AFC World Cup Qualifiers Group C Round Two: China Learns Humbly, Thailand Seeks Successor for Star Player

The second round of the AFC World Cup Qualifiers Group C continued on the evening of November 21, Beijing time. Although China managed a comeback to beat Thailand 2-1 in their first match, facing a formidable South Korean team at home in the second round is expected to provide a humbling experience for the Chinese team as they feel the pressure from one of Asia's top teams.

Thailand's offensive linchpin, Chanathip Songkrasin, has already surpassed his prime at over 30 years old. His younger counterpart, Supachok Sarachat, while holding his ground in the J-League, doesn't possess the same level of creativity as Chanathip. Thailand must establish a new core player to build their team around.

China vs. South Korea: Son Heung-min Aims to Make Amends

China's first-round away victory against Thailand wasn't exactly stunning, but given the recent football trends in both countries, the Chinese team's away win over Thailand delighted fans, considering Thailand is their main rival for the second spot in the group. Thailand's fast-paced passing game initially troubled China, but the Chinese team wasn't entirely on the defensive. Occasional passing errors from the Thai players allowed China to push forward into their opponent's penalty area.

China's conceded goal came from their own attacking corner kick. Given the significant height difference between the two teams, the Thai players were almost completely obscured by the Chinese players during the corner kick. Despite this, China failed to convert the corner into a goal, and instead, Thailand launched a counterattack that left a lasting impression with its speed. Even top European teams might struggle to counter that quickly.

As previously mentioned, while Thailand's passing game was threatening, frequent passing errors in crucial positions put them at a disadvantage. In the 28th minute, China's most confident attacking player, Wei Shihao, intercepted the ball, and Thailand had to accept that their lead lasted only six minutes. In the second half, China's coach Jankovic's substitutions proved effective. Substitutes Xie Pengfei and Wang Shangyuan combined to score the winning goal. Thailand's offensive efforts waned in the second half, and after conceding the second goal, they couldn't regain their footing, allowing China to secure the victory.

South Korea's opening match against Singapore wasn't as easy as expected either. They broke the deadlock only in the final minute of the first half through Cho Gue-sung, who had impressed at the World Cup last year. Singapore's defense collapsed in the second half, and South Korea ultimately won 5-0. Perhaps due to playing at home, Klinsmann allowed Son Heung-min to play the full match, prioritizing the home crowd's desire to watch Son perform. However, facing the group's strongest opponent, China, in the next round, Son didn't need to conserve his energy, indicating that Klinsmann didn't regard China as much of a threat.

Fans likely still remember China's victory over South Korea in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers. Yu Dabao scored with a header from a corner in the 34th minute of the first half. Despite South Korea's aggressive push, China's defense held strong. In the 82nd minute, Feng Xiaoting nonchalantly outmaneuvered a South Korean player at midfield, signaling that China was in control. Seeing the Chinese players remain composed in the final stages of the match, the South Korean players likely realized that defeat was inevitable. After that victory, coach Marcello Lippi was adored by the fans. However, China's win over South Korea wasn't without warning. In the first leg, Gao Hongbo's team had staged a comeback from a 0-3 deficit to finish 2-3, which fans found satisfactory. At that time, China seemed to be reclaiming their spot among Asia's second-tier teams, but they failed to continue in the right direction afterward.

Don't forget, Son Heung-min missed the match against China due to yellow card accumulation and watched his team lose from the stands at Changsha Helong Stadium, likely feeling very frustrated. Although Son has since led his team to victory over China in the Asian Cup, the satisfaction of revenge in World Cup qualifiers is unmatched. This match aims to provide China with a learning experience, and a 0-2 loss would be a reasonable cost of tuition.

Singapore vs. Thailand: Has Chanathip Songkrasin Passed His Peak?

Singapore managed just one shot attempt in their first-round match at Seoul World Cup Stadium, and it wasn't on target. However, their ability to nearly hold South Korea to a goalless first half was commendable, as even China would struggle to achieve that at home. Additionally, Singapore's possession rate was 37%, a notable accomplishment for such an underdog. While their possession didn't trouble South Korea, maintaining control of the ball reduced the opponent's chances to score. Singapore's performance was at least satisfactory.

Four and a half years ago at the China Cup, Thailand's technical prowess completely overwhelmed China. Chanathip Songkrasin dribbled past Chinese players with ease, so China was mentally prepared to be out-possessed in their first match against Thailand. However, Thailand appeared very nervous in front of their home crowd, making crucial mistakes. Despite their lightning-fast counterattack to take the lead, Thailand's errors persisted.

Since earlier mistakes weren't punished, Thailand became complacent. When Wei Shihao, China's most daring player, intercepted the ball, Thai players assumed China's counterattack would fail as usual. But Wei's individual brilliance led to Wu Lei's equalizing goal. Wei's flashes of brilliance had previously caught opponents off guard, such as in a friendly against Uzbekistan. As fatigue set in during the second half, Thailand's situation worsened. After China scored the go-ahead goal, Chanathip confirmed his inability to continue, further hampering Thailand's offense.

Four and a half years ago, Chanathip was in his prime, but now at 30, he's returned to Thailand from the J-League, and no successor has emerged, significantly weakening Thailand's overall combat power. Thailand has defeated Singapore in six consecutive matches, and even without Chanathip due to injury, they can still secure a steady 2-1 victory on the road.

Conclusion: Learning and Transition

For China, the match against South Korea is an opportunity to learn and grow. Facing one of Asia's best teams will test their resilience and strategy. A loss is expected, but the experience gained will be invaluable for future matches. Meanwhile, Thailand must address their reliance on Chanathip Songkrasin and find new leaders to spearhead their attack. Supachok Sarachat shows promise, but the team needs a cohesive strategy to succeed in the long term. As the qualifiers progress, both teams will need to adapt and overcome their challenges to advance in the competition.