China, a country with a history of 5,000 years of civilization, has made remarkable achievements in the fields of culture, economy and science and technology. But in football, the world's most popular sport, China has always struggled to find its place
The history of Chinese football dates back to the beginning of the last century, but the real professional league only began in 1994. In contrast, the football tradition in Europe is more than a century old. This historical gap makes Chinese football face great challenges from the start.
Although China has made progress in the construction of football stadiums in recent years, China's football infrastructure is still relatively backward compared to the football powerhouses of Europe and South America. This is not only about sports venues, but more importantly, about the imperfection of the youth training system.
In China, the traditional concept of education holds that academics should be a priority for children, and sports are often seen as a symbol of "play". This mindset leaves many gifted children without enough support and encouragement to pursue their football dreams.
The management of Chinese football has long had various problems, from corruption and bureaucracy to technical deficiencies, which have seriously restricted the development of Chinese football.
Although Chinese football is currently facing various difficulties, with the development of the economy and the change of social concepts, more and more people have begun to pay attention to and participate in the sport. The national level has also increased its investment in football, hoping to make Chinese football truly stand out and return to the stage of Asia and even the world in the near future.
In September, international football ushered in a series of match days, with the Chinese men's football team facing Malaysia and Syria in Chengdu to prepare for two competitions: the World Preliminary Round and the Asian Cup. During this period, the Qatari men's football team hosted Africa's fish-belly side Kenya. Although Kenya is ranked 105th in the world rankings, they have shown good quality in this competition.
Kenya took the lead in the 20th minute of the first half, while Qatar equalised in the 34th minute. But in the 91st minute of the second half, Kenya scored again to beat Qatar 2-1. The result of this match has undoubtedly dealt Qatar a heavy blow, especially after they suffered three consecutive defeats in the World Cup group stage on their doorstep.
Since suffering three consecutive group stage defeats at the World Cup on their doorstep, Qatar's men's soccer team seems to have begun to decline. They have lost back-to-back teams such as Iraq, Bahrain, Haiti, Panama and Kenya, all of which are ranked lower in the world than Qatar. Does such a performance portend a difficult future for Qatari football?
Qatar's current coach, Queiroz was a favourite for the national team, but was unable to do so due to salary issues. Now that he has coached Qatar, his record has not been ideal. Does this mean that a good coach doesn't necessarily lead a team to good results?
For the Chinese men's team, Qatar's series of poor performances is undoubtedly good news. At the Asian Cup early next year, the national football team will have the opportunity to compete with Qatar for the top spot in the group to secure a better knockout position. Does this mean that the Chinese men's team has a bigger chance in the Asian Cup?
This match is not just an ordinary friendly match, it is more a reflection of the preparation and strength of the teams in the new season. For Qatar, they need to adjust their form as soon as possible to prepare for the upcoming official competition. For other teams, such as the Chinese men's team, it is also a good opportunity to observe and learn.