(Reuters) – After China’s record 7-0 defeat to Japan in a World Cup qualifier, coach Branko Ivankovic described it as the most challenging night of his career. The loss, which occurred in Saitama, was China’s worst in World Cup qualifying history and came close to their previous record 8-0 defeat to Brazil in 2012.
Ivankovic, who had previously led Oman to a surprising 1-0 victory over Japan in the Qatar 2022 qualifiers, found no such success this time against the world number 24 team. “Japan is not only one of Asia’s strongest teams but also a world-class team,” Ivankovic told Xinhua news agency. He lamented the defensive lapses that contributed to the high scoreline, stating, “It was a tough match, and as a coach, this was the most difficult night for me.”
The defeat also caused an outcry among Chinese soccer fans on social media. Former China captain Fan Zhiyi expressed frustration over the ease with which Japan scored, saying, “If it weren’t far from here, I would have really jumped into the Huangpu river,” referring to Shanghai’s main waterway.
Ivankovic faces the challenge of rebuilding his team’s morale quickly, as they are set to host Saudi Arabia in Dalian on Tuesday. China’s World Cup history remains disappointing, with their sole appearance in 2002 resulting in three losses by a combined nine goals. Fans and leaders have long criticized the team’s performance and the corruption within the Chinese Football Association, with several senior officials, including former vice president Li Yuyi, recently jailed for bribery.
