With Yu Genwei's goal, the Chinese men's soccer team defeated Oman 1-0 and advanced to the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup two rounds ahead of schedule. It was the first and only time in the history of the national soccer team to reach the World Cup finals.
Four years and four years, when the World Cup opened in Qatar, the Chinese team was once again a spectator at the World Cup.
As the soccer feast reappears before us, let's look back at China's men's soccer team's entry into the halls of the World Cup.
Dreaming of the World Cup, watching 2022 and dreaming of 2002.
Xu Yunlong, who retired in 2017, is known by fans as the soul of the Guoan team. Like Zhao Junzhe, he was labeled as loyal by playing for only one team during his career; fortunately, he had won the Chinese Super League trophy with the team.
As the first player in China's top professional league to make more than 400 appearances, let's take a look at Xu Yunlong's story.
A little misfortune for a lot of luck.
Xu Yunlong was born in 1979 and joined the national team at the age of 21. He worked closely with his teammates to help the national soccer team finish fourth in the Asian Cup, which made Xu Yunlong "a natural" ground into the eyes of Milo.
Seo scored the first goal of his career in South Korea and Japan's World Cup Asian qualifier against the Maldives, but when it was thought that Seo was going to be a key wingback in the top 10, injuries forced him to stop.
Fortunately, Genway's sword sealed the throat and enabled the national team to successfully break through the top ten. Milo, who has always valued attitude, did not forget Xu Yunlong, which gave him the opportunity to show up in the World Cup final.
Perhaps the then 23-year-old boy didn't expect China to play in all three World Cup matches - even a big brother like Fan Zhiyi didn't deliver that.
In the first leg in Costa Rica, Milo put Xu Yunlong in the right back position. Xu Yunlong also knows that only if he works hard enough, his teacher will not be allowed to "hit him in the face".
Xu Yunlong at the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan.
"Yunlong, you played well today!" Although he lost 0-4 to the mighty Brazil in the second match, big brother Sun Jihai still appreciated Xu Yunlong's performance - facing the most luxurious Brazilian left attacking group in the world at that time, Xu Yunlong, who was guarding the right side of the field, wasn't too embarrassed. Whether it was Ronaldo, Ronaldo, Carlos or Denilson, none of them took much advantage of Xu Yunlong. It was because Xu Yunlong managed to freeze Ronaldo in the half that the Brazilian coach replaced Ronaldo with Denilson in the second half.
A little embarrassment for a lot of success.
Shao Jiayi and Xu Yunlong form the "Two Young Men of Beijing", which is a reflection of Xu Yunlong's 2002 World Cup highlights; Zhao Junzhe and Zhao Junzhe form the "Two Old Men of Xuanmei", which is a tribute to the fact that both players have played for only one team in their careers. In the era of the Chinese Super League, there are few players like Xu Yunlong who are only loyal to one team. Xu Yunlong's 501 matches in his 18-year career with the Imperial Guards is his best military chapter.
Xu Yunlong's career is only national security
The fans of the Imperials were undoubtedly angry at such news, and the club seemed to have unspeakable difficulties.
One is no longer the year of the meritorious veteran, in the end, "value" I'm afraid that different positions will have different views. This is also Xu Yunlong and Guoan club brief rift important reason.
However, with the intervention of Zhonghe, fans who like Xu Yunlong saw hope. Although the final result is not very good, but retained the reputation of Xu Yunlong only play for a team - February 26, 2017, Beijing Zhonghe Guoan music department held a forced meeting for the new season, the old captain Xu Yunlong officially announced his retirement.
