On November 2, 2023, the Chinese women's football team shook hands with the South Korean women's football team 1-1 in the third round of Group B of the second stage of the Asian qualifiers for the Paris Olympic Games. Shui Qingxia said that she was sorry for missing the Olympics. For the Chinese women's football team, this game is full of regrets and losses, and it is also a game that makes people re-examine the current situation and future of the Chinese women's football team.
In this crucial match, the Chinese women's football team did not show much advantage, although they took the lead in the first half, they were equalized by the South Korean women's football team in the second half, and finally were powerless to change the situation. Judging from the data, the Chinese women's football team is inferior to the South Korean women's football team in terms of ball possession, number of shots, and pass success rate. Judging from the field, the Chinese women's football team lacks creativity and threat on the offensive end, while there are also loopholes and mistakes on the defensive end. From a psychological point of view, the Chinese women's football team did not show enough confidence and calmness under pressure.
Such a result made the head coach of the Chinese women's football team, Shui Qingxia, feel very sorry and sad. Speaking at her post-match press conference, she said: "I'm sorry we didn't win the game, which means we won't be able to play in the rest of the game, but the players showed a good technical and tactical level during the game, and the fighting style and the players really tried their best. I am very grateful to the players, and I am very sad in my heart, I feel sorry for these girls, everyone has been struggling since the beginning of the year. ”
At the technical and tactical level, the Chinese women's football team needs to improve its overall level and execution. Judging from this qualifier, the Chinese women's football team did not show too many advantages or breakthroughs when confronting strong teams such as Australia, Japan, and South Korea, but appeared powerless or made frequent mistakes at some critical moments. This shows that the Chinese women's football team still has a lot of room for improvement in terms of technology, tactics, physical fitness, psychology and other aspects.
For example, in terms of technology, the Chinese women's football team needs to improve its basic skills such as passing, ball control, and shooting, and increase its offensive efficiency and threat; In terms of tactics, the Chinese women's football team needs to improve its tactical understanding and change ability, formulate appropriate tactical plans according to different opponents and scenarios, and be able to flexibly adjust and execute.
In terms of physical fitness, the Chinese women's football team needs to improve its endurance and explosiveness to ensure that it can maintain high-intensity running and scrambling in the 90-minute game; In terms of psychology, the Chinese women's football team needs to improve its confidence and calmness, not be affected by pressure or emotions, and be able to make correct judgments and choices at critical moments.
At the talent level, the Chinese women's football team needs to strengthen its own youth training and upgrading. Judging from this qualifier, many veterans in the Chinese women's football team are still the main force or substitutes, while the number and quality of young players are not ideal. This shows that there are still big problems in the talent reserve and training of the Chinese women's football team. For example, in terms of talent pool, the Chinese women's football team needs to expand its selection scope and channels, attract more potential children to participate in women's football, and give them full attention and support.
In terms of talent training, the Chinese women's football team needs to improve its own coach team and training system, introduce more experienced and skilled coaches to guide young players, and give them more opportunities for actual combat and international exchanges. In terms of talent renewal, the Chinese women's football team needs to reasonably arrange its squad structure and rotation strategy, let the veterans take a back seat or retire in a timely manner, and give more trust and responsibility to the young players.
At the environmental level, the Chinese women's football team needs to improve its own development conditions and atmosphere. Judging from this qualifier, the attention and support of the Chinese women's football team from the outside world are not high enough, and sometimes they even suffer some unfair or unfriendly treatment. This shows that the Chinese women's football team is still facing many difficulties and challenges in the development environment.
For example, in terms of development conditions, the Chinese women's football team needs to increase its own financial investment and material security, improve its training venues, equipment, medical and other hardware conditions, and give more rewards and incentives to the players; In terms of development atmosphere, the Chinese women's football team needs to enhance its social influence and public recognition, increase its own publicity and media coverage, and strive for more fan support and social respect.
The Chinese women's football team has not formed its own characteristics and style in terms of technique and tactics. From the runner-up of the 1999 Women's World Cup to the fourth place in the 2008 Olympic Games, the Chinese women's football team mainly relied on hard power such as physical fitness, speed, and hard work to compete with opponents. However, with the improvement of the level of women's football in Europe and the United States, it is no longer enough to rely on hard power alone. The Chinese women's football team has obvious gaps and deficiencies in terms of soft power such as technology, tactics, organization, and creativity.
These problems reflect the lack of innovation and change in the technical and tactical aspects of the Chinese women's football team. Although the current head coach Shui Qingxia has brought confidence and happiness to the players, it has not brought obvious technical and tactical improvements or changes to the team. During Shui Qingxia's tenure, the Chinese women's football team basically followed the style of play of the former head coach Jia Xiuquan, that is, focusing on defensive counterattacks, using quick transitions and side breakthroughs to launch attacks. Although this style of play is suitable for the Asian arena, it is monotonous and passive on the world arena.
Shui Qingxia also admitted that in the past period, the Chinese women's football team has had highlight moments, but also saw a lot of technical and tactical gaps and deficiencies, "In fact, we are trying to adjust and change every day in training, but from now on, it seems that the change is not good enough, not fast enough." She said that it is very important to find the right path in the process of failure, "If we are soberly aware of our gaps and shortcomings, and really calm down to deal with some details, the Chinese women's football team will go in the right direction in the future." ”