Since the light of glory went out in Bangkok in 1998, the Asian Games trophy for the Chinese women's soccer team has become an unattainable dream, and the 25-year gap seems like an eternity of waiting.In 2018, on the stage of Jakarta, Jia Xiuquan's team had stood on the threshold of the final, only to be defeated 0:1 by Japan, who did not have a full complement of players. Now, Shui Qingxia shoulders the heavy responsibility, she had led the team back to the top of the Asian Cup 16 years ago, this time, whether to break the 25 years of silence, will be the witness of history.
There is more than one piece of good news for the Chinese women's soccer team. Their strongest rivals, Japan at the top of Asia, don't seem to be planning to show up at the Asian Games in full gear. Just like their strategy in the Asian Cup and the past Asian Games, they will also use a mixed lineup of main and substitutes this time. With this strategy, Japan is actually stockpiling strength for the higher stages of the World Cup and Olympics. In this way, the strength of this team is far from the Japanese team that can enter the top eight of the World Cup, and is similar to the strength of the Japanese team that we had encountered in the Asian Cup. Facing such an opponent, the Chinese women's soccer team is fully capable of competing.
Looking ahead to the Asian Games, China's women's soccer team is on a journey of wind and sunshine. On the one hand, the Football Association has made the decision to gather and prepare for them in advance; on the other hand, if the Japanese team is not the strongest lineup, the hope of Chinese women's football team to regain the Asian Games title will rise like the sunrise and light up the road ahead.
