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James Porteous

Chinese media reacted jubilantly to the country’s 1-0 win over South Korea that kept slim World Cup 2018 qualification hopes alive.
Official state newspaper The People’s Daily summed up the sentiment by posting on Weibo that the narrow win in Changsha, Hunan province, had “won the hearts of 1.3 billion people”. The post added “we expect China’s reds to deliver miracles”.
China still have only the slimmest hope of reaching the World Cup in Russia, and a tough trip to group leaders Iran next Tuesday could see the euphoria quickly deflated.

But for now, all is well in China’s football world with the win – China’s first in the group in their sixth game – being hailed as a masterstroke from coach Marcello Lippi, a World Cup winner with Italy.
Seeds of growth as China claim historic win over South Korea, but too little too late for World Cup chances
“The number one hero is undoubtedly the national football coach Lippi,” a People’s Daily article read. Lippi, formerly Guangzhou Evergrande’s manager, was appointed in October with China bottom of their group with one draw and three defeats. He is unbeaten in four games since taking over.
“Silver Fox Lippi and his team didn’t give up the idea of creating miracles and the win over Korea creates the first impossible step,” wrote Sohu.

Former Chinese international player Li Jinyu wrote on Sina: “Regardless if the team can finally qualify, we can sincerely hope that this game can be a new starting point, let’s start from here.”
QQ said the “Sino-Korean War” drew an audience of around 30 million on state television.
The game was played amid rising political tensions between the two countries over the THAAD missile defence system.
Nationalist tabloid the Global Times said a hashtag “Opposing South Korea begins with football” had received over 640,000 clicks on Weibo before the game began.

State news service Xinhua optimistically claimed the somewhat fortunate win as hard proof that China’s efforts to become a world football superpower were well on track, hailing it as “an early success in China’s national soccer reform push that began in 2015, and [showing] that the foundations are being laid for future success.”
The 800-word piece added: “[The win] is the product of self-starting intuitional [sic] reform on the part of the country’s soccer organs. A major milestone in this reform was the CFA’s being granted independence from government.”
The victory would also “encourage more youngsters to love play the sport,” Xinhua said.


2009 East Asian Games football hero Chan Siu-ki hangs up his boots

Xi Jinping’s World Cup dream, tattoo bans and Carlos Tevez: Chinese football in the 2010s

No goals, no fans, no TV: Koreas draw 0-0 in blacked-out World Cup qualifier

Tiny Solomon Islands now ranked ahead of Hong Kong in latest Fifa men’s rankings

2018 Fifa World Cup Asian qualifying

Euphoria in Chinese media as World Cup win over South Korea is hailed as a ‘football miracle’

Chinese fans cheer on their team in Changsha. Photo: EPA

epa05866232 China's captain Zheng Zhi celebrates after the FIFA World Cup 2018 qualification soccer match between China and South Korea at Helong Stadium in Changsha, China, 23 March 2017. China won the match 1-0. EPA/STR **CHINA OUT**

(170323) -- CHANGSHA, March 23, 2017 (Xinhua) -- China's head coach Marcello Lippi reacts during the press conference after the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia qualification match between China and South Korea in Changsha, central China's Hunan province, March 23, 2017. China won 1-0. (Xinhua/Ding Xu)

epa05866231 Chinese players celebrate after the FIFA World Cup 2018 qualification soccer match between China and South Korea at Helong Stadium in Changsha, China, 23 March 2017. China won the match 1-0. EPA/STR **CHINA OUT**

Seeds of growth as China claim historic win over South Korea, but too little too late for World Cup chances

Yu Dabao celebrates his goal for China against South Korea. Photo: Xinhua韩国队。 新华社记者王毓国摄

(170323) -- CHANGSHA, March 23, 2017 (Xinhua) -- Team China  celebrate Yu Dabao's goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia qualification match between China and South Korea in Changsha, central China's Hunan province, March 23, 2017. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

新华社照片，长沙，2017年3月23日
    （体育）（1）足球——世预赛：于大宝进球
    3月23日，中国队球员于大宝（右一）庆祝进球。
    当日，在长沙举行的2018年俄罗斯世界杯预选赛亚洲区12强赛中，中国队对阵韩国队。
    新华社记者曹灿摄

新华社照片，长沙，2017年3月23日
   （体育）（6）足球——世预赛：中国队迎战韩国队
    3月23日，中国队球迷在赛前为球队加油助威。
    当日，在长沙贺龙体育中心足球场进行的2018年世界杯亚洲区预选赛12强赛中，中国队主场迎战韩国队。 
    新华社记者李尕摄

Paramilitary police get into position outside the Helong stadium before the World Cup football qualifying match between China and South Korea in Changsha in China's central Hunan province on March 23, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Greg Baker

Chinese soccer fans flock to the streets after surprise win over arch-rival South Korea

Ecstatic fans credit first victory in seven years over arch-rivals to ‘lucky’ stadium, where national team have won or drawn their past eight matches

Paramilitary police wait to get into position outside the Helong stadium before the World Cup football qualifying match between China and South Korea in Changsha in China's central Hunan province on March 23, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Greg Baker

Football Soccer - China v South Korea - 2018 World Cup Qualifiers - Changsha, China - 23/3/17 - Fans hold Chinese national flags. REUTERS/Stringer ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. EDITORIAL USE ONLY. CHINA OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN CHINA.

Members of China's national team take part in a training session for the World Cup qualifier soccer match against South Korea in Changsha, central China's Hunan province on March 21, 2017. The match will be held on March 23. / AFP PHOTO / STR / China OUT

Chinese police with riot shields march up the steps of the Helong stadium before the World Cup football qualifying match between China and South Korea in Changsha in China's central Hunan province on March 23, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Greg Baker

Fans fills the streets after China defeates South Korea.

Paramilitary police gather outside the Helong stadium ahead of the World Cup football qualifying match between China and South Korea in Changsha, Hunan province, on Thursday. Photo: AFP

Marcello Lippi is good for Asian football, says Iran coach Carlos Queiroz as the two prepare to lock horns

China head coach Marcello Lippi remains unbeaten as national team manager after overseeing a win over South Korea. Photo: AP

Football Soccer - Qatar v Iran - 2018 World Cup Qualifiers - Doha, Qatar - 23/3/17 - Iran's head coach Carlos Queiroz celebrates his team's victory. REUTERS/Ibraheem Al Omari

epa05866253 China's coach Marcello Lippi reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2018 qualification soccer match between China and South Korea at Helong Stadium in Changsha, China, 23 March 2017. EPA/STR **CHINA OUT**

epa04554861 Iranian coach Carlos Queiroz gestures to his players, during the Group C Asian Cup match between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Kingdom of Bahrain at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, January 11, 2015. EPA/JOE CASTRO AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

Euphoria in Chinese media as World Cup win over South Korea is hailed as a ‘football miracle’

But the team could come crashing down to earth with a bump next week in Iran