The Chinese national soccer team is cheering after winning the first round of the second Asian qualifying round between Thailand and North Korea and the U.S. World Cup on the 16th.
Chinese media have been pouring out related articles every day as the national soccer team A is playing against South Korea for the first time in six years and eight months. In general, while acknowledging the “widening gap,” it seems that it is expected to continue its upward trend of victory against Thailand.
On the 19th, China’s “Sohoo Sports” said, “Korea has never lost a major tournament other than losing 0-1 to China in the last preliminary round (the final Asian qualifying round for the World Cup in Russia on March 23, 2017).” Son Heung-min also did not play at that time.”
“We beat Thailand (2-1 in the first round of the second preliminary round), but Korea is a completely different team,” he said, stressing, “There is a thunderous play in La Liga, but it is a difference between heaven and earth compared to Tottenham’s Son Heung-min.”
At the same time, “The soccer ball is round and unusual events occur.” “Wasn’t the whole country seething when we beat Korea in Changsha (2017) led by Marcello Lippi?” he said. 안전놀이터
The media also conducted a detailed analysis of Korea’s best 11 the day before. “Coach Jürgen Klinsmann will do his best with the strongest selection,” he said. “As long as there is no incident, midfielder Lee Kang-in, who shines in Paris, France, will lead the attack as the front commander.” He also added, “The frontline striker is likely to be Cho Kyu-sung, and Korea’s flagship star Son Heung-min will play next to him.”
Tencent Sports said, “The total ransom of Korean athletes amounts to 200 million euros (282 billion won). On the other hand, China emphasized that there is a 17-fold difference in value, saying, 11.8 million euros (16.6 billion won). “Korea has Son Heung-min, the No. 1 player in Asia, and there is Kim Min-jae, the highest ransom, and Lee Kang-in, who plays for the No. 1 French team,” he said, adding, “It will be difficult to win (China), but it will not be impossible to hold on to a draw.”
South Korea and China will play their second Group C match at the Shenzhen Universiade Sports Center at 9 p.m. on the 21st, the second preliminary round of the 2026 North-China World Cup in Asia. In the match between the A national teams of both teams, South Korea is leading by a large margin with 21 wins, 13 draws and 2 losses. In the final World Cup qualifying round held in Changsha six years ago, South Korea, led by Coach Uli Stielike, lost 0-1 to China. However, in the four subsequent clashes, South Korea recorded three wins and one draw.