power, there’s nonetheless a protracted strategy to go. A 1-0 loss to Saudi Arabia final week was China’s fifth in seven video games within the third spherical of Asian qualification, the place it’s in final place in Group C.
Solely the highest two groups in every of the three Asian qualifying teams will progress to the World Cup robotically. Japan secured the primary of these direct World Cup spots with a 2-0 win final week over Bahrain lifting it to 19 factors, 9 forward of second-place Australia and 10 away from the third-place Saudis.
Bahrain, Indonesia and China are on six factors.
After this week, there’s solely two extra match days in June to find out the standings.
“We played well against Saudi Arabia but now we have to focus on the next game,” stated Ivankovic, who will likely be with out the injured Jiang Guangtai and Gao Zhunyi and Lin Liangming, despatched off in Riyadh. “We will assess who is fit and then give our all to win.”
The 2002 edition co-hosted by South Korea and Japan remains China’s only appearance at the World Cup finals. But even if it loses to Australia, all is not lost for China as Asia now has eight guaranteed places at the expanded 48-team World Cup tournament. The third- and fourth-place finishers in each group this round will go into another stage to compete for two spots in the tournament co-hosted by Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.
Australia’s Socceroos have grown in confidence following last week’s 5-1 win over Indonesia in Sydney.
“It’s full focus on China,” Australia coach Tony Popovic stated. “They haven’t changed too much in how they’ve been playing, whether it’s home or away. They sit in their block. They’re very dangerous on the break. And we just have to be prepared.”
Patrick Kluivert is already beneath stress as Indonesia head coach after that thrashing in his first recreation in cost, and wishes a win towards Bahrain in Jakarta to remain in contact.
“The positive is that we kept on going and the spirit of the team will always be there,” stated Kluivert, who was appointed in January. “We will react absolutely against Bahrain.” Iran on the cusp of qualifying
Iran can qualify for a seventh World Cup if it avoids a loss to Uzbekistan at Tehran. Iran has 19 factors from seven video games, three away from its opponent. Uzbekistan can safe its first World Cup place if it will get a mixture of outcomes together with a win over Iran and each the United Arab Emirates and Qatar failing to beat North Korea and Kyrgyzstan in different video games. Group B calculations
South Korea was dissatisfied to 1-1 draw with Oman at residence final week when a win would have given it extra cushion because it pushes for an eleventh successive World Cup spot. The South Koreans on 15 are three factors away from second-place Jordan forward of the assembly between these groups at Suwon, simply south of Seoul. Third-place Iraq faces the Palestinian crew in Amman and Kuwait hosts Oman.
soccer: /hub/soccer