Two Months on From 7-0 Humbling, Will China Fare Any Better in Rematch With Japan?

China Seeking Redemption in Friendly After Last Year's Embarrassing Defeat

Two months on from a humbling 7-0 defeat at the hands of Japan, China will be looking for redemption when the two sides meet again in a friendly on March 23. The match will be the first between the two teams since that chastening loss in December, and China will be desperate to show that they have learned from their mistakes.

Can China Avenge That Embarrassing Loss?

China's 7-0 defeat to Japan last year was their heaviest ever loss to their rivals. It was a humiliating result for the Chinese team, and it led to calls for manager Li Xiaopeng to be sacked. Li has since kept his job, but he knows that he needs to get a result against Japan in this friendly if he is to keep his job. China will be without several key players for the match, including Wu Lei and Zhang Linpeng, but they will still be expected to give a good account of themselves.

Japan Will Be Looking to Continue Their Dominance

Japan will be looking to continue their dominance over China when the two teams meet in March. The Japanese have won the last three meetings between the two sides, and they will be confident of extending that run to four. Japan will be without some of their own key players for the match, including Takumi Minamino and Daichi Kamada, but they still have a strong squad available. They will be led by the experienced Maya Yoshida, and they will be looking to give their fans another reason to celebrate.

The Match Will Be a Test for Both Sides

The match between China and Japan on March 23 will be a test for both sides. China will be looking to show that they have learned from their mistakes, while Japan will be looking to continue their dominance over their rivals. The match is likely to be a close and competitive affair, and it could go either way. China will be the underdogs, but they will be desperate to prove that they can compete with the best teams in Asia.