International football: China struggles in friendlies as Uruguay recovers from Japan loss

The Chinese national football team concluded a difficult international friendly series intended to prepare for the 2027 Asian Cup, suffering three consecutive losses. Following defeats to New Zealand (0-3), Palestine (0-5), and Tajikistan (0-1), the team failed to score in their last three matches, conceding nine goals. Local media criticized the performance, noting a lack of tactical cohesion and inconsistent player selection.

In contrast, the Uruguay national team, led by new manager Diego Forlan, experienced mixed results during their international window. After a 3-1 loss to Japan, Forlan attributed the defeat to severe preparation issues caused by Typhoon No. 25, which delayed the squad's arrival and left them with minimal training time.

Following the Japan match, Uruguay rebounded with a 4-1 victory over South Korea and a 6-1 win against India. Forlan expressed satisfaction with the team's dominance in the latter matches, suggesting they could have achieved even higher scorelines against South Korea.