"Meeting South Korea Is a Stroke of Luck"... Chinese Netizens Mock 'Konghanzheng' and Are Certain of a Semifinal Berth

[Financial News] "South Korea? Thanks, we’ll take it. They’re much easier to face than Japan or Uzbekistan."
After South Korea put in a poor performance and lost to Uzbekistan, dropping to second place in its group, fans across China, which is now highly likely to face South Korea in the quarterfinals, are rejoicing.
The days of the so-called "Konghanzheng," or fear of facing South Korea, when China would tremble at the mere thought of playing them, appear to be long gone. Instead, the mood now is that South Korea is little more than an easy boost, with a place in the semifinals virtually taken for granted.
Major Chinese outlets such as Sohu.com and other media on the 14th (Korea time) hailed their national team, declaring that "title contender China is writing a new chapter in its history."
They went on to boast that "China has yet to concede a goal in the group stage at this tournament, whereas South Korea slumped to second place in its group after losing to Uzbekistan." They then belittled South Korea as "a team that only survived a group-stage exit thanks to help from Lebanon."
Indeed, China has caused a stir at this tournament, spearheaded by highly rated domestic prospects such as Wang Yidong and Li Xianxiang, even defeating Australia 1–0.

The reaction from Chinese football fans has been even more blunt. As soon as the quarterfinal matchup with South Korea was set, social media filled with mocking displays of confidence.
One netizen wrote, "Honestly, it was Japan’s second string or the physically strong Uzbekistan national football team that worried me. This South Korea side doesn’t scare me at all," adding, "South Korea’s defense is like an automatic door. Our forwards will be able to tear them apart at will."
Other fans chimed in, saying, "I heard South Korea only made it through thanks to Lebanon. Let’s send this luckless South Korea home on merit," and, "This quarterfinal will be the funeral for more than 30 years of Konghanzheng," taunting the South Korean national team.
It was only a few years ago that China would immediately drop deep and play defensively whenever it faced South Korea. But the contrasting performances of the two sides at this tournament have not only given China the sense that "we have a chance"—they have bred the arrogance that "we can win."
On the 18th, will South Korea be able to silence these humiliating taunts with its performance on the pitch? Or, as China predicts, will it become the historic first victim of the "end of Konghanzheng"? For reference, the South Korea under-22 national football team led by head coach Lee Min-sung lost 0–2 to China in the second match of the 2025 Panda Cup last year.
jsi@fnnews.com Jeon Sang-il Reporter