Singapore leader hails team’s ‘fighting spirit’ after World Cup draw with China; Zhang quits over ‘humiliating’ result
- Country’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong leads congratulations, as Chinese fans drift between anger and acceptance
- Emotional China captain Zhang Linpeng tells reporters he’s ending international career, as fans blast ‘disgraceful’ performance
China captain Zhang Linpeng has sensationally quit international football after his side’s “humiliating” 2-2 draw in a World Cup qualifier against Singapore.
Fans, meanwhile, veered between calling the result the biggest disgrace since their side’s 5-1 loss to Thailand, or admitting they had stopped expecting anything but defeat.
That was in sharp contrast to their hosts, where Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong led the praise for his country’s performance on Thursday.
Zhang though decided that losing a two-goal lead at the National Stadium was the final straw.
“I thought about it for a long while. I think it’s time to end my national team career,” he said after the game. “We could not even beat the Singapore team. I think it’s unacceptable, and I find it humiliating”
Trailing at half-time to two goals from Wu Lei, Singapore changed the game in the 53rd minute, when Faris Ramli’s effort was deflected past the hapless Yan Junling in the China goal.
And nine minutes from time, China captain and defender Zhang Linpeng missed a critical clearance and gave Singaporean substitute Jacob Mahler the simplest of chances to equalise, to the joy of the home fans.
Rooted to the bottom of Group C, Singapore were not expected to get anything from the game and now head into the return leg in Tianjin on Tuesday on something of a high.
“Our Lions displayed fighting spirit and grit last night, at the Fifa World Cup qualifiers at the National Stadium,” Lee posted on his official Facebook page.
“Well done to the team and coach Tsutomu Ogura! Every effort counts, so keep working hard and continue flying the flag high. All the best for your upcoming match with China again in Tianjin on Tuesday.”
Almost 70 places higher in the world rankings, China dominated the first half and should have scored three times in the opening 45 minutes, but Wu missed a penalty after already putting his side ahead.
Head coach Branko Ivankovic, taking charge for the first time, said he had warned his team at the break against being complacent.
“I told my players at the half-time that 2-0 is dangerous. Sadly, we did not do well in the second half,” he told reporters after the game.
“We should improve the efficiency to goal in the coming game and have a lot to correct. The team needs to do all the efforts to win the next game.”
Well used to disappointment, some Chinese fans did not hold back in their condemnation of the team’s performance, even if they are still third in the group and on course to qualify for the next stage.
One commentator on the social media platform Weibo called it a “heartbreaking result”.
“This is by far the biggest disgrace since we lost 5-1 to Thailand 10 years ago, I am never watching Chinese football again,” they wrote.
Another said the result was not the worst part, rather it was “that this team is probably the best we got over the next decade”.
Others were more circumspect. “Let’s just admit it, there’s no hope for Chinese football if we don’t revolutionise,” a user from Beijing wrote.
Another added: “I am not desperate, and I am not going to blame the coach or the players. I’ll just switch my interest and not watch them play any more.”
Wu told the media his individual performance did not matter, and he did not cared who scored “but winning the second match matters. That’s all I’m thinking about”.
