In Shanghai, the city of soccer, the players' performances can be very different! One player's lack of will to fight brought the Chinese Super League team into disrepute, while another player won the applause of the fans even though he gave up at the end of the game!
In the second round of the Asian qualifying round for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, our soccer team did not suffer from the accusations and insults of the fans, despite the 0-3 defeat against South Korea. In the past, the team lost when the fans scolded, today why silent? Not because of habit, the fans idle accusations, just because of a sentence: we may not be better than the opponent, but can not lose without backbone!
In the past, our soccer team game is not superior, but the spirit of worry, playing football does not seek progress, often face the game with a walk. However, in the current World Cup qualifiers, all the national football team fighting spirit, whether it is Thailand or South Korea and other Asian powerhouses, they dare to fight until the last moment.
Zhu Chenjie, the solid backbone of Shanghai Shenhua, is also the center back core of the national football team in this qualifier. In the 52nd minute of the second half, the national football team launched an attack, Wu Xi was pushed by the opponent with the ball, the referee did not award a penalty and signaled to continue the game. Wu Xi stretched out his hand in disbelief, while the referee got up to catch up. South Korea passed the ball to the front field, Sun Xingyu carried the ball past Zhu Chenjie and passed the ball to Li Gangren. Li Gangren broke into the penalty area and faced Yan Junling with an empty net in front of the Chinese goalkeeper.
Fans expected the score to be 0-3, but not before Gonzalez Lee's shot did not score. Was his shot deflected or too high? No, it was Zhu Chenjie, who had been beaten by Sun Xing, who blocked Lee's shot with his body. Zhu Chenjie, despite his defeat, had the goal of the national soccer team broken down in the 87th minute. His perseverance won him praise from the fans after the match.
This reminds me of what happened to Shanghai Port in the AFC Champions League, where Fu Huan faced the same dilemma. A Sydney FC midfield pass to a Shanghai Port defender was chased by Fu Huan, who knocked down the keeper, and the opponents used this to send the ball into the penalty area, creating a good opportunity for an open goal. Surprisingly, Fu Huan didn't pursue the ball, but stayed put and watched the opponents score. The Sydney player didn't shoot, but sent the ball directly into the goal, humiliating Shanghai Harbour.
Fu Huan's behavior has brought shame to the Chinese Super League team. Now he has been relegated from the Super League to the Central League, but his performance is still unsatisfactory. Why is there such a big difference between those who play in Shanghai and those who do not?
