World Cup
Asia has nothing to do with China
Individual progress ≠ global leap
If the above does not explain the progress of Asian soccer, then there is no reason. However, if you calm down and make a side-by-side comparison, you will find that the so-called Asian soccer has achieved "great progress", which is the politicians' "political necessity", but if you don't emphasize on this "progress", why does the AFC need to further expand its market and business, and why does Asian football need to return the money needed to maintain the status quo? "Why would the AFC want to further expand its markets and business, and why would Asian soccer want to get back the money it needs to maintain the status quo? Therefore, seizing the opportunity to "tell the story'", this Qatar World Cup provides another opportunity for Asian soccer.
This is just like in this World Cup. Morocco was not optimistic before the tournament, but inadvertently made it to the top four. Ever since Cameroon finished in the top eight at the 1990 World Cup, African soccer teams have dreamed of finishing in the top four, but it took 32 years for African soccer to get from the top eight to the top four! These 30 years are just an accumulation process for the whole of African soccer, during which time other African teams have made it to the top eight. So, by now, we really know and recognize African soccer, with African players all over the world.
What about Asia? Although Korea and Japan finished in the top 16 at the World Cup 20 years ago with the help of their hosts, it was only the third and fourth time in as many years that they finished in the top 16. This time, there is a lucky Australian team. In addition, no other team from Asia has managed to advance to the group stage of the World Cup. So why? The conclusion that "the overall level of Asian soccer has improved"? The so-called "overall improvement", "overall improvement", it reflects where? 20 years ago, Asia first hosted the World Cup, Japan and South Korea into the top 16, South Korea even into the top four, do not forget: the other two Asian teams ranked second; 20 years later, when the World Cup returned to Asia, the Asian teams ranked second; 20 years later, when the World Cup returned to Asia, the Asian teams ranked second. After 20 years, when the World Cup returned to Asia, Asian fans are happy to advance to the top 16, do not forget: the bottom of the World Cup team is still from Asia!
Has the overall standard of Asian soccer improved or stagnated in two decades?
The battle for the top five is still Asia's
Many people are lamenting: watching the Qatar World Cup, they increasingly feel that Chinese soccer "hopeless". This statement can only be said to be "half right". Because the task of Chinese soccer is not like South Korea and Japan to compete in the World Cup group qualification, into the top 16 or top 8. The most important task for Chinese soccer is to "break out of Asia and go global". These are two different coordinates and references, so it determines why "there is no cure for Chinese soccer" is only half right.
In addition, at the 2014 World Cup, the teams representing Asia were South Korea, Japan, Australia and Iran in the top four, with Saudi Arabia eliminated in the qualifying rounds. At the 2010 World Cup in South Africa in the previous four years, the teams representing Asia were South Korea, Japan and Australia. In addition, a North Korean team earned the right to advance by eliminating Saudi Arabia in the qualifying rounds, replacing Iran. In other words, the Asian qualifying team was just a new face. As for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, the Asian teams were still in the top five of South Korea, Japan and Australia. Of course, at the time, Australia was still winning from Oceania in qualifying.
There is no need to argue with the fact that at the World Cup, the top five of South Korea, Japan, Australia and Issa Shah, as well as hosts Qatar, can reflect some improvement, but back in Asia, for example, in the top 12, Iran and South Korea have 25 and 23 points in their respective groups, while the third-placed United Arab Emirates have only 12 points, meaning that Iran and South Korea have about half the points , they barely won the third place in the group at the last minute. In the same group, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon got only nine, six and six points. In the other group, Saudi Arabia had 23 points and Japan had 22 points, well ahead of their other opponents. Australia locked up third place in the group early on. With the big picture set in stone, Oman earned 14 consecutive points in the final two rounds of the tournament. Although Oman beat Japan 1-0 on the road in the first round, like "who doesn't eat dumplings on New Year's Day", does one win mean Oman has caught up with Japanese soccer? Obviously, it's not appropriate.
In the top 12 Asian qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Iran scored 22 points, Japan scored 20, Saudi Arabia scored 19, and Australia scored 19, which is also far ahead of its rivals; South Korea scored 15 and finished second in the group due to "spoilers" from China and Syria. As for the Asian qualifiers for the 2014 and 2010 FIFA World Cups, there is a lack of comparison due to the different systems. However, the qualifying teams that represented Asia in the World Cup also had a clear advantage in the Asian qualifiers.
China's Positioning and Coordinates
Over the years, the issue of Chinese soccer has been influenced by too much external public opinion, without a clear position. Just like the Qatar World Cup, I believe that the entire network, public opinion will further see the decline of Chinese soccer in its entirety, because as a platform and network, they need to "empathize" and seek emotional rather than rational empathy. Therefore, looking back at the development of Chinese soccer over the past few years, it has been a left-right curve, a roller-coaster ride of incredible proportions, which only satisfies the tastes and interests of the average fan or netizen, and whether or not it meets the needs of the development of Chinese soccer.
Sadly, as a decision maker in Chinese soccer, he is often moved by this emotional internet and so-called "public opinion" in which the decisions are often not in line with the development of Chinese soccer itself, and sometimes even the opposite, just to calm down the emotions of the internet and the so-called public opinion. This is the most difficult reality for the development of Chinese soccer. As a result, the CFA has largely struggled to achieve this "accurate positioning" in recent years. Just like the two consecutive World Cup Asian qualifiers in 2018 and 2022, the Chinese team entered the last 12 games. Given the reality of Chinese soccer, and even Asian soccer in general, finishing in the top 12 is already the ceiling. However, the so-called network opinion is not recognized, so now Chinese soccer practitioners can only be the "unlucky ones" and "victims". In the long run, Chinese soccer can only be a rush, making more and more people stay away.
In the face of the just-concluded Qatar World Cup, Chinese soccer first need is not emotional "reflective record" of other countries speculative soccer "Revelation" on the contrary, we need to put the Qatar World Cup from a historical perspective in a longer stage, and even in the history of the long river, so that we can more clearly see the direction and development of the situation, and draw conclusions and judgments more in line with the reality of Asian football. Instead, we need to put the Qatar World Cup in a longer stage from a historical point of view, even in the long river of history, so that we can more clearly see the direction and development of the situation, to draw conclusions and judgments that are more in line with the reality of the Asian soccer, and accurately position the Chinese soccer, and then clear the direction of specific efforts and goals.
In the final analysis, professional soccer is a refined, scientific and systematic project, a social and comprehensive transformation process. Unfortunately, many Chinese people's understanding of soccer is still stuck at the level and stage of "Why can't 1.4 billion people choose 11 people to play soccer?" This level and stage, so it is the Chinese soccer in the short term so that people do not see hope, rather than the level of soccer, because today's Chinese society only recognizes the achievements, no achievement can not be recognized by the society, the so-called reflection and revelation is also based on how to achieve achievements as soon as possible. Can Chinese soccer be saved? At least journalists cannot give a clear answer.
