On the evening of January 17th, Beijing time, in the second round of Group A of the Asian Cup, the Chinese men’s football team faced Lebanon. The national football team, currently ranked 79th by FIFA, drew 0-0 with Tajikistan, ranked 106th, in the first round of the group stage. Lebanon, ranked 107th, will definitely be a strong enemy of the national football team.
As expected, in this life-and-death battle, both sides had good opportunities in the first half, but neither could seize them. The national football team has had good luck in two consecutive games. The opponent hit the frame twice and threatened the national football goal. Of course, Lebanon, like Tajikistan, has limited ability to seize opportunities.
As the game progressed, the national football team also got good opportunities. Unfortunately, Wu Lei missed good opportunities in both the first and second half, especially in the second half when his shot against an empty goal in front of the goal was cleared by the goal line! Wu Lei was replaced immediately. After that, the two sides still couldn't score, and finally another 0-0 game was born. The national football team has scored 1 point in 2 consecutive games to retain the chance to qualify.
Looking back, after the national football team drew 0-0 with Tajikistan, they also drew 0-0 with Lebanon. Is this the level a team ranked 11th in Asia and 79th in the world should have? Obviously not, because these two opponents are ranked 19th and 20th in Asia and 106th and 107th in the world.
Regardless of the process, results or content presented in the game, these two games were just rookies pecking each other. We don’t need to say that the opponents are too strong, because the shooting standards of Tajikistan and Lebanon are really eye-catching. So the national football team is inseparable from these two teams. In fact, it can be said that the hard power is barely among the top 20 in Asia.
Now that we know the true level of the national football team, let’s give up the dream of the World Cup. With 8.5 places, what can the national football team do to fight for it?
