China’s coach expresses regret for the “most challenging night” following the 7-0 defeat to Japan

Branko Ivankovic, the coach of China, expressed his regret for the most challenging night of his career after his team lost to Japan in a World Cup qualifier by a record score of 7-0.

The humiliation in Saitama on Thursday against Asia’s top-ranked team was China’s most severe defeat in World Cup qualifying, and it was only one goal short of their record 8-0 loss to Brazil in 2012.

Ivankovic led Oman to an unexpected 1-0 victory over Japan in their inaugural match of the final round of qualifiers for Qatar 2022. However, they were unable to replicate the victory as the world’s number 24 team erupted at Saitama Stadium.

Ivankovic stated in comments published by the Xinhua news agency that Japan is not only one of the finest teams in Asia, but also a world-class team.

“During our pre-match preparations, we concentrated on defense; however, we conceded an excessive number of goals during the game, some of which were unwarranted.”

“It was a tough match, and as a coach, this was the most difficult night for me.”

Furthermore, it was one of the most challenging evenings for Chinese soccer fans, who viciously attacked the team on social media.

After the Blue Samurai scored five goals in the second half, former China captain Fan Zhiyi claimed that it was too simple for Japan to score.

In a video that was extensively circulated, Fan stated, “If it were not so far from here, I would have really jumped into the Huangpu River.” The Huangpu River is Shanghai’s primary waterway.

“We can accept that you lose to Japan, but it’s really bad to let the opponents score so easily.”

Before his team hosts Saudi Arabia in Dalian on Tuesday, Ivankovic has limited time to rebuild his team’s eroded confidence.

Only once has China qualified for the World Cup, in 2002, when they were defeated in all three of their matches by a combined nine goals in the tournament that was co-hosted by Japan and South Korea.

The team’s inability to return to the global showcase has been a source of frustration for both fans and the nation’s authorities for an extended period.

In February, Aleksandar Janković, Ivankovic’s predecessor, was dismissed for his failure to lead China to the knockout stage of the Asian Cup in Qatar.

Fans have long attributed the team’s subpar performance to corruption in China’s soccer governance.

State media reported last month that a number of senior officials in the Chinese Football Association, including former vice president Li Yuyi, have been imprisoned this year for accepting gratuities.