The Paper's reporter Chen Canjie intern Huang Jialiang
India's new Mumbai Patil Stadium, the front line "strange soldier" Xiao Yuyi sprinted, the game has entered the seconds counter stage, she is still waiting for the opportunity, on the right side of the penalty area, when she received a pass from teammate Wang Shanshan, she was almost out of physical intuition, accelerated a few steps, a kick pumped -
At that moment, time seemed to slow down a little, until the door was broken, "all at once it burned", Xiao Yuyi recalled, when the cheers sounded, she only felt happy and happy, and victory was not easy. It was February 6, the final of the Women's Asian Cup, and the Chinese women's football team repeated the classic reversal in the second half in the second half of the dangerous 0-2 deficit, pulling three goals in a row. Substitute defender Xiao Yuyi finally beat the South Korean team. The Chinese women's football team has reached the top of Asia after a gap of 16 years.
The Chinese women's football team scored. Source: Xinhua News Agency
During the Asian Cup, the "sonorous rose" swept the screen many times, and the night of the championship reached its peak. Women's football coach Shui Qingxia said in an interview with Xinhua News Agency that thanks to the attention and encouragement of all sectors of society, there will definitely be ups and downs in the process of moving forward, and she and the team will maintain a stable mentality, and "I hope that everyone can have a longer-term concern for women's football."
At the moment, they are looking at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou in September this year, xiao Yuyi told the surging news reporter on February 10 that she has begun new training and adjustments in the quarantine hotel.
In the Asian Cup, in addition to the goal, Xiao Yuyi gave an assist to her teammates only 1 minute after coming on as a substitute against Japan in the semi-finals. In the preliminary round against Iran, she contributed 1 goal and 2 assists. People are curious and concerned about the 26-year-old girl.
In 2002, 6-year-old Xiao Yuyi moved from Shantou, Guangdong Province, to Shanghai to study, and was selected to join the varsity team in the second grade, and has been associated with football ever since. She was stubborn and skinny, and football was like a kind of "competition" for her at that time, and she enjoyed the simple pleasure of scoring goals and winning.
Since then, her football path can be described as smooth sailing: at the age of 16, she was selected into the list of the U17 national training team; at the age of 21, she was selected for the national team; in the same year, she won the Tianjin National Games championship with the Shanghai women's football team; at the age of 23, she was seconded to Wuhan women's football team to win the women's Super League championship... After winning the Asian Cup, in her hometown in Shantou, reporters found that the "Best Shooter" and "Rose Star" awarded by the Football Association could fill a table.
But under the glory, Xiao Yuyi, who became a professional player, also had "bleak" moments, or the Algarve Cup in March 2019, the last qualifying match against the Netherlands, or the 23-man list of the Women's World Cup in June of the same year. In the interview, this cheerful girl who likes to sing and travel, and will wear her own pair of "lucky shoes" before the game, mentions a word from time to time, "doubt", just like she once considered staying in the Ocean, but still doubts: Can she do it or not?
After experiencing this Asian Cup, she feels that she has completed a transformation: more confidence, more responsibility, as a mid-generation player in the team, she hopes that she can stand up at a critical moment. The moment she kicked the killer ball, she told herself: I don't want to deny it anymore, and I don't want to doubt it anymore.
Xiao Yuyi kicked out the killer ball. Unless otherwise indicated, the pictures in this article are provided by the interviewees
Xiao Yuyi and teammates. Source: China Women's Football Weibo
The following is Xiao Yuyi's self-statement:
"When you're on the pitch, you're going to fight."
This time in the Asian Cup, I had some inflammation in my knees, but with my legs tied, it wasn't really a big problem. Everyone on the field is very hard, more or less have minor injuries and illnesses, but as long as you play, you must let yourself play better. (Including) Girls may be just in time to play the game in the menstrual period, people are more weak, or will insist on completing the game.
The night before the game against South Korea, the coach said to take it easy, eat well, sleep well, and the next day on the field is to fight. I slept very well the night before the final, when I first went to [India], [because] the distance, the time difference, the fatigue, the sleep was not so good.
Before the Olympic Games, I won South Korea, and this time I met South Korea, I don't know what kind of psychology people have, but I definitely want to get revenge. In the final, the final kick is (look) the mentality of the players, the adjustment of the self.
The field is changing rapidly. In the 26th minute, [South Korea] scored our first goal, and then a penalty, but we didn't expect to score two of us in the first half, and it was relatively fast, it didn't feel very smooth.
At halftime, the water guide (coach Shui Qingxia) said that it was already 0:2, everyone let go of the kick, don't have too many concerns, don't leave any regrets.
