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Jonathan White

China’s slim hopes of making the men’s football tournament at this summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo were extinguished on Sunday night.
Defeat to Uzbekistan at the AFC Under-23 Championship in Thailand, which also has qualifying spots for Tokyo 2020 on offer for the top three teams, means that China can no longer progress from their group to the quarter-finals.
The 2-0 loss in Songkhla to the reigning champions followed defeat to South Korea for China in their opening game last Wednesday and leaves China bottom of group C with zero points.
That loss to group leaders South Korea, who also beat Iran to make it two wins from two and qualify for the last-eight, also came at the cost of China’s star player Zhang Yuning.

WATCH | 3 points in the bank for the reigning champions!#AFCU23 pic.twitter.com/k0JXCcFe37
— #AFCU23 (@theafcdotcom) January 12, 2020

The Beijing Guoan striker left the field with a metatarsal injury at 0-0, before a late goal from Lee Dong-jun deep into injury time sealed the defeat.
That result and South Korea’s win over Iran meant China had to better Uzbekistan and Iran’s results to finish second and progress to the quarters.

Uzbekistan, who won this competition in China in 2017, dominated from the outset. They had a goal ruled out after six minutes before breaking the deadlock with a penalty from Islomajon Kobilov.
A second penalty, given after VAR, was saved by China’s Chen Wei in the 66th minute but after substitute Tian Xin missed from close range, the holders took full of advantage and extended their lead through substitute Nurillo Tukhtasinov.
While South Korea are on course to qualify for an eighth successive men’s football tournament, China have now failed to progress for the third straight games since their last appearance in 2008.

Here’s how things stand in #AFCU23 Group C after two matches.

have already booked their spot in the Quarter-Finals. Will it be or joining them? pic.twitter.com/BpyffboZAc
— #AFCU23 (@theafcdotcom) January 12, 2020

They qualified for the Beijing Games as hosts, drawing their opening game 1-1 with New Zealand, the goal coming from Manchester United’s Dong Fangzhou. China then lost to Belgium and Brazil, thereby failing to progress past the group stage.
While Olympic disappointment has become normalised – 1988 is their only other appearance – this year is arguably a bigger failure. This current generation of players were the first under-23 side to play in Chinese football since rules were introduced to guarantee football for young domestic players.
They were also the group of players that were sent to Germany in 2017 to compete in the fourth-tier as an under-20 side. Led by former Manchester City player Sun Jihai the team travelled to Europe but the plan to play as the 20th team in the local regional league was abandoned after just one game because of Tibetan independence protesters.
Tokyo 2020 as far off as World Cup for Chinese men’s football
Mainland media, in covering the travails of this age group’s failure to progress, do not directly refer to the cause of why the tour was cut short.
“The CFA came up with the idea of going to Germany to participate in the regional league, and finally played only one match for some reason …” is how it is written in an article on Sina Sports.
Further articles have compared the current crop born in 1997 or after with those born in 1989, who are regarded as the worst Chinese under-23 team. They argue that this team has failed despite the opportunities afforded to them, such as Guus Hiddink replacing Sun as coach in 2018.

Zhang Yuning, the pivotal striker of China U-23 team, who was forced out of the field due to broken toes in the 1:0 defeat to South Korea, will leave Thailand and return to China. In the hotel, the 22-year-old striker, with his right foot swathed, said farewell to teammates. pic.twitter.com/39f0Q3E5Mj
— Titan Sports Plus (@titan_plus) January 10, 2020

The failure to qualify has also seen commenters decrying the state of Chinese football on social media and apportioning blame to the players, the long list of coaches and both the Chinese Football Association and General Administration for Sport.
However, there was praise for coach Hao Wei and his players from South Korea coach Kim Hak-bum. He described Hao as an “excellent coach” in the post-match press conference.
Kim also singled out China players Duan Liuyu and captain Huang Cong for individual praise.

The main reason of China U-23's defeat to South Korea in the opening match of the AFC U23 Championship: Zhang Yuning, the spearhead of the team, was forced to leave the field due to broken toes. The tournament for the 22-year-old striker is over. A huge blow for China. pic.twitter.com/PNyqmkJAzJ
— Titan Sports Plus (@titan_plus) January 9, 2020

“The Chinese team caused us a lot of trouble tonight. They played very well, especially No 6 and No 8 are two talented players,” he said.
China have a final chance to save face and move off the bottom of the group when they play Iran in Wednesday’s dead rubber.


