Wu Lei (center) Photo: Xinhua News Agency

The China Men's National Football Team will take on a crucial away match against Bahrain in the third round of the Asian World Cup qualifiers on November 14. Despite significant pressure from injuries and the absence of several key players, the team remains hopeful for their upcoming game, as young players step up and the squad's form shows signs of stability.

Currently, China sits at the bottom of Group C with one win and three losses, while Bahrain holds fourth place with one win, two draws, and one loss, leading China by two points. 

This match is critical for China's aim to secure a third or fourth place in the group, keeping their qualification hopes alive.

Although China's current performance has made it unlikely to secure one of the top two spots for direct entry to the 2026 World Cup, they can still aim for a third or fourth place, which would advance them to the fourth round of qualifiers, sustaining their World Cup chances.

Reflecting on the group stage so far, China suffered defeats to Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Australia. 

Despite varying reasons for these losses, the team showed promise with a 2-1 home win against Indonesia, indicating a positive momentum.

"Against Japan, China lost due to a lack of fighting spirit; against Saudi Arabia, the tactics were poorly chosen; while the loss to Australia showed an acceptable performance. The win over Indonesia, however, reassured me that the team's stability is improving and could carry through to the next match," Li Keyang, a well-known soccer blogger, told the Global Times.

China has been hit with a wave of injuries before this game, particularly affecting defense as key players Gao Zhunyi and Jiang Guangtai are absent, which puts added pressure on the team's backline. 

Additionally, Chinese star striker Wu Lei aggravated an old injury while playing for Shanghai Port and has returned home for further treatment, ruling him out of training and likely making him unavailable for the Bahrain game.

"While Wu's absence could impact the team, he didn't play against Indonesia, yet rising talents like Baihelamu and Zhang Yuning's strong performances still brought victory, showing that new blood are making their mark," Li noted.

Li said that the strategic importance of this match lies in securing a fourth place and advancing to the playoffs. 

China needs to perform steadily and showcase their level in a fair game, according to Li.

Although it will be a difficult task to take all three points on Bahrain's home ground, the team is heading there with the goal of winning. 

With thorough preparation, effective tactics and a positive mindset, China still has a chance to achieve a strong result in their clash with Bahrain.

The author is a reporter with the Global Times. life@globaltimes.com.cn