“0-2!”“ 3-4!”“ 0-1!”“ 1-3!”“ 1-2!” During the Golden Week of November just past, the Chinese football community staged a losing drama. On October 1, the Chinese men's football team lost 0-2 to South Korea in the quarterfinals of the Hangzhou Asian Games, missing the semifinals; On October 3, the Chinese women's football team lost 3-4 to Japan in the semifinals of the Hangzhou Asian Games, and did not qualify for the final; On the same day, Shandong Taishan lost 0-1 to Japanese team Yokohama Mariners in the AFC Champions League group stage; On October 4, Wuhan Three Towns lost 3-1 away to South Korean side Pohang Steelers in the AFC Champions League group stage; Zhejiang also lost 2-1 to Australian side Melbourne City in the AFC Champions League group stage on the same day.
In five matches, three Chinese national teams and clubs played against three Japanese and two South Korean teams, all of which were defeated. Despite the different number of games and different opponents, all Chinese teams exhibit similar problems – weak offense and flawed defense. In these five games, the Chinese team has scored a total of 5 goals but conceded 12, which is enough to show the weakness of the offensive end of Chinese football. Several single misses, several shots deflected or blocked by opposing goalkeepers all showed that Chinese players lacked crosshairs on the offensive end. The Korean and Japanese team's kick is always so sharp, the Chinese defense has been broken by the opponent again and again, and the accurate long pass and breakthrough have become the dead hole of the Chinese team.
After losing all five games and leaving the field sadly, Chinese football has hit a wall again on the East Asian field, what is the problem? The author believes that the factors affecting the development of Chinese football are as follows:
First, the youth training system is not perfect. The Chinese contingent generally lacks outstanding young talents with an international perspective. Football powers such as Japan and South Korea pay attention to professional training and material selection in their youth, while China's youth training venues and teachers cannot meet the needs of the West.
Second, the league atmosphere is not strong. The commercial operation of the Chinese Super League is too heavy, and neglects the cultivation of fan culture and viewing atmosphere. The Japan-Korea league has a large number of loyal fans, which is both the result of cultural accumulation and the power to motivate players to work harder.
Third, the tactical concept is backward. Almost all teams in China pursue a more conservative defensive counterattack tactic, and do not pay enough attention to active ball handling and offensive play. Japanese and South Korean teams are better at taking the initiative, have higher possession rate, and are more able to break through the opponent's tactical deployment.
Fourth, the psychological quality of players is weak. At key moments, Chinese players often make mistakes due to greater psychological pressure, which contrasts with the tenacity and courage of Japanese and Korean players. How to rebound in an unfavorable situation is the psychological quality that Chinese players need to improve.
To sum up, Chinese football urgently needs to start from the aspects of youth training system, league reform, tactical concept, player psychology, etc., absorb successful foreign experience, and create a football development model with Chinese characteristics and international vision, in order to achieve great progress in Chinese football and return to the ranks of Asian and world powerhouses. As fans, we must continue to pay attention, support and wait patiently, I believe that in the near future, the five-star red flag will fly again in international football!