Focus on the World Cup
Asian soccer independent of China
A partial lift not a total leap forward
If the above discussion fails to reveal the progress of Asian soccer, then there is no other explanation. However, when examined dispassionately and compared horizontally, the so-called "great progress" in Asian soccer is nothing more than a politician's "need for performance". However, if not to emphasize this "progress", why the AFC to expand the market and business, why the Asian football need to raise funds to maintain the status quo? Thus, seizing the opportunity to "tell a good story", this World Cup in Qatar has opened a new chapter for Asian soccer.
This year's World Cup is no different. Morocco was not favored before the tournament, but unexpectedly finished in the top four. Since Cameroon reached the last eight of the World Cup in 1990, it has taken 32 years for African soccer to move from the top eight to the top four, which is the dream of African soccer! These 32 years are just an accumulation of African soccer, during which other African teams have also made it to the top eight. Today, we truly know and recognize African soccer, and African players are all over the world.
What about Asian soccer? Although South Korea and Japan finished in the top 16 at the Korea-Japan World Cup 20 years ago with the help of the hosts, the two teams have only finished in the top 16 three and four times respectively over the years. This time, Australia was lucky to qualify. But no other team in Asia has made it to the group stage of the World Cup. Why is that? The conclusion that "the overall level of Asian soccer has improved"? The so-called "overall improvement", reflected in where? 20 years ago, Asia's first World Cup, Japan and South Korea into the top 16, South Korea even into the top four, do not forget: there are two Asian teams ranked second; 20 years later, when the World Cup returned to Asia, Asian fans for the advancement of the top 16 cheers, do not forget: the World Cup! The bottom team is still from Asia!
In two decades, has Asian soccer improved or stagnated?
Asia's top five still in contention
Many people lament: watching the Qatar World Cup, more and more feel that Chinese soccer "incorrigible". This statement can only be considered half right. Because the current task of Chinese soccer is not like Korea and Japan to compete for the World Cup group qualification, into the top 16 or top 8. Chinese soccer's primary task is to "break out of Asia, to the world". These are two different goals, so "Chinese soccer is hopeless" is only half right.
For the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Asia was represented by the top four teams of South Korea, Japan, Australia and Iran, with Saudi Arabia eliminated in the qualifying rounds.For the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Asia was represented by South Korea, Japan and Australia. North Korea eliminated Saudi Arabia in the qualifying rounds, replacing Iran to advance. In other words, the Asian qualifying team was just a new face.In the 2006 World Cup in Germany, the Asian teams remained the top five of South Korea, Japan and Australia, with Australia winning the Oceania qualifier.
The indisputable fact is that the World Cup, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Iran and other top five and host Qatar have improved, but looking back to Asia, the top 12, for example, Iran and South Korea in their respective groups to get 25 points and 23 points, ranked third in the UAE team only 12 points, that is, Iran and South Korea points are only about half of the points, almost failed to win the third place in the group. In the same group, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon have 9, 6 and 6 points respectively. In the other group, Saudi Arabia and Japan have 23 and 22 points respectively, far more than other opponents. Australia locked up the third place in the group early. Oman gained 14 points in the last two consecutive rounds of the tournament, and despite beating Japan 1-0 on the road in the first round, can this victory represent Omani soccer surpassing Japan? Obviously not.
Among the top 12 Asian qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Iran has 22 points, Japan 20 points, Saudi Arabia 19 points, Australia 19 points, all far more than their opponents; South Korea 15 points, finished second in the group, thanks to China and Syria "stirring the pot". 2014 and 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, due to the different system of the tournament, there is a lack of Comparison. However, the qualification teams representing Asia in the World Cup have quite a clear advantage in the Asian qualifiers.
Positioning and Coordinates of Chinese Football
For many years, the issue of Chinese soccer has been subjected to too much external opinion and lacked a clear position. Just like the Qatar World Cup, I believe that the whole internet and public opinion will further show the decline of Chinese soccer in a comprehensive way, as they need to "empathize" and seek emotional resonance rather than rational resonance. Looking back at the development of Chinese soccer over the past few years, it has been a roller coaster ride, fluctuating wildly, catering only to the tastes of ordinary fans or netizens, and it is questionable whether it meets the needs of Chinese soccer development.
Unfortunately, as decision makers in Chinese soccer, they are often swayed by the emotional internet and the so-called "public opinion". In this case, the decisions are often contrary to the development of Chinese soccer itself, and sometimes even the opposite, just to calm the emotions of the Internet and the so-called public opinion. This is the most difficult reality for the development of Chinese soccer. As a result, the CFA has basically struggled to "position itself accurately" in recent years. Like the two consecutive World Cup Asian qualifiers in 2018 and 2022, the Chinese team entered the final 12 matches. With the reality of Chinese soccer, or even the entire Asian soccer, to enter the top 12 is already the ceiling. But the so-called network public opinion is not recognized, so now Chinese soccer practitioners can only be "unlucky" and "victims". In the long run, Chinese soccer can only disappoint and keep more people away.
In the face of the recently concluded Qatar World Cup, the first thing Chinese soccer needs is not the emotional "reflection book", nor is it the "speculative soccer apocalypse" of other countries, but from a historical perspective, the Qatar World Cup is placed in a longer period of time, or even in the long river of history. In this way, we can more clearly see the direction and development of the situation, to draw conclusions and judgments more in line with the reality of Asian soccer, accurate positioning of Chinese soccer, and then clear specific efforts and goals.
In the final analysis, professional soccer is a refined, scientific and systematic project, a social and comprehensive transformation process. Unfortunately, many Chinese people's understanding of soccer remains at the level of "Why can't 1.4 billion people choose 11 soccer players?" This level, so it is Chinese soccer in the short term so that people do not see hope, rather than the level of soccer. Because today's Chinese society only recognizes achievements, no achievements can not be recognized by society, the so-called reflection and revelation is also based on how to achieve achievements as soon as possible. Can Chinese soccer be saved? At least this reporter can't give a clear answer.
