Chinese fans: 'Losing was inevitable'

Chinese fans frankly pointed out the shortcomings in skill level after their team's heavy defeat against Japan U23 in the Asian U23 Championship final.

Chinese fans admit that the Japanese U23 team is far superior.

Gone are the feelings of pride and excitement from the 3-0 victory over Vietnam U23 in the semi-finals; most opinions now focus on the team's inherent shortcomings, viewing the result as an inevitable consequence rather than an unacceptable shock.

Many fans adopted a pragmatic approach, considering the team's achievement of finishing second as "a step forward," especially given their previous tendency to finish last in major tournaments. Expectations were therefore lowered, leading to a widespread acceptance of reality on social media.

Numerous comments criticized the home team's poor organizational skills. Goals were often ruled offside, tactical maneuvers were quickly anticipated by the opponent, causing the match to lose its competitiveness early on. Some fans frankly admitted that the team had almost no way to turn the tide when overwhelmed by the opponent.

Many believe the home team created numerous attacking opportunities, but completely lacked the finishing touch. The gap in physical fitness, speed, and ability to handle the ball in tight spaces was considered the biggest obstacle.

Notably, a section of Chinese fans acknowledged the difference in skill level as the core reason. They emphasized the impressive performance of the opposing players, especially in the midfield, where their speed and control of the game were completely superior.

Facing a strong opponent, the Chinese U23 team opted for a defensive strategy with five defenders. However, this approach was not enough to help the Chinese team withstand the pressure from Japan's young players, ultimately resulting in a 0-4 defeat.

Highlights: China U23 0-4 Japan U23. On the night of January 24th, China U23 suffered a 0-4 defeat against Japan U23 in the final of the 2026 AFC U23 Championship.

Source: https://znews.vn/cdv-trung-quoc-thua-la-tat-yeu-post1622635.html