China has been humiliated. Of course, there remains the possibility of facing an even greater humiliation. This is because they are up against Japan next.
Under the guidance of head coach Hong Myung-bo, South Korea decisively defeated China 3-0 in the opening match of the 2025 East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) E-1 Championship (East Asian Cup) held at Yongin Mir Stadium on the 7th. With this victory, South Korea has gained a favorable position to solidify its lead in the group ahead of the second match against Hong Kong scheduled for the 11th.
Despite the absence of captain Son Heung-min, the team was not shaken at all. On the contrary, the national team maintained control throughout the match with cohesive teamwork and quick transition play, scoring the first goal with Lee Dong-kyung's precise long-range shot, followed by consecutive goals from Joo Min-kyu and Kim Joo-sung, determining the outcome early.
In contrast, China, under the leadership of new head coach Dejan Jurjevic, suffered a shocking defeat, completely lacking in performance. In particular, Jurjevic, who had experience leading age-group national teams against South Korea, had expressed confidence before the match, but the outcome was devastating.
The mood in China has rapidly cooled as well. Before the match, Chinese media were filled with confidence, saying, "South Korea without Son Heung-min can be beaten," but immediately after the match concluded, their attitude completely changed.
Sohu.com lamented, "China ultimately suffered a predicted defeat. The reality of Chinese football, which has not changed since 20 years ago, was laid bare," issuing stinging criticism.
Sina Sports analyzed that the core reason for China's dismal performance lies in the low standard of the Chinese Super League (CSL).
They further pointed out that while South Korea and Japan fielded squads that were nearly second or third string without overseas players, China took the field with virtually its best members. Nevertheless, the results did not change. This signifies that the competitiveness of the Chinese league is excessively lagging behind the K League and J League.
Moreover, they explained, "In the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League, the performances of foreign players have somewhat narrowed the gap, but the East Asian Cup is a competition where only domestic league players can participate," asserting, "Ultimately, the difference in league levels directly translates to performance in matches."
Sina Sports stated that over the years, the CSL has lagged behind the K League and J League in almost all aspects, including league intensity, man-marking, and game tempo, emphasizing that this defeat is not merely a result but a case that highlights structural limitations once again.
In fact, from the beginning of the match, China was overwhelmed. Sina Sports criticized, "Within just 20 minutes of the match, South Korea was ahead 2-0, easily taking control. The Chinese players already showed signs of physical exhaustion from that point on."
They added, "Players who usually display vibrant performances in the league struggled to maintain a strong tempo on the international stage for even 20 minutes. Instances of cramping also showed a clear indication that the basic system of performance is lacking."
Additionally, they emphasized, "Of course, the heat on the day of the match might have affected physical strength. However, a level of difference exists that cannot be explained by just that," adding calls for reflection on the overall league structure.
In this East Asian Cup, China lost 0-3 to South Korea, reaffirming the hierarchy in Asian football once again. The ongoing stagnation of Chinese football for several years is not merely a problem of the senior national team. The weaknesses in the underlying league system and player development structure are leading to repeated defeats.
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