*This content was translated by AI.
Before the shock of the 0-5 crushing defeat had even faded, they were tripped up by another weak opponent, writing a new record of historic humiliation. As China suffered three consecutive losses without scoring a single goal while conceding nine in their last three matches, local media in China have poured fierce criticism on the veteran striker who was sent off for an elbow strike during the match and the head coach.
Chinese media outlet 'Soohu.com' reported on the 6th (Korean time), "The Chinese national football team set a new record of disgrace by losing 0-1 to Tajikistan," highlighting that they "left behind the worst report card of nine goals conceded and no goals scored in three consecutive matches."
On this day, China lost 0-1 to Tajikistan, ranked 101st in the FIFA rankings, in the final match of the 2026 CFA Chinese Football Association Chongqing International Football Invitation Tournament held in Chongqing. China, which had never lost to Tajikistan in their head-to-head record with four wins and two draws in six matches, suffered the humiliation of losing to Tajikistan at home for the first time in history. The scoreless and unbeaten record against Tajikistan that had continued for 28 years since the 1998 Asian Games was simultaneously shattered in vain.
It is a series of self-destruction. Following a 0-3 defeat to New Zealand on the 27th of last month, China suffered a 0-5 crushing defeat to Palestine, ranked 92nd in FIFA rankings, at home in front of over 50,000 spectators on the 2nd. After the 0-5 crushing defeat at the time, all the veterans disappeared and they put up 17-year-old prospect Zhao Songyuan as a shield for interviews, receiving fierce criticism, but instead of a turnaround, they sank deeper into the quagmire with the loss to Tajikistan.
The match content was also powerless. Coach Xiao Jai brought out a 5-4-1 formation, but throughout the first half, possession was under 40% and there were only two effective shots. China, which had been holding on thanks to the goalkeeper's saves, conceded the opening goal in the 8th minute of the second half when Liu Dianzuo failed to clear a long-range shot from the opponent properly, allowing Bakhodir Kholmatov to push in the loose ball.
To make matters worse, six minutes later, the team's star Wei Shihao was sent off for accumulating cautions after using an elbow while colliding with an opponent. Facing a numerical disadvantage, China had to accept a 0-1 defeat without even attempting a proper counterattack, except for Zhao Songyuan's weak shot just before the end of the match.
After the match, the anger of local Chinese fans reached its peak. The comment section of 'Soohu.com' articles was flooded with intense reactions targeting the national team, the coach, and specific players.
Chinese netizens poured criticism on Wei Shihao, who brought about self-destruction through unnecessary fouls, saying, "Wei Shihao is a cancerous presence in the national team. His eyes were rotten from the start as if he deliberately wanted to get sent off," "I am amazed at how a player with such an attitude and character gets selected for the national team and even wears the captain's armband," and "Did he get sent off on purpose to have the coach dismissed?"
Criticism also rained down on Coach Xiao Jai. Fans said, "Xiao Jai should resign immediately. He has only great ambition but no ability at all, and no courage to take responsibility," "It was a comedy from the moment the Football Association put Xiao Jai in charge as head coach. Even if they brought in a second-division team, they would do better than this team," and "Stop making us look foolish internationally any longer and disband the national team."
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*This content was translated by AI.
