In the vast starry sky of football, the World Cup qualifiers are undoubtedly the most shining star, which carries the glory and dreams of teams from all over the world, and attracts countless fans to cheer and cry. The seventh round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in Asia was ignited, and the entire football world was instantly enveloped in tension and excitement, as if a shocking storm was about to sweep in.
In the evening, the two matches in Group C with the national football team kicked off first, with Australia hosting Indonesia and Japan hosting Bahrain. These two matches were like two bombshells, stirring up waves on the seemingly calm lake of Group C, and had a significant impact on the group standings.
The current situation in Group C is a mess and unpredictable. The first six rounds of the Australian team were underwhelming, like a car stuck in a quagmire, struggling to move forward, and only 7 points to temporarily sit in second place. The national football team has found a glimmer of light in the darkness with two valuable victories, and although they are temporarily at the bottom of the group, the flame of hope for promotion is still burning tenaciously. In this group, except for the Japanese team, which is far ahead, the other teams are similar in strength and eyeing each other, and they have become strong opponents on the road to the national football team.
Japan's performance in this qualifier was dominant, like an invincible supercar. As of this round, they have scored 22 goals, conceded just 2 goals and are unbeaten. Japan are just one step away from securing second place in their group and going straight to the World Cup. Facing the Bahrain team, the Japanese team coach Mori Hoichi did not dare to slack off. He knew very well that after a 5-0 defeat in the first round, his opponent would surely launch a frantic comeback like an enraged bull. In an interview, Mori Hoichi revealed a firm determination in his eyes, and said categorically: "We have to secure a World Cup place in this game." ”
To achieve this, Moriyasu has assembled a squad of the most luxurious, with a team worth more than 300 million euros. Only four of the players in the squad are from the J-League, with the rest playing in the top leagues overseas. Such a staffing fully demonstrates the great importance that the Japanese team attaches to this game and its belief in winning. After the start of the game, the Japanese team was like a tiger descending from a mountain amid the deafening shouts of the home fans. Soon after the opening, Shoya Nakajima calmly pushed the goal through exquisite cooperation and took the lead in breaking the deadlock on the field. Japan then took control of the game, keeping possession above 70 per cent and attacking Bahrain in waves.
A precise corner kick by Endo was leaped high by Maya Yoshida and headed in with a powerful header to extend Japan's lead to 2-0. Although Bahrain pulled one back in the 55th minute via set-pieces, Japan didn't give their opponents much of a chance. Takumi Minamino, who came on as a substitute, received a pass from his teammates, calmly shook the defender, and shot hard to make the score 4:1. In the end, Japan won the second place in the group three rounds ahead of schedule and qualified for the World Cup for the eighth time in their history, and from 1998 to 2026, they have never missed eight consecutive editions.
Meanwhile, Australia's home game against Indonesia is also in the spotlight. The Australian team is well aware of the importance of this game, and they are like warriors on the verge of battle, eager to go all out to win at home and add key chips to their path to qualification. In the game, the Australian team showed strong strength and desire to win. After the opening, they quickly took the initiative on the field and threatened the Indonesian team's goal many times. In the 16th minute, Boyle converted a penalty to give Australia the lead. Subsequently, players such as Velupile, Jackson-Owen, Miller and others made contributions one after another, and the Australian team entered the second half with a huge 4:0 advantage. Although Indonesia pulled one back in the 78th minute through Rommeni, Jackson Owen scored again in the 90th minute to give Australia a 5-1 win over Indonesia to secure their second place in the group with 10 points. The win was crucial for the Australian team, as it not only boosted the team's morale, but also put them in a better position in the race to qualify.
For the national football team, Japan's victory over Bahrain is undoubtedly good news. If the national football team wins in the future, it will be able to widen the points gap with its competitors and add hope for promotion. However, in the early morning of March 21, Beijing time, the national football team suffered a heavy blow in the away game against the Saudi Arabian team. After the opening, the Saudi team comprehensively suppressed the national football team, and the left-wing offensive led by Al-Dosari brought great pressure to the national football team's defense. Towards the end of the first half, the national football team suffered a double blow, Jiang Guangtai was injured and could not continue the game, Lin Liangming was sent off with a red card for raising his foot too high and kicking the opponent in the face when competing for a high-altitude ball, and the national football team had to respond with ten men. In the second half, the Saudi Arabian team seized the opportunity, Yahya turned and volleyed in the penalty area, the ball was saved by Wang Dalei, but Al-Dosari scored a supplementary goal, and the national football team fell behind 0:1. After that, the Saudi team continued to press, and the game almost became a half-court offensive and defensive drill, but fortunately, the national football team stubbornly defended and did not let the opponent score another goal, and finally lost 0:1 to the opponent.
This defeat has made the situation of the national football team even more serious. At present, Japan is firmly at the top of the group with 19 points and has advanced to qualify, Australia is second with 10 points, and China, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Indonesia are all on 6 points. The national football team will host Australia on March 25, and this game can be called a do-or-die match. If the national football team loses, it will miss the World Cup two rounds in advance, and can only strive for the fourth place in the group and seek a chance to qualify through the play-offs. The national football team needs to go all out in the next games, adjust tactics, stimulate the morale of the players, and hope that the competitors will make mistakes, so that it is possible to fight their way out of a desperate situation and realize the dream of qualifying for the World Cup.
The World Cup qualification journey continues, and every game is full of uncertainties and possibilities. Japan's first breakthrough set a benchmark for Asian football, while the national football team struggled through thorns.
The content of this article is synthesized by AI
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