You could say the strategy worked as Brazil scored just once more, but with just two players up front it was always going to be difficult for China to near the target itself.
Goal four was an inevitability when Cafu chested the ball down on the right, spurted toward the byline and whipped the ball across the face of the goal for an unmarked Ronaldo to pounce.
Even if China's experienced defensive players Fan Zhiyi and Sun Jihai had played, the result was unlikely to have been much different.
China's fans might win prizes for singing to their national anthem and never losing faith, but their team has a long way to go if it is to challenge, even remotely, a team like Brazil.
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