What is the origin of this Chinese football team that forced France, defeated Argentina, and shone in the World Cup?
When it comes to Chinese football today, the first thing that comes to minds of fans may be the professional league in full swing, or the national teams of all ages that are about to usher in the international break, or the new head of the Chinese Football Association.
But just thousands of miles away in Essen, Germany, there is a team of 12 people, fighting for the honor of the motherland. This team is Shijiazhuang Fumei, who represents China in the ISF six-a-side World Cup. Throughout this World Cup trip, Shijiazhuang Fumei can be said to have regained the long-lost face of Chinese football, which is particularly valuable in the deteriorating Chinese football scene!
Thousands of troops crossed the single-wood bridge, and Shijiazhuang Fumei was killed from the 4,000 strong brigade and went to the world
Although the team was invited by the ISF World Cup Organizing Committee to participate in the competition, it was able to participate in the World Cup twice in 2019 and 2020 because Shijiazhuang Fumei passed the selection of districts, cities, regions and the whole country, and finally stood out from 4,000 teams across the country and won the first place, so as to get the opportunity to participate in the ISF six-a-side World Cup.
According to team leader Lu Xiufeng, it was because of representing China in ISF's international competitions that the club decided to make a transition and embark on a professional path, participating in the Chinese Football Association's futsal league at the end of 2018. The team also lived up to expectations, and in the second year, the team passed the Super League play-offs, promoted to the top five leagues in the country, and twice ranked in the top three in the country in the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
Draw France, kill Argentina, and shine in Essen, Germany, thousands of miles away
In the debut of this World Cup, Shijiazhuang Fumei staged a tie with two to draw 2-2 with Latvia after an unfavorable start. Next, facing France, a recognized European powerhouse, Fumei relied on a high level of tactical execution and tenacious will on the field to force a 1-1 draw against a strong opponent and burst into a big cold.
Captain Feng Wei was also selected for the best team with his excellent performance. In the following final round of the group stage, Fumei defeated Kuwait, the old wrongdoer of Chinese football, 11-1, and beat France as the first in the group to advance to the knockout stage.
In the first round of the knockout round, Fumei faced the mighty Argentina. To represent Chinese football to this point, Fumei has actually won everyone's respect. But the competitive game won or lost, even in the face of the Pampas Eagles, Fumei's soldiers did not easily admit it. The team conceded a goal to defeat Argentina 2-1.
Fumei's World Cup journey is not over, but when it comes to the summer of Essen in 2023, some people will think of this team that beat France to qualify and reverse Argentina, and think of the 12 warriors who fought for their country in a foreign land.
Represent the motherland when you go out and always remember the honor of the country
In fact, counting this World Cup trip in Germany, Shijiazhuang Fumei has represented China in three IFS six-a-side World Cups. On the first two occasions, Shijiazhuang Fumei failed to qualify from the group.
In this World Cup, the quality of participating teams has been greatly improved compared with the previous two editions, and many professional athletes have participated in the event. So, how can Fumei make a breakthrough in results when the opponent's strength is generally improved?
From the communication with the team leader, the author found that Shijiazhuang Fumei, who traveled to Germany this time, paid the most attention to neither on-the-spot training nor the adjustment of the player's state, but the shaping of the mental level.
After arriving in Essen, the team leader reminded the players countless times that they must remember their identity and mission, and since they are representing the motherland, they must not let foreigners look at them: "You represent not Fumei, not Shijiazhuang, nor Hebei, but your motherland!" ”
It is precisely because of the blessing of patriotism that the team can maintain faith in desperate situations several times and finally complete the breakthrough. Whether it's the group stage against Latvia and France, or against the Pampas Eagles Argentina, the tenacious fighting spirit of the players is on full display.
Off the pitch, the players did not forget their identity, and after the fans left, the players came to the stands to clean up the garbage and show the world the qualities and virtues of Chinese, and they did not forget their responsibility and mission for a moment.
Next, Shijiazhuang Fumei will face the winner between Slovakia and Hungary in the second round of the knockout round, let's pay attention to and support this team that represents Chinese football in a foreign land, and cheer for them!