The logic of the Chinese media remains unchanged this time. The players are flawless, and everything will go well as long as the coach is replaced.
The South Korean national football team defeated China 3-0 in the opening match of the 2025 East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) E-1 Championship (East Asian Cup) held at the Yongin Mir Stadium on the 7th. Korea, aiming for victory, got off to a good start. After a big win, Korea will clash with Hong Kong on the 11th and Japan on the 15th.
All matches will be held in Yongin. The final ranking will be determined based on the results of the three matches. On that day, under Coach Hong Myung-bo, a 'surprise TES' formation was used to test various players. They did not concede a single goal. Korea showcased overwhelming attacking power. With a higher level of movement and build-up, they easily created opportunities by breaking through China's strong forward press. The first goal came early; in the 8th minute, Lee Dong-kyung opened the scoring with a fantastic left-footed shot.
After that, Korea's one-sided play continued. In the 21st minute of the first half, a strong header from Joo Min-kyu following a cross from Lee Tae-seok added another goal. In the 12th minute of the second half, Kim Joo-sung scored his A-match debut goal, bringing the score to 3-0. China failed to create any notable shooting opportunities. In the second half, they utilized several substitutions, including the Brazilian naturalized player Sai Elginiao (Serginho), but it did not work as intended. They suffered a heavy defeat, 0-3.
In China, the atmosphere around the match against Korea has been one of inevitable defeat. Chinese commentator Liu Jianhong said after the game on his social media account, "Korean football is the best in Asia, and Chinese football is the third tier in Asia. This match was a normal performance from a first-tier team (Korea), while the third-tier team performed to their level. China's 0-3 defeat was an expected outcome."
He continued, "Korea can easily overpower China with only K League players without overseas players. In contrast, China is completely outmatched in terms of individuals, organization, experience, and mentality. This defeat clearly shows that reality."
Meanwhile, Coach Zhuryevich explained the reason for using a center-back as a side defender in the first match against Korea, saying, "We had no choice but to use existing resources due to injuries on the left side." As it turned out, all regular left backs were absent due to injuries, and the fact that China's full-back resources did not meet expectations influenced the coach's decision.
In response to the coach's comments, Chinese 'Zibo.com' reported, "Despite the South Korean team participating in the East Asian Cup being close to a 'second string,' Coach Hong Myung-bo dominated the match with a thoroughly analyzed strategy against the Chinese team. In contrast, the Chinese national team struggled throughout the game without any noticeable progress, which is unacceptable."
Zibo.com stated, "Most of the Chinese national team players could not fully demonstrate their abilities. Particularly, consecutive mistakes in the defense were fatal. The hectic schedule of alternating between the national team and the league led to a decline in player condition and mistakes," subtly attributing blame to the coach, stating, "These players already played A-matches in June. Moreover, the competition in the Super League is intense, pushing the players to their limits."
In an attempt to hide the players' shortcomings, Zibo.com stated, "Our players are not at fault," adding, "Ultimately, whether Coach Zhuryevich can restore the morale and condition of the team in a short period will likely be a critical factor for the upcoming match against Japan."
Thus, the Chinese media is again blaming the coach for the team's poor performance. Ignoring structural limitations such as players' physical decline, league schedules, and generational change issues, the rhetoric suggests that replacing the coach is the only solution. Ultimately, it appears trapped in the familiar narrative of 'blaming the coach,' making fundamental change and development seem distant. Once again, the Chinese media's tendency to shift responsibility is evident.
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