Riyadh, March 21, 2025 – The Europe Today: China’s national team captain and goalkeeper Wang Dalei remains hopeful about his side’s FIFA World Cup qualification prospects despite a 1-0 away defeat against Saudi Arabia on Thursday night.
Reflecting on the match, Wang acknowledged the disappointment of the result but emphasized that football is a collective effort. “It’s quite regrettable,” he said. “Football is a team sport, and we win or lose together.”
China had promising moments in the first half but conceded early in the second half. While Saudi Arabia created more opportunities, Wang praised his team’s defensive resilience. “No matter who was missing on the pitch, we covered for and helped each other,” he added.
With three matches left in Group C, China sits level on six points with Indonesia and Bahrain but remains at the bottom of the table due to goal difference. The top two teams will qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup, while the third- and fourth-placed teams will advance to a playoff.
Wang remains optimistic, noting that China’s rivals also suffered defeats. “We still have a chance because both Bahrain and Indonesia also lost their matches,” he said.
Defender Jiang Shenglong echoed Wang’s sentiments, vowing to help the team recover and focus on their next challenge against Australia in Hangzhou next Tuesday. Jiang pointed to Lin Liangming’s red card as a turning point that disrupted the team’s rhythm. “The red card was an accident, and it completely changed the game. There are too many uncertainties in football. We need to learn from this match and prepare for the next one,” he said.
China will look to bounce back against Australia as they continue their fight for World Cup qualification.
