Uzbekistan tramples China. (Photo : FIFA)
As was widely expected, China fell to a more talented and aggressive football team from Uzbekistan, the loss dashing China dreams of making an appearance at the World Cup finals for only the second time in history.
The 0-2 defeat to the Uzbeks in Group A at Tashkent sent China falling to fifth place in the six team group. The Uzbeks, however, were ecstatic at their victory, which was their third in four games in qualifying. The win places the Uzberks very much in contention for a place at the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals.
Marat Bikmaev scored in the 50th minute and Otabek Shukurovin in the 85th minute to ensure three points for Uzbekistan. China has only managed one point in four matches, three of which were losses and one a draw (with Iran). The other losses were to South Korea and Syria.
The thrashing also led to the immediate resignation of Chinese team coach Gao Hongbo, who was loudly censured by state-run media for mismanaging his underperforming team. Gao had an excuse, however.
"I will leave the national team because of poor health," said Gao.
"Gao failed to mould an effective formation nor playing style for the Chinese team and all his tries ended in vain ... the performances of the Chinese team have not given the fans any hope," said state news agency Xinhua, which didn't even bother to thank Gao for his services out of disgust.
But the Chinese team and its supposed superstars weren't spared scathing criticism either.
"Could even Ferguson, Mourinho or Guardiola get results with this group of players?" asked the state-run newspaper, the People's Daily.
China's crashing out of the FIFA 2018 World Cup to be held in Russia is also seen as a huge setback for President Xi Jinping's dream of transforming China into a football superpower over the next few decades. To that end, the Chinese Super League is investing billions of dollars but has nothing much to show for it this time around. Then, there's always 2022.
Football aficionados believe Chinese football is in crisis and that the Chinese game needs a top to bottom overhaul to make it a decent competitor against football's superpowers such as Spain, Germany and Brazil.
Some of those disillusioned claim Chinese football is still "marking time or going backwards" despite successes over the past years. Good for regionals, yes, but good for the world? Definitely not.
Then there's the massive corruption problem and match-fixing scandals plaguing Chinese football that won't go away any time soon.
China's next game is against cellar dweller Qatar. China is widely expected to score its only win against the lowly Qataris, but having been beaten 0-1 by Syria (of all teams!), China might again surprise everyone by snatching defeat from the jaws of victory next month in Kunming.
