Faced with the inherent challenges of Chinese soccer, the women's girls also had to deal with the elusiveness of the scoreboard. After a thrilling win over Denmark, they met a stiff resistance from Haiti.
England 6 points, Denmark 3 points, the situation is worrying; Haiti thwarted Denmark, the four teams have the same points, the goal difference and the number of goals scored, everything needs to be calculated accurately. The whistle is blowing, the pain is visible, review the past, in-depth reflection.
At the beginning of the match, China conceded a goal in only 4 minutes. England's breakthrough pass from the left was assisted by Lauren James, sister of Reece James, and Alessia scored easily.
Behind, the scheduled tactics are increasingly stretched. If you want to break out, the only way is to go all out on offense, but the position of the number one player, Wang Frost, is exceptionally awkward. She has not only started two consecutive games, but has also been pushed to the front line of the team.
Fans wondered if this foreshadowed a foolish move by Cesc Fabregas, Phil Foden's center forward.
Wang Frost, who is technically outstanding but physically thin, needs the team to build an ecosystem for her in order to bring her strengths into play and cover up her weaknesses. However, Lou Jiahui, the partner arranged by the water guide, has made this pair of disadvantaged girls become the key to fight back.
The result is: first, can't carry the opponent, the counterattack instantly disintegrated; second, the front line and midfield disconnect, Wang Frost play area empty.
In the 26th minute, two dilemmas erupted simultaneously. Lena Young missed at the back and Wang Frost was hit as she fought with Bright for possession. England Women's counterattacked down the middle and Lawrence James assisted again to make it 2-0.
Witnessing this scene, we are full of helplessness. On the one hand, there is a huge gap between our own physical qualities and those of our opponents; on the other hand, England women's soccer team is clearly superior in terms of technology.
Wang Frost and Lou Jiahui's decision-making is puzzling. The girls are not only weak in counterattacks, but also struggling to push forward.
In the last 15 minutes of the first half, China's symbolic counterattacks were suppressed and the game was completely tilted in England's favor. They pressurized efficiently and China would have been 0-4 down at half-time if not for the VAR.
At halftime, two things stood out: A. We can't really beat them; and B. That Reece James' sister? See you next season in the Premier League, she's "Lauren James' brother"!
The game is over after the banter. Denmark has long been ahead of Haiti, and the Chinese women's soccer team's dream of making it out of the tournament is shattered.
In the second half, the girls tied the game at 1-3 with a penalty kick, but England's women's soccer team got back into the game with just 10 minutes to go, widening the gap to three goals, four goals, five...
The final score of 6-1 signaled a huge gap with England's women's soccer team. Throughout the game, the Chinese team repeatedly tried to surround the opponent, but could not break the ball, and even more so, could not surround the opponent in the same area. Winning the game was a luxury.
The fact is that England women's soccer had no outstanding results before 2015. But reaching the semi-finals of the last two World Cups and winning the Euros shows the effectiveness of the English soccer master plan.
English football does not aim to make a profit and has a total income of approximately £400 million, 90% of which is spent on football-related costs and 10% as a profit reserve. This includes the operating costs of the General Manager of Football, Wembley, St. George's Park, national teams at all levels, soccer governance and development.
Around £150 million is invested in long-term projects in soccer, including professional soccer, grassroots soccer, coach and referee training, regional FA management projects, FA Cup prize money and promotion, youth soccer, disability soccer, women's soccer, and rehabilitation and new build of amateur soccer pitches.
The British Soccer Corporation organizes up to 15 various cup competitions, such as the 700-odd annual Total Football Cup, the Community Shield, the FA Championship, the FA Bottle, and so on, to provide a stage for low-level teams and young players.
The Women's Football Cup, Women's Premier League Cup, Sunday Football Cup, International League Cup, Umbro Futsal Cup and Indoor Futsal Cup provide platforms for amateurs.
These seemingly marginal cup competitions have huge mass bases in the UK, such as the People's FA Cup, which covers the U14 men's and women's, veterans' and disabled competitions, and is the UK's most popular grassroots soccer project.
In 2017, the professionalization of the Women's Premier League in England, which relies on the system and structure of the Men's Premier League and operates independently, accelerated the process of commercialization and the prosperity of the soccer league.
Today, the English women's soccer league is unique on the continent, with teams such as Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United among the European giants.
The women's game is hugely popular in England, with an average attendance of 6,961 for the 2022-23 season, 4 million viewers watching live and 1.8 million watching UEFA Women's Europa League matches.
England's women's soccer team has managed to climb over the mountain of amateur leagues and fans, and watching women's soccer is no longer an adjunct to the men's game, but a dream for professional players.
Sponsors may no longer sponsor, but those who love to play soccer will always continue to play, and those who love to watch soccer will always come to the games.
That's the fundamental plank of England's men's and women's football and the fundamental gap between us.
