bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Mike Chan

Mainland Chinese football experts have suggested China stick with their defensive and counter-attacking approach if they are to stand a chance of avoiding elimination in the next round of 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers.
Despite losing 1-0 to South Korea in Seoul last Tuesday, China scraped into the third round of the Asian qualifiers after Thailand failed to beat Singapore by the required three-goal margin in Bangkok later that night.
Level on every metric with Thailand after six group matches, China sneaked through on head-to-head, having secured a crucial 2-1 win in Thailand last November.
Chinese football commentator Zhan Jun said reaching the next round was “massive” for China.
“It saved our football market, and faces, too,” he said. “It also allows young players like Behram Abduweli to [experience] a ‘major’ competition.

“The third round of qualifiers is like the ‘World Cup’ for China.”
Zhan said head coach Branko Ivankovic needed to stick with the same approach, by retaining the defensive mode and counter-attacking used against South Korea.
“They must do it again,” the 51-year-old from Guangdong said. “If Alan, Fernandinho and Wu Lei are healthy by the time [the third-round qualifiers kick off in September], China’s front line is still good.
“Not to mention the Chinese Football Association is considering naturalising Congolese striker Oscar Maritu. If it could be done in time, perhaps we could snatch a top-four spot and head to the next round.”
Maritu, who plays for Chinese Super League side Cangzhou Mighty Lions, has five goals and two assists in 12 outings this season.
Having played for Cangzhou and its predecessor Shijiazhuang Ever Bright in the Super League since 2020, the 24-year-old is reportedly willing to be naturalised.
Zhan cast a vote of confidence in China’s defence before pointing to what he said was the team’s weakest link.
“With Jiang Guangtai [the Chinese name of Tyias Browning] at centre-back, we’re OK overall, except for the defensive midfield position,” he said.
“Super League teams usually want strikers, and rarely midfielders, when looking for imported players, so there is nothing much [available] even if we want to naturalise a midfielder.”
Formerly a commentator for ESPN but now with online platform Migu Video, Zhan, who has over 17 million followers on Weibo, said Ivankovic must not repeat the mistakes of his first three matches. The Croatian had deployed only one defensive midfielder in a midfield diamond.
“We can only make up for our shortcomings by using two, if not three, defensive midfielders,” Zhan said. “Just park the bus and counter-attack. With our healthy front three, it won’t be easy for a second-tier Asian team to deal with China.”
Ranked No 88 in the world, China are expected to be in pot five when the draw for the third-round qualifiers takes place in Kuala Lumpur on June 27.
The matches will be played between September and next June, with the top two teams from each of the three groups qualifying directly for the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Six third and fourth-placed teams will bounce on to the fourth qualifying round. From there, two group winners will qualify, and the two runners-up will get yet another chance to qualify via two-legged intercontinental play-offs.


‘Most beautiful’: hundreds brave rain to buy always-out-of-stock Hong Kong football jersey

World Cup 2026 qualifier: realistic China fans pray for minor loss at worst against Japan

2026 World Cup qualifying: China’s fragile hopes face ultimate test in Japan rematch

South Korean football boss sparks online firestorm with comments on state of Chinese game

Chinese Football Association (CFA)

How China can reach 2026 Fifa World Cup, according to football commentator Zhan Jun

China players thank spectators after their narrow defeat by South Korea in Seoul last week. Photo: Xinhua

China have seen the merits of playing defensively to repel the likes of South Korea’s Son Heung-min. Photo: Xinhua

World Cup: China social media lauds new Singapore ‘heroes’ for keeping Chinese dream alive

Singapore goalkeeper Hassan Sunny has been praised for his heroic performance against Thailand by Chinese football fans. Photo: EPA

China has another new men’s football coach as Branko Ivankovic replaces axed Aleksandar Jankovic

Croatian coach Branko Ivankovic on the sidelines for Oman during the Asian Cup. Photo: AFP

Aleksandar Jankovic (right) was unable to produce an upturn in results for the China team. Photo: Xinhua

Sport

China

Football

The national team scraped into the next round of Asian qualifying after Singapore did them a favour, but Zhan sees cause for optimism


The national team scraped into the next round of Asian qualifying after Singapore did them a favour, but Zhan sees cause for optimism.


Croatia

Fifa World Cup