Fuelled by Yu Genwei's goal, the Chinese men's soccer team narrowly beat Oman 1-0, locking up a spot in the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup two rounds ahead of schedule. This was not only the first, but also the only time in the history of Chinese soccer to stand on the stage of the World Cup finals.
Quadrennial soccer carnival swept again, when the Qatar World Cup flames, the figure of our Chinese team can only as a spectator. When the passionate soccer feast reappeared in front of us, let's review the brilliant World Cup journey of Chinese men's soccer team.
Pursuing the dream of the World Cup, let's dream back to the glory of 2002 on this day in 2022.
The mass network - poster reporter Zheng Hao reported in Jinan, a city, a team, a person. Since the professional league, "loyalty" has become the label of countless players, but if you want to find the most representative, not Zhao Junzhe.
Since 1985, Zhao Junzhe stepped into the Liaoning Junior Football Team, Zhao Junzhe will be more than 30 years of youth and blood all dedicated to this. Even if the years pass, from the "tiger" metamorphosis into "old man", Zhao Junzhe still stick to the position of Liaoning soccer - however, Liao football is no longer in the past.
On June 8, 2002, at Seogwipo Stadium, the 4-0 scoreline stung. China's first-ever World Cup team met Brazil, a World Cup regular. The magnificent steps of the Samba Army soon made Chinese fans realize the cruel reality.
Before the game, the strength gap of the prediction of the game early into the "garbage time". However, such a background did not stop the Chinese team "rookie army" Zhao Junzhe in 17 meters at the magical strike, which not only let the Brazilian goalkeeper Marcos cold sweat, but also let the whole proud Samba army had to re-examine the front of this national football team.
The goalposts, which surprised both Brazil and the Chinese fans
The shot changed Lucio's direction and curved neatly to avoid Marcos, but unfortunately, the "stubborn" goalpost made China miss the perfect opportunity to show their face in front of the world.
However, the shock brought to the Chinese people by that amazing shot far exceeded the regret. That shot let the Chinese soccer fans see that although there is a huge gap between Chinese soccer and the world's great powers, it "should" be narrowed one day.
However, this is merely an illusion.
29 years of discontent
Zhao Junzhe became a regular in the national team in the first five years of the new century thanks to his outstanding performances in the World Cup and the league. Even when Milo left due to poor World Cup results and new coach Alihan took over, Zhao Junzhe's status increased rather than decreased.
On July 17, 2004, China played Bahrain for the first time in the Asian Cup. 15 Zhao Junzhe donned the captain's armband and competed as captain of the national team. Although Alihan still conceded penalties after six games in charge, leading the national soccer team to a second-place finish was a thing of the past.
Zhao Junzhe "hit the post" after regrets
However, the national men's soccer team failed to make it to the 2006 World Cup again, and Alihan left the position of national team coach. With the arrival of new coach Zhu Guanghu, Zhao Junzhe gradually faded out of the national team. In the 2008 warm-up match, the national team lost 0-1 to Mexico, which was Zhao Junzhe's last appearance in the national team - he turned 29 two days later.
Standing up for yourself in a time of crisis.
"I can't stand by in a time of crisis, there's nothing to be afraid of, big deal, start all over again!" On September 29, 2017, Zhao Junzhe became Liaoning's acting coach. After 26 rounds of the league, Liaoning had only 17 points, five points adrift of Tianjin in the bottom three.
Zhao Junzhe became Liaoning's third coach that season. With four rounds left in the league, Liaoning's opponents are Shanghai, Luneng, Quanjian and Shenhua.
The final result speaks for itself. Liao Xiaohu did not escape the fate of relegation and tasted the bitter fruit of relegation for the third time in the professional league.
Zhao Junzhe is in a critical situation, although the results are not ideal, but this does not affect his position in the hearts of Liaoning fans, because he has become the Liaoning team's "flag".
20 years of mutual support
Zhao Junzhe has never given up since entering Liaoning, although many teams have extended the olive branch to him - English Premier League teams, Shandong Luneng and even the German team recommended by Alihan have favored him. Shandong Luneng even offered him an olive branch at an "unrefusable" price. However, considering the feelings of Liaoning fans and his own persistence, Zhao Junzhe always stick here.
Playing soccer, training, and leading his brothers to get paid, this is what Zhao Junzhe had been doing before the decline of Liaozhu. As a strong man, he wanted to inject a shot in the arm for LiaoFootball's revival, but reality hit him against the wall again and again.
"I always told myself Liaozhu would be good, and I stuck to that belief. But after sticking to it for 19 years, I didn't realize what I wanted. I felt I couldn't wait any longer, so I wanted to retire." Zhao Junzhe said this after his retirement in 2016.
Unable to guard Liaozhu, but Zhao Junzhe is still guarding the national soccer team
However, Liaoning soccer no longer exists. What Zhao Junzhe wanted to guard eventually disappeared from the landscape of Chinese professional soccer.
