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China goalkeeper Yan Junling in a Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 Asian Qualifier event group game against Saudi Arabia in the United Arab Emirates. Photo: Xinhua

China will struggle to qualify for 2026 Fifa World Cup as ‘youth not good enough,’ says former captain Feng Xiaoting

  • Feng Xiaoting foresees an even more difficult World Cup cycle next, ‘because our youth are not good enough’
  • U-23s coach Jankovic notes fans’ senior team ‘disappointments’ but eyes Asian Games silverware in September
Fifa

China’s miserable run of form in World Cup qualifying will continue for the next several years because the country’s young football players “are not good enough”, former captain Feng Xiaoting has said.

The men’s senior national team failed to come anywhere close to reaching this year’s tournament in Qatar, winning just one of their 10 matches, and that was a narrow 3-2 win over perennial losers Vietnam.

China, who finished second from bottom of their group in the final round of Asian qualifying, have played at the World Cup just once, when they were knocked out in the group stage in 2002.

Saudi Arabia’s midfielder Fahad al-Muwallad (cente) battles for the ball against China’s Zheng Zheng (left) and Zhu Chenjie at Sharjah Football Stadium. Photo: AFP

“For sure, our next campaign will be more difficult, because our youth are not good enough,” Feng said. “If they are not among the top four in Asia, you cannot expect good performances from them.”

Li Xiaopeng’s side’s group campaign ended in another easy loss to Oman on Wednesday, and the new coach who took the hot-seat from former manager Li Tie in December, said the players were “fighters” but the “result was not unexpected”.
China’s coach Li Xiaopeng (centre) sends his team instructions in a World Cup 2022 event Asian group qualifying game against Japan at the Saitama Stadium in Tokyo. Photo: AP

His winless tenure so far has included a humiliating 3-1 defeat to bottom team Vietnam. China’s only victory came against Vietnam in October.

Li said it could take generations to revive the country’s dwindling football scene after the game.

China’s lack of depth and X-factor was evident in its remaining qualifiers as it called upon Hong Kong-born midfielder Dai Wai-tsun to play full games and dictate the attacking plays. Li also fielded several other youngsters, including debutant Gao Tianyi.

The lack of firepower was not helped by the loss of star striker Wu Lei, or Li’s decision to drop reliable Brazilian-born naturalised quartet Ai Kesen, Luo Guofu, Fei Nanduo and A Lan.

China striker Wu Lei (right) in a Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 Asian qualification group football game against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah. Photo: Xinhua

Fans raged on social media at the lack of naturalised players, who were considered crucial for World Cup qualification, questioning “how can we see hope from these bunch of players?”

The anti-climatic end was likely magnified as China had held already qualified Saudi Arabia to a surprising draw the previous game, getting fans’ hopes up.

The China men’s lack of development is often a hot topic after each game, made only worse by the women’s team’s comparative success.

Jin Jingdao (second from right) of China against Khalid Alghannam of Saudi Arabia in a Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 Asian Qualifier group game in Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates. Photo: Xinhua
After winning the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in February, fans rushed to Weibo to congratulate the “Steel Roses”, before mercilessly trolling the men’s.
In March, mainland comedian Gong Hanlin called the men’s team a “complete shame for Chinese people” given what they earn versus the results.

Despite Feng’s comments on the state of young Chinese football talent, its under-23s team coach Aleksandar Jankovic is confident his side will show their potential at the Asian Games in Hangzhou in September.

China’s Wang Shuang after scoring a goal in an AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2022 event game against Iran at the Mumbai Football Arena in India. Photo: AP

“I know that there have been a lot of disappointments in the past around football. We have to defend home ground representing China,” the Serbian told Xinhua last week.

“We have the highest targets for Hangzhou Asian Games. There is only one winner in the tournament, we want to be the team who wins.”

The 2026 World Cup will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States. It will be the first edition to include 48 teams, expanded from 32.

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