I was out there doing preparatory activities and wanted to keep up with the team as quickly as possible. The team put me behind 0:2 and it was a trust in me. I actually have psychological pressure, but with plenty of preparation, I won't think about it so much. The first half was also a war of attrition, and after I went up, I was more focused on all aspects of physical fitness and energy.
When I played, the water guide let me use my advantage to give the opponent more pressure, break through more, and insert more behind the side (offense). (Her tone) is quite calm, she also has more excitement, but when she is behind, she will encourage the team members more.
Shui Qingxia encouraged the players in the game. Photo source Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Javed Dahl)
Although the other side has a core player (Chi Xiaoran), (but) we arrange for the players to stare at her defensively, in fact, there is not much pressure (for us).
(Second half) tactically, I don't think there is much adjustment, the substitution (aspect) is targeted. Like our player Zhang Linyan is more dexterous, the opponent is not very familiar with her, the midfield replaced her, the trend change of the team is still relatively large, bringing the entire frontcourt attack alive. In the second half of the stage, our big sister Wang Shanshan was adjusted from a defender to a striker, which also brought a lot of pressure to the opponent.
In stoppage time, there was no adjustment, and when we got to that point, the coach told us to calm down, do a good job of defense, don't concede any more goals, (other than that) just focus on the field.
I was right on the sidelines, focusing on the development of the ball. It depends on the teammates starting from the middle road to transmit forward, usually we also emphasize this offensive conduction coordination in training. I was waiting for the right moment, kept running forward, and finally accelerated a few steps, just when my teammates saw me coming in, passed me a ball behind me, and I scored that ball very firmly. At that moment, there was a feeling that time was slowing down a little, and the goal (after) was suddenly good.
The cheers reached my ears, I was very happy and happy, and I felt that we were not easy. Hearing the referee blow the whistle to end, ending the game, the substitute players and coaches all rushed to the field, everyone hugged together, all said "good ball good ball", very happy, is very happy.
After the final, the hotel celebrated the Chinese women's football team.
"The happiest thing is to win"
As a kid I felt like a tomboy, Skin.
I first came into contact with football, it was the second grade in Shanghai Yunguang No. 2 Primary School (now known as Hongkou Experimental School), the school had a football team training, the physical education teacher let the whole class of girls stand up, picked me. I didn't know anything, I mainly went to Shanghai to study, and I didn't have much interest in playing football.
At that time, there were still quite a few girls playing football, just a dozen, grasping the foundation every day, playing small confrontations, a bit boring. [But] when I knew that football had games, there were wins and losses, I already had the desire to win or lose. The happiest thing is winning and the feeling of scoring goals. I really don't like to lose, to win, to compete. Bumps and bumps are also normal.
Mom and Dad would think I was a girl and my heart ached a little more. (And) feel that they are delayed in learning, and their requirements for learning are still relatively strict. At that time, my grades were also OK, and my parents advised me not to kick? Go read a book. I'm also quite stubborn and don't listen.
Xiao Yuyi (front row, first from right) attended the first women's football summer camp in Hongkou District, Shanghai. Image source: Red Star News
Kicking into the fifth grade was a twist. It just so happens that the coach was retired from the shanghai women's football team before and took me to training. Let me consider going to shanghai sports school, which is the corresponding school. I went.
At that time, my father took me to the registration, (my dad said) when I did the physical test, I also ran to cry, never ran (10,000 meters), that is 400 meters of the field, so big circle, for me a little difficult. But I persevered, and I ran and it was over.
I came home only once a week, and I told my mom that if I came back, I would take me to McDonald's once (as a reward). Whatever they wanted to eat anyway, they made it for me to eat. In fact, whatever I do, my parents are particularly supportive, as long as I am happy.
(Later) the better (team members) of each team will participate in the training, followed by (I participate) the national junior team and the national youth team.
I was on the team around 2016 (in the first team of the club), and I was young and a little stressful, and sometimes the coach changed you up and there were one or two mistakes and it was a little nervous.
In 2017, it was the first game of the Women's Super League, I came off the bench as a small player, I felt that I was in a particularly good competitive state, and the coach also gave me more time to play. After the third game, he went to the national team.
Xiao Yuyi participated in the 2018 Jordan Women's Asian Cup.
Xiao Yuyi.
A lot of times I live in a group, (and my parents) phone contact, separated for a long time, I get used to it, other teammates are like me, can't see my parents. It's still quite fun to be with your teammates, everyone lives together, plays together, takes the train to play in the field, and can divert more attention.
