In the passionate Qatar World Cup stage, the absence of the national football team has become a regret in the hearts of countless Chinese fans.
Although the Chinese team failed to set foot on the green pitch, Chinese elements were omnipresent at the World Cup. From the Chinese construction of the main venues to the Chinese power in the sponsors, China was everywhere, as if the national soccer team was participating in another way.
So it seems that although the national soccer team has not appeared, but the spirit has been with the World Cup. Although we are in the logistics, but with the countries side by side, quietly won the respect!
However, there has been a sudden change in the Chinese soccer world.
November 26, the official order, the former national football head coach Li Tie suspected of serious violations of the law, the investigation, such as the wind and rain, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the State General Administration of Sports discipline inspection and supervision group and Hubei Provincial Supervisory Committee have to intervene.
Such a high-profile briefing reveals the significance of the incident between the lines.
The specific details of Li Tie's case are not yet clear, and there are divergent views. I do not intend to speculate and will wait for the official announcement.
Li Tie's case has brought Chinese soccer into the spotlight again.
In the World Cup, Japan beat Germany and South Korea beat Uruguay. Why is our men's soccer team so unbeatable when it is also an Asian team? Japan and South Korea can shine, but we are standing still.
What is the difference between us and them? What is the crux of Chinese soccer?
The legend of men's soccer has not yet dispersed, Li Tie's crisis has emerged. Some people think that the plight of Chinese soccer all depends on Li Tie, but it seems too simple to put all the blame on him.
Under the coaching of Li Tie, the national football team has been declining year by year, making many nationals miss the departing foreign coach Lippi.
The plight of the national football team is not Li Tie alone, he is just in this soccer marathon, played a role.
Compared with soccer, our table tennis, badminton and diving sports have achieved successes, why is that? What are their principles? Table tennis doubles is also a team effort, why can we do it?
So why does soccer yet never break through?
Perhaps we can find some insight from Beijing Guoan's loss to Jingchuan Wenhui.
November 17, 2022, Rizhao, Shandong, China - Jingchuan Wenhui knocked out Chinese Super League giants Beijing Guoan 7-5 in the second round of the 2022 China FA Cup to advance to the round of 16.
Beijing Guoan, the top force in Chinese soccer, is a team that even people who know nothing about soccer have heard of.
However, it was such a top team that lost to the unheralded Jingchuan Wenhui.
Jingchuan Wenhui, a small team in a poverty-stricken county in Gansu Province, with a population of less than 300,000, players of an average age of 30, composed of amateurs, with limited funds and players playing for free.
The contrast between such an amateur team that beat a top team that pays millions of dollars a year on a regular field is a crying shame.
Eight years ago, the Chinese men's soccer team beat Thailand, retired player Fan Zhiyi angrily predicted that Chinese soccer would lose to Vietnam. Now, the prediction has come true, Vietnam not only beat the national soccer team, but Jingchuan Wenhui has rubbed salt into the wounds of Chinese soccer.
Although Vietnam is also a national team, the gap between our strengths is evident when compared to Jingchuan Wenhui, a poor western county.
For Chinese soccer, we have to thank clear streams like Jingchuan Wenhui. Although our level still needs to be improved, I believe that it is fans like these that will bring Chinese soccer back to the top.
If Jingchuan Wenhui doesn't break the status quo of Chinese soccer, then our soccer really is coming to an end.
