A home dragon meets an away bug? Why are the Japanese and Australian media "impressed" by the Chinese men's football team?
After the group draw for the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers Asian Round of 18 was announced, the fate of the Chinese men's football team seems to have been written in the script - in the same group as Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia and other giants, and the outside world has jokingly called this the "group of death". Amid the worr, however, the reaction of the Japanese and Australian media was unusually unusual, with their assessment of the Chinese team being unexpectedly cautious, even describing it as a "difficult opponent" and a "terrible team". Is this a tactical focus, or is it a smoke bomb that is deliberately released?
An alternative perspective on the Japanese and Australian media
When analyzing the grouping situation, the Japanese media specifically mentioned the "rough playing style" and fierce confrontation of the Chinese team, believing that this may bring additional pressure to the Japanese team and must be carefully guarded against. The Australian media have expressed similar views, arguing that China, Japan and Saudi Arabia are all serious rivals for Australia in the way to qualify. This attitude of "impressing" makes people wonder whether there is a deep meaning in it.
Rough ball style".
For a long time, the image of the Chinese men's football team in the international arena has been labeled as "rough style", although this reflects the team's fighting spirit and fighting ability to some extent, but it is also accompanied by controversy and negative effects. In recent years, the national football team has been trying to change this image, but the deep-rooted stereotype cannot be melted away overnight.
The potential power of home field advantage:
In the last round of 12, the Chinese men's football team lost its home advantage due to the epidemic, resulting in a sharp decline in combat effectiveness. The return to the home stadium will undoubtedly provide an excellent opportunity for the Chinese team, and the enthusiasm of the home fans and the convenience of familiarizing themselves with the venue may become an important factor in determining the direction of the game.
The coping strategy of the national football team:
In the face of the "high look" of the Japanese and Australian media, the Chinese men's football team should not over-interpret, but should focus on the improvement of its own strength. Face up to the gap with the strong teams, learn from and absorb their advanced experience, and at the same time keep a cool head and avoid falling into the psychological warfare traps that the other side may set.
Most importantly, the Chinese men's football team needs to show its own style, play civilized and efficient football, and make the label "terrible opponent" a true reflection of the team's strength, rather than just a synonym for rough play. Although the home advantage is good, it is the technical and tactical level and mental outlook of the team that ultimately determines the outcome or defeat.
In short, regardless of whether the cautious attitude of the Japanese and Australian media is true or not, the Chinese men's football team has the opportunity to prove itself with practical actions in the upcoming round of 18, become a real "home dragon", and leave a wonderful chapter of Chinese football on the international stage.