Once I had a waist injury, I had to prepare for a big game, I was relatively low, I had a phone call with my parents, and my dad sent me some medicine. Slowly growing up, basically reporting good news and not worrying, I will not tell my parents too much negative energy, I don't want them to worry about me, I can adjust myself.
Sometimes I want to know what they're doing, and I'll video them and ask them what they're doing and what they're eating at night. When I lose, my mom would play a video.
In the Spring Festival of 2021, Xiao Yuyi's family of ten took a group photo in shantou's hometown. Image source: Red Star News
The night before each game, my mom would send me a message, asking me to cheer up, saying what time it was time to start the game, hoping that I would be braver on the field, and it was funny to score a goal with a single knife. Every time she says this, she will send a lot of expressions, fireworks, congratulations... It's flowery to watch. She doesn't know much about it either, but at least I watch it a lot and know a little bit about it.
The night before this final, I replied to her that I would definitely get you a gold medal back.
Xiao Yuyi's award. Image source: Red Star News
"Believe in the power of a team"
During meals (during the Asian Cup), sitting at that kind of big round table, the coach does not allow mobile phones to be brought, which helps to communicate with teammates (more). When we went to India (when we went), the food was not so delicious, the leader arranged a chef who would make us egg fried rice and fried noodles, and everyone finished every time they finished the game, and the food was particularly delicious. Some teammates love to drink tea and coffee, and everyone will share it together.
The training cycle (before the start of the past competition) is relatively long, this time it is the end of a league last year, the (Asian Cup) competition is arranged at the beginning of the year, and the (preparation) time is relatively tight, not so long. Everyone has played together, (but) if it is (more) accumulated over a long period of time, the tacit understanding is better. In the next three games, we all fell behind first and then reversed, (can win) or (from) there is more trust between the players and the coach.
In the semi-final match against the Japanese team, the pre-match preparation meeting, the coach asked us a sentence: "Fight or not?" We replied: "Battle"! She said, "Fight or not? We said, "Fight!" That moment was also particularly burning.
I came off the bench, touched the ball with my second foot, and then assisted my teammates, and that moment made me remember it very well. (February 4 of the same day) tweeted that the miracle stemmed from not giving up and always believing in the strength of the team.
The Chinese women's football team advanced to the final of the Asian Cup.
I was in the youth team in 2010, and I just went to the Oriental Green Boat (training) when I met the water guide, and she was very kind. I belong to the kind of person who is not slow, and she will do some special training for this characteristic. I can try the position in the front court, how to run, how to catch the ball, how to shoot at what angle, she talks a little more.
She will be harsh on the field and will talk about you, but she will teach you very patiently. Off the football pitch, she was just like our mom, a water mom. We usually live together, and she knows what the team members like to eat, and she will buy it for us to eat together. Maybe the female coach understands the psychology of the female players better, and she takes more care of the details. Sometimes [the players] are frustrated or unhappy and will go and talk to the coach.
At a meeting a few years ago, Shui Dao said a sentence, "Become the person who is needed", which touched me deeply, so I used this sentence when Weibo profile (profile). We will also encounter adversity, and there may be times when we can't play, and with this sentence, we can inspire ourselves more. More effort, more effort, coaches can see.
(March 2019 Algarve Cup empty goal) It happened, it's a pity, at that time there was a little insomnia, will review how the ball should be handled. You can't stop playing because of this ball, right?
We have other game tasks [after the Asian Cup] and yesterday (February 9) we also did some strength recovery, two more days of adjustment, and it is estimated that there will be training. Later we have the Asian Games in Hangzhou, first of all the current games to complete well, training, running-in, and then plan for the next game.
On the afternoon of the 9th, the women's football team returned home for strength training. Source: China Women's Football Weibo
When I was young (playing football) I probably didn't think much about it, and now I'm a professional (athlete). You need to win, you have to pay a lot for it, maybe not as happy as when you were a kid, sometimes it's harder to win, but it's fun to win. [That's it).
Participating in this Asian Cup is a transformation for me, I feel more responsibility, as a middle generation player in the team, I still hope to stand up at a critical time, and also increase a lot of confidence and pressure resistance. I sometimes doubt myself and deny myself. [But] I still want to thank the water guide for trusting me, and the moment I shoot the goal, I don't want to deny myself anymore, and I don't doubt it anymore.
Like she said, you stand on the field and the ball can lose, people can't lose. As long as you're on the field, you're going to fight.
Xiao Yuyi. Source: Xiao Yuyi Weibo
(Thanks to Huang Ziyi for contributing to this article)
Responsible editor: Huang Jijie Photo editor: Jiang Lidong
Proofreader: Ding Xiao