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Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

Tokyo 2020 football dream over for China’s men after Uzbekistan defeat

Uzbekistan players celebrate a goal during their win over China at the 2020 AFC U23 Championship in Thailand. Photo: Xinhua

(200112) -- SONGKHLA, Jan. 12, 2020 (Xinhua) -- Players of China line up before the match against Uzbekistan at 2020 AFC U23 Championship in Songkhla, Thailand, Jan. 12, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Keren)

Tokyo 2020 football a dream for China at AFC Under-23 Championship

China head coach Wei Hao gives a thumbs up to supporters after being sent off at the Fifa Women’s World Cup in 2015. Photo: AP

新華社照片，北京，2019年12月1日 （體育）（17）足球--中超：北京中赫國安對陣山東魯能 12月1日，北京中赫國安隊球員張玉寧在比賽中錯失進球。 當日，在北京舉行的2019賽季中國足球協會超級聯賽第30輪比賽中，北京中赫國安隊主場對陣山東魯能隊。 新華社記者曹燦攝

Football Soccer - Chelsea Press Conference - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - 15/2/16 Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink during the press conference Action Images via Reuters / Lee Smith Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY.

Zhang Yuning (L), new recruit of German first division Bundesliga club Werder Bremen, holds his new jersey as he poses with the club's sportive director Frank Baumann on July 5, 2017 in Bremen, norhtern Germany. Zhang Yuning came to Bremen for two years on loan from English Premier League club West Bromwich Albion. / AFP PHOTO / dpa / Carmen Jaspersen / Germany OUT

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Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto and partner Hina Hayata playing at the 2019 Hong Kong Open. Photo: Chan Kin-wa

Cologne and Mesut Ozil count cost of China backlash

Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil reacts during the English Premier League match against Manchester City. The game was not shown in China. Photo: EPA

FILE - In this Nov. 18, 2017 file photo a Chinese spectator attempts to tear away a Tibetian flag which was raised by others in protest of China's politics regarding Tibet at the friendly match between TSV Schott Mainz and China's U20 team at the regional sports facility in Mainz, Germany. The German soccer federation is hoping China's under-20 team is more relaxed about any further protests it may face while playing friendly matches in the country after walking off mid-game last weekend. (Hasan Bratic/dpa via AP,file)

18 December 2019, Frankfurt/Main: Cologne's Sebastiaan Bornauw (2nd L) celebrates scoring his side's second goal with teammates during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Eintracht Frankfurt and 1. FC Cologne at the Commerzbank Arena. Photo: Thomas Frey/dpa - WICHTIGER HINWEIS: Gemäß den Vorgaben der DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga bzw. des DFB Deutscher Fußball-Bund ist es untersagt, in dem Stadion und/oder vom Spiel angefertigte Fotoaufnahmen in Form von Sequenzbildern und/oder videoähnlichen Fotostrecken zu verwerten bzw. verwerten zu lassen.

epaselect epa06067958 Chinese President Xi Jinping (2-L) and his wife Peng Liyuan (1-L), German Chancellor Angela Merkel (3-L), Reinhard Grindel (4-L), President of the German Football Association (DFB) seen a soccer game of U12 children between Germany and China during their visit in Olympic Park in Berlin, Germany, 05 July 2017. Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Chinese President of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping, will be informing about the current status of cooperation in the field of football at the Olympic Park in Berlin. EPA/RONALD WITTEK / POOL

(FILES) This file photo taken on November 18, 2017 shows protesters holding the Tibetan flag ahead of the friendly football match TSV Schott Mainz vs China's Under-20 team in Mainz, Germany, on November 18, 2017. German football authorities have been told to find a compromise with the visiting China Under-20 team over the issue of pro-Tibet protests, or scrap their remaining friendlies. The Chinese junior team is touring southwest Germany as part of an initiative aimed at advancing China's chances at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. / AFP PHOTO / dpa / Hasan Bratic / Germany OUT

Arsenal's Spanish head coach Mikel Arteta (R) embraces Arsenal's German midfielder Mesut Ozil (L) on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium in London on January 1, 2020. - Arsenal won the game 2-0. (Photo by Ian KINGTON / IKIMAGES / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (3R) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (2R) greet the players before a soccer match between the U12 teams of Germany and China in Berlin, Germany, July 5, 2017. REUTERS/Michael Sohn/Pool

(FILES) This file photo taken on November 18, 2017 shows China's Under20 players warming up ahead the friendly football match TSV Schott Mainz vs China's Under-20 team in Mainz, southern Germany. German football authorities have been told to find a compromise with the visiting China Under-20 team over the issue of pro-Tibet protests, or scrap their remaining friendlies. The Chinese junior team is touring southwest Germany as part of an initiative aimed at advancing China's chances at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. / AFP PHOTO / dpa / Hasan Bratic / Germany OUT

Sport

China

Football


Holders win 2-0 at AFC U23 Championship in Thailand ensuring Hao Wei’s Olympic side cannot join South Korea in quarters
Mainland media’s post-portem points out advantages handed to this generation of players by Chinese FA



China’s Tokyo 2020 football dream over as Uzbekistan win 2-0 at AFC U23 Championship in Thailand ensuring Hao Wei’s Olympic side miss out.


Chinese Football Association (CFA)

South Korea

Asian Football Confederation (AFC)