"Excuse me, are you Mr. Rossi?" In a Chinese restaurant in Doha, Rossi, who watched the World Cup with the "China Dragons Fan Group", was instantly recognized by his hometown in Liaoning. White goatee, cowboy hat, thin body and determined eyes, personality Rossi, become another business card of Chinese soccer.
Pic:Rossi watching the World Cup in Qatar Interviewee
The 70-year-old Rossi live to see nearly 40 years of Chinese soccer, enough to call 70-year-old Rossi "the first Chinese fans. There is no Chinese team in the Qatar World Cup, but we might as well listen to Rossi talk about Chinese soccer.
Cannot ignore the rules
Five Asian teams played well in Qatar, but China was absent as usual. For years, Rossi has had his own views on Chinese soccer.
"Just like the old gold dollar soccer, it is not in line with the market. For example, in the big five leagues, they have big returns on their huge investments, big revenues, buy stars at big prices and then create big returns, but us? On the contrary. The foreign aid we buy for tens of millions of euros is actually millions of euros or even less." Rossi said, "When we engaged in gold dollar soccer, we all thought Chinese soccer was a piece of fat meat. In fact, if we handled it well, we could taste it. As a result, you make a cut, he makes a cut, and in the end it's gone. Therefore, the environment of Chinese soccer needs to be improved."
Photo Credit: Rossi and other fans interviewed in Qatar
"Domestic clubs are desperately trying to spend and burn money with no income. And a real professional club is all about generating benefits, being paid and rewarded, where are we? You want the fame, you want to make money from somewhere else." Rossi's words ring true on the ground, "That's why by now, so many teams can't survive!"
Players need to be updated
Since August 1986, Rossi has only been absent from all but six of the Chinese men's soccer team's official matches (including away matches), either live or due to illness and other force majeure factors. Rossi is familiar with China's World Cup history.
Why can't the Chinese team? Rossi mentioned one point in particular. "Our young players never come up. For example, the average age of the last national team was 29.6 years old. They could handle the first 20 minutes at the beginning, then they pulled their hips completely, couldn't run the whole time, didn't force robberies, deformed their technique, and were bad in every way. Why? In short, I'm getting old. What impression did Messi Crow make five years ago? Stars like them old worse than before, not to mention Chinese players."
photo of Rossi believes national soccer team lacks strong young players data map by NWSNews
Rossi told reporters history: "In the past, our soccer traveled because it was well updated. Since July 7, 1980 back to the FIFA family, the first batch of players are Li Fusheng, Zuo Shusheng, Chen Gang, Shen Xiangfu, January 10, 1982 did not advance, and immediately changed half; the second generation of players became 1 Fu Yubin, 2 Zhu Bo, 3, 4 Guo Yijun ......1 October 1, 1990 after the loss to Thailand , another half went down. Fan Zhiyi's wave, including Xu Hong and Wei Qun. ; In 1997, Jianlibao studied in Brazil, Swan began to take over, and peaked in 1999 when Horton handed over to Milu."
His words turned, "But the national team has been largely unchanged since Milo's departure. You see, from 2004 to last year, some of them played in five World Cups, some four, some three, at least two. If the players are not good, they change coaches. This is not in line with the law of the market. If the old people can't continue, there's no room for the young people." Rossi sighed, "A competitive and fighting national team should be able to say that they can't change a group of players by playing one or two editions, but we just can't continue, can this be progress?"
You can't change coaches too often.
Figure:The current national football head coach Li Xiaopeng data picture Xinmin Evening News reporter Li Mingzhao
As Rossi said, in recent years, the national football team has left one of the most profound impression on Chinese fans is the constant change of coaches. In Rossi's opinion, this is also a major "dead end".
"Su Yongshun led, Zeng Xuelin led, Gao Fengwen led, Schlapner led, Qi Wusheng, Milu. before 2004, the head coach basically led the team, only Nianwes, Horton and Kim Zhiyang made the transition. In the past 20 years, nine coaches have participated in six World Cups, so we have game play, tactics, more reasonable, each coach has his own characteristics, and each player knows how to play and can continue."
"But how many managers has the national team changed in five World Cups since Milo in 2004?14 in 17 years! Can a national team like that have style?" Rossi said sadly, "The players have just adapted to the coach's tactical thinking and leave in less than a year or two! Isn't this your own nonsense?"
Rossi's words ring true: "The World Cup is coming to an end, where is our national team? More than a year has been wasted. Is it always possible to take the time, put in the effort and choose a good coach? At the end of the day, we come back to prepare for the next one, with a very late start!"
Photo Credit: Rossi (second from left) and other fans interviewed in Qatar
Ten years of precipitation will bring hope
At the Qatar World Cup, several Asian teams, led by Japan, Saudi Arabia and Australia, shocked the world of soccer with their performances. With the rapid development of its near neighbors, will it be more difficult for Chinese soccer to have a better future in the future? Rossi has a different view on this.
"It's only been 40 years since Chinese soccer was brought into line with international soccer. Who really understands the so-called soccer in these 40 years? Who can grasp the development trend of soccer and the pulse of soccer beating? We really don't understand. However, I firmly believe that as long as there is a good environment, once we find the right way, the Chinese can do what they want to do."
He still stubbornly believes that Chinese soccer will have a better tomorrow. "If we really calm down and soccer players are responsible for raising some kids, like a 1789 year old or a group of young people, and give him a good environment to grow up, in just ten years, they will come out."
Photo:Rossi watching the game in Qatar, courtesy of the interviewee
At 70, Rossi is still in tough shape, but in his heart he knows he's getting older. "I'm 70 years old and my father died at 79. I think my father lived into his 80s. I should say I'm satisfied with my life and have ten years left. I firmly believe that Chinese soccer will change a lot in the past ten years."
Perhaps to an outsider, it is hard to understand why Rossi has been so crazy about supporting the national soccer team for more than 30 years. In fact, the old man has dedicated nearly half of his life to Chinese soccer just to see the moment of its glorious take-off. Can he really wait for that day? (Special correspondent Guan Yin of the New People's Evening News, Doha Today)
