Chinese football blames coach Ivanković for World Cup qualification failures

Could it be that they do not understand the reason for not stepping onto the World Cup stage for the 24th year? Chinese football is now attributing its failure in the finals to the tactics of coach Branko Ivanković, rather than a lack of skill.

On the 21st (Korean time), Chinese media outlet Sohu reported, "The reason why the Chinese national team did not advance to the fourth round of World Cup qualifiers has been revealed. The failures of Chinese football are not due to weak skills, but rather because of coach Ivanković and his tactics."

The media noted, "The poor performance in the group stage of the third round of World Cup qualifiers is not an issue of skill in Chinese football. It is due to Ivanković's stubborn tactics and puzzling player selections. Coach Ivanković ignored Wei Shihao, the only player with international-level skills on the team. Even more incomprehensible is that he positioned the winger as a midfielder, stifling his strengths. This is a case of using a knife meant for slaughtering cows to catch chickens."

Criticism continued against the departed coach Ivanković. Sohu stated, "Ivanković's tactics have always been the same. He stuck to a formation that was thoroughly decipherable to opponents and never made any changes. Is there another coach who insists on their views even after their tactical failures are exposed worldwide? It is also the coach's responsibility that the players were unable to perform due to inappropriate placements."

The media continued, "What is even more puzzling is why the domestic coaching staff ignored this. The failure to qualify for the World Cup is because they disregarded the issues and failed to take responsibility. Even if they could not go straight to the World Cup, they should have at least secured a playoff spot. They must not fall out as powerless as they did this time."

The Chinese Football Association (CFA) recently terminated its contract with coach Ivanković. He took over the Chinese national team in February of last year after coach Aleksandar Janković. Coach Janković failed to score a single goal in the 2023 Qatar Asian Cup, resulting in two draws and one loss before he had to leave the team.

Chinese football circles had high hopes for the experienced Ivanković, who had stints at Hannover (Germany), Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia), the Iranian national team, and the Omani national team, as well as a victory in the China Super League (2010 Shandong Luneng). However, he also failed to deliver results. China succeeded in advancing to the third round of qualifications for the 2026 North and Central American World Cup as the second in Group C but it ended there.

The Ivanković-led team collapsed in the crucial third round of qualification. As the World Cup expanded to 48 countries, there was an explosion of hope within China that they could step onto the final stage. However, coach Ivanković concluded the third round with three wins and seven losses, finishing fifth in Group C and failing to qualify for the finals for the sixth consecutive time since the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup.

The CFA quickly ended its contract with coach Ivanković due to poor performance. Reports suggest that the contract included a clause that allowed for termination if World Cup qualification was not achieved. In the end, coach Ivanković and China parted ways after around one year and four months. The Chinese national team has replaced its coach an astounding 14 times since 2002.

The Chinese national team has now decided to temporarily appoint Dejan Jorjevic, the former head coach of the Chinese U-20 national team, to take charge. Additionally, former national team coach Hao Hongbo will join as assistant coach for the upcoming 2025 East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) E-1 Championship (East Asian Cup).

Now, it seems that the Chinese football community is placing blame on the already departed coach Ivanković. Sohu criticized Ivanković for using only one tactical approach and compared him to neighboring Japan. Unlike China, Japan has entrusted their team to coach Hajime Moriyasu since 2018 and has successfully secured qualification for the World Cup faster than any other team in the world.

The media lamented, "The headers and crosses that Chinese football once boasted have now become dust in history. In contrast, Japan has seriously taken to heart the lessons learned from its defeats in previous World Cups and has effectively carried forward that experience. However, Chinese football continues to repeat past mistakes, failing to leverage its former advantages and instead only accurately transmitting its failed experiences. Is this not a sad situation?"

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) hopes for China's qualification for the World Cup, given its large population, but despite the expansion to 48 countries, Chinese football's skills are still vastly insufficient. Sohu warned, "If the Chinese national team's current state does not change, the hope of qualifying for the next World Cup will diminish further. In a few years, as countries like Thailand and others in Southeast Asia develop, China’s international competitiveness will decline even more."

[OSEN]