Australian media worries: The group situation of the top 18 in the Asian region of the World Preliminary Championship is grim, and the Chinese team has become a dark horse
Recently, the group results of the round of 18 of the 2026 World Cup Asian Qualifiers have attracted widespread attention. The Australian media have expressed concern about the situation in Group A, believing it will be easier for other groups to qualify. What is particularly striking is that they regard the Chinese team as the toughest opponent in Pot 5, which is a thought-provoking assessment.
The results of the round of 18 show that Australia is in Group A with Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, China and Thailand. Known as the "Group of Death", this group brings together many of the strongest teams in Asian football, and the fierce competition can be seen. The Australian media have shown obvious apprehension about this, believing that they will have a better chance of qualifying from other groups.
Looking back at the history of the confrontation between China and Australia in recent years, it is not difficult to understand the concerns of the Australian media. In the round of 12 of the 2022 Qatar World Cup Asian qualifiers. The Chinese team once drew with the Australian team with a score of 1:1. This game showed the tenacious fighting spirit and tactical execution of the Chinese team, and left a deep impression on the Australian team.
The Chinese team's performance in the international arena has improved recently. In the 2023 Asian Cup, although the Chinese team stopped in the round of 16, it won 3 wins in the group stage and advanced, showing good strength. Especially in the game against the South Korean team, the Chinese team lost with a small score of 0:1. But the overall performance was widely praised. These improvements have undoubtedly enhanced the competitiveness of the Chinese team in the international arena.
We must also be soberly aware that there is still a certain gap between the Chinese team and the top Asian teams. Japan's stellar performance at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and South Korea's multiple players in Europe's top five leagues in recent years. All show the quality of these teams. The Chinese team still needs to work hard to stand out in such fierce competition.
Jankovic, the head coach of the Chinese team, said in an interview: "We respect every opponent but will not be afraid of any opponent. The group was really challenging and gave us the opportunity to prove ourselves. We're going to give it our all to qualify from the group. These words show the determination of the Chinese team to face difficulties.
From a tactical point of view, the Chinese team has shown a more flexible style of play in recent games. Defensively, the team showed greater organization and discipline; On the offensive end, there are more attempts to quickly counter-attack and break down the flanks. This variety of tactics provides more options for the Chinese team to deal with opponents with different styles.
Australia coach Trent Alexander-Arnold was also cautious about the group's situation. He said: "Every opponent should not be underestimated, especially the Chinese team, they have improved a lot in recent years. We need to take every game seriously. These words not only show respect for the Chinese team, but also reflect the cautious attitude of the Australian team to the group situation.
According to the latest FIFA rankings, Japan is ranked 20th, Australia is 25th, South Korea is 28th, and China is 80th. Despite the gap in the rankings, the charm of football lies in its unpredictability. It is entirely possible for the Chinese team to create surprises in the game.
It is worth mentioning that the top 18 matches adopt a home-and-away system, which is both a challenge and an opportunity for the Chinese team. Home games will provide more support and encouragement to the team, while away games will require the team to show greater mental quality and adaptability.
The Chinese Football Association has already begun preparations for the round of 18, including arranging a series of warm-up matches and training camps. The relevant person in charge of the Football Association said: "We will create the best preparation conditions for the team, and at the same time call on the fans to give more support and understanding to the team. "
For the future development of Chinese football, experts generally believe that in addition to improving the strength of the existing national team, it is more important to strengthen the construction of the youth training system. Only by cultivating more high-level young players can Chinese football continue to be competitive in the international arena.
Looking back at the round of 18 grouping, the concerns of the Australian media are not unreasonable. However, for the Chinese team, this is both a challenge and an opportunity. In the face of strong opponents, the Chinese team has the opportunity to learn and grow at a high level of competition. No matter what the result is, I believe that this round of 18 will be an important step on the road to the development of Chinese football.
The Chinese team is regarded as the "toughest opponent", which is both a recognition of our strength and an affirmation of our potential. Let's wait and see the next game, and look forward to the Chinese team shining on the world stage and writing a new chapter for Chinese football.