The Asian Cup group stage ended on January 25th, marking the end of the journey for the Chinese national football team and bringing unexpected challenges for Japan and South Korea. Xinhua News Agency reporter Liu Boji Jiadong provided a recap of the group stage, highlighting the underwhelming performance of the Chinese team, the obstacles faced by Japan and South Korea, and the strong advances made by West Asian teams.
The Chinese national football team’s journey in the Asian Cup came to an embarrassing end as they failed to score a single goal. With a poor record of 2 draws and 1 loss, the team ranked 18th, marking their worst performance in the 13th Asian Cup. The team’s inability to capitalize on scoring opportunities and the collective progress of second and third-tier teams in Asia reflected a stagnation in Chinese football, as pointed out by player Wei Shihao.
While the Japanese team showcased strong passing and control capabilities, they fell short of qualifying as the top group. A surprising loss to the Iraqi team highlighted issues with low goal conversion rates and air defense capabilities. The South Korean team, on the other hand, faced obstacles with consecutive draws, but head coach Klinsmann remained optimistic about the team’s chances in the championship.
In contrast, West Asian teams excelled in the group stage, with nine of the top 16 teams coming from the region. The Saudi team, led by famous Italian coach Mancini, secured 2 wins and 1 draw but faced challenges in their upcoming matches. Meanwhile, the host Qatar team set the pace by winning all three games in the group stage, with player Afif scoring three goals. Iraqi player Hussein emerged as the top scorer, leaving a deep impression with his ability to score headers.
The Asian Cup group stage concluded with unexpected turns, setting the stage for compelling knockout rounds as teams strive for victory in the championship.