The passionate U20 Asian Cup is in full swing, and the Chinese men's soccer team knocked out the defending champion Saudi Arabia with a brilliant counterattack, a feat that not only delighted fans across the country, but also marked another milestone in the team's illustrious journey. In the upcoming knockout stage, the Chinese men's soccer team will meet the Asian powerhouse South Korea in a match of honor. If they can beat their opponents, the team will advance to the quarterfinals and have a chance to get a ticket to the World Youth Championships, where they will play with the world's top teams. In view of this, the Chinese men's soccer team should not stop at the existing results, but should continue to forge ahead and create another success in the Asian Cup.
The national youth team's performance in the Asian Cup has been remarkable, and many media and journalists have praised it. Former international footballer Fan Zhiyi released a dynamic through social media at 8:00 p.m., questioning the national football team's advancement to the last eight of the Asian Cup. Fan Zhiyi said bluntly, "Although I often laugh at myself shamelessly, but deep down, I look forward to Chinese soccer can continue to progress." Recalling the national football team's 1-5 defeat against Thailand, Fan Zhiyi got emotional and made some harsh criticism of the players' performance, a comment that became a classic moment in Chinese soccer and is still enjoyed by many fans.
Fan Zhiyi has shared his soccer career in the national football team on a variety show. In a video posted on social media, Fan Zhiyi told stories about his time playing for the national team to actors such as Deng Chao and Lu Han. The international players back then were incredibly focused, and even with a crowd of 60,000 cheering, they were still able to give their full attention to the game. Fan concluded his story with a nod to the national youth team's advancement to the last eight: "A bit of luck, but strength is the key." While recounting his personal experience of competing in the tournament, Fan Zhiyi also inadvertently recognized the strength of the National Youth Football Team.
After the Chinese men's soccer team advanced to the last eight, many fans believe that the national youth team group out thanks to a certain amount of luck. However, as Fan Zhiyi said, luck is important, but strength is fundamental. In the three matches of the group stage, China once led Japan 1-0, but was eventually reversed, slightly regrettable. But in the second match, China scored two goals in just seven minutes, which fully demonstrated the strength of the team. Players such as Efirdin and Mutalifu were extremely strong runners and decisive in their defensive counter-attacks, thanks to the technical and tactical concepts taught by Coach Antonio. They do not stick to footwork, but seize the opponent's defensive loopholes to counterattack.
The match between the National Youth Football Team and Kyrgyzstan did have a certain element of luck. Although the two sides played to a 1-1 draw, both teams' goals were caused by the opponent's udon goals. China's victory could not have been achieved without the sharp counterattacks of Efirdin, and it was his catching the opponents when they were busy that prevented the oolong goal from happening. Therefore, the success of the Chinese men's soccer team in the Asian Cup is not a coincidence. While the luck factor cannot be ignored, strength was the key to their victory. Fan Zhiyi, a legend of Chinese soccer, is still concerned about the development of Chinese soccer after his retirement, and his insightful comments hit the nail on the head on many issues.
