The year 2023 is an eventful year for the soccer world in China. A series of problems have arisen one after another, and contradictions have emerged like a tidal wave, making "fake, ugly and black" a hot topic in the soccer circle. What followed was the public's skepticism about the results and the crisis of confidence in the soccer business. The hesitation on the field of play and the frequent disputes off the field, so that China's soccer career suffered a serious blow.
The national football team's exit from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar has been criticized and reduced to a laughing stock over the years. Scandals in the domestic tournament have been commonplace, with issues such as match-fixing, wage arrears and high-level breaches leaving fans doubly frustrated. Obviously, this is not the fault of individual organizations or individuals, but a systemic and comprehensive problem. As a result, reforms are imminent and new management and institutions are emerging.
Faced with the previous chaotic situation, the new management had difficulty in achieving immediate results for the time being. Following traditional Chinese philosophical concepts, they chose to reorganize internally first, before taking on the challenge. Song Kai's new policies, proposals and measures are relatively mild, as he said, "Chinese soccer can't afford to be tossed around again!"
In men's soccer, the World Cup qualifiers are in full swing, with results from the first two matches largely meeting expectations. However, the failure of the naturalization policy has left many fans outraged. Huge investment but no results, this situation is unacceptable to anyone. In addition, the performance of youth teams at all levels is also worrying. The National Olympic team performed poorly after a long period of preparation, even defeating Tajikistan, not to mention facing high-level opponents.The U23 Asian Cup is divided into the group of death, and the prospect is worrisome.
The loss at the Asian Games was not a glowing achievement. Despite some support for the team led by Djurdjevic, we struggled against strong teams such as South Korea and it was clear that the gap was getting wider and wider. This was also reflected in the national football team's battle with Thailand, where the opposition's provocative and defiant attitude reflected their progress and confidence. It is ironic to be overly conceited.
The much-anticipated Chinese women's soccer team did not achieve the desired results. The poor performance of the three competitions highlights that the level of China's women's soccer is no longer world-class, and can even be said to be second-class. The World Cup group stage exit, the Asian Games home defeat against Japan's second team, the Olympic qualifiers eliminated, the strength of the problem needs to be resolved. The head coach's dismissal, while justified, does not mean that women's soccer has ushered in a new chapter and hope. They need to address the issues of talent development, team building at all levels and attracting attention.
In general, the country's soccer business has encountered many difficulties in the course of its development, and there are problems in both men's and women's soccer. This poses a serious challenge to the new management, and for them to reform, slogans and mental strength alone are not enough; professionals are needed to devote themselves to the relevant work.
