However, it is difficult to argue with the strong emotions that Chinese fans undoubtedly feel when talking about such topics. How can we live with ourselves after seeing the Chinese men's soccer team lose to Vietnam, and how can we live with the performance of Japan and South Korea in comparison? Leaving aside the brutal knockout rounds of the top 16, even if the Chinese men's soccer team is fortunate enough to return to the World Cup, I'm afraid the excitement will only last for three days and three nights for the excited fans.
The article in the Western media bluntly points out that the gap between Chinese, Japanese and South Korean soccer centers on whether or not they are developing local young players rather than relying on foreign aid. In other words, Japan and South Korea are sending young players to study abroad, while China is importing foreign players. This is a double entendre, on the one hand, it reveals that China lacks young players to train in international high-level leagues, and the reserve force is weak; on the other hand, it also implies that China's naturalization policy is only treating the symptoms but not the root cause of the problem, and can not solve the problem from the root.
According to the data, Japan has 451 overseas players, and South Korea has 330 players across Euroleague and other leagues. In contrast, China has only one player, Wu Lei, who has a place in an overseas league. In stark contrast to the number of overseas players in Japan and South Korea, Chinese players prefer to live comfortably in the Chinese Super League. If they lack the courage and strength to go abroad, it will be difficult for them to improve their skill level. In the long run, it is feared that the level of Chinese players will only remain stagnant or even regress.
Currently, China's men's soccer team is only ranked 79th in the world, even lower than Georgia and Uzbekistan. Even if the number of participating teams in the World Cup were doubled, Chinese men's soccer would still find it difficult to make it to the mainstream tournament. As the world's most populous country and second largest economy, the Chinese Super League was once hailed as a great alternative to the big five. However, now it has been reduced to an illusory boom under the money game.
It is ironic that the former local coach of the Chinese men's soccer team has been jailed for corruption just as Japan and South Korea are battling it out in the knockout stages of the World Cup! The problem with Chinese soccer has long been a cliché. This problem will never be solved if it is not tackled at its root. I sincerely hope that Chinese fans can witness the glorious moments of Chinese players in international soccer as soon as possible.
