The performance of the Chinese men's football team in this Asian Cup was indeed disappointing, setting the worst record since the competition. The reasons for why they lost are complex. From the lack of effort and motivation of the players, to the technical and tactical inferiority of the opponents, to the lack of sufficient fighting spirit and determination, these are all possible factors that lead to failure. Of all the explanations, however, Feng's words were perhaps the most poignant, hitting the heart of the matter.
Feng Xiaoting's views in interviews with Huang Jianxiang, Yang Xu and others deeply analyzed the current problems faced by the Chinese men's football team. He pointed out that the problems of the Chinese men's football team have gone beyond the simple desire to win and lose, but are deeply reflected in the mentality and behavior of the players. He believes that many players are afraid of making mistakes in the game and are afraid of taking responsibility. In order to avoid liability, some players opt for "dodging the ball", i.e. avoiding active involvement in attack or defense to reduce the chance of making mistakes.
In this conversation, Feng Xiaoting pointed out a negative mentality and behavior pattern of Chinese men's football players on the field. He described a scenario in which a player is about to pass the ball to a teammate, but the teammate deliberately stands near the opposing defender, putting the passer in an awkward position – to pass or not to pass. This behavior is actually a sign of evasion of responsibility and a lack of cooperation and trust between the players.
Feng Xiaoting emphasized that the philosophy he has adhered to since he was a child is to actively participate in the game and clear the siege for his teammates. He believes that even centre-backs should take the initiative to help their team-mates who are being besieged by the opposition and provide them with opportunities to pass the ball. This philosophy reflects a sense of teamwork and responsibility that each player should take the initiative to work together to deal with difficulties. And the current situation, as Feng Xiaoting said, seems to be that everyone is avoiding difficulties and is unwilling to share the pressure for their teammates. This mentality not only affects the overall tactical execution of the team, but also weakens the cohesion of the team.
The performance of the Chinese men's football team on the field is not just a win or loss of a game, but a manifestation of mentality. Taking Jiang Guangtai as an example, he frequently chose to kick off the ball on the field and crossed the line, not because of a lack of willingness to create opportunities, but because in the face of the opponent's pressing, he could not find a suitable passing object, so he could only choose this seemingly safe way. However, this approach actually wastes a lot of attacking opportunities.
The real reason behind this phenomenon is the negative tactics adopted by the players in order to evade their responsibilities. During the game, we have seen some players deliberately run in front of the opposing player to avoid receiving the ball, which is rare in professional football. In other countries, the players are actively looking for open spaces and asking for the ball, which is a stark contrast.
Feng Xiaoting's complaint reflects some mentality problems in the Chinese men's football team in the game. Zhao Zhen also mentioned a similar problem in the first game of the national football team. He pointed out that while many criticised the poor performance of the two midfielders on the pitch, the deeper problem was that these players appeared to be dodging the ball during the game. This behaviour suggests that the problem is not entirely with the players' ability and more with their fear of possible mistakes with the ball.
Zhao Zhen did not name which players had such problems, but his description clearly revealed the mentality problems that exist in the team. This evasion of responsibility is unacceptable in professional football because it weakens the overall performance of the team and affects the outcome of the game.
In response to this situation, some fans called for strict investigation of these players who did not perform well. If there is a real fear of accountability, such a player may not be suitable to represent the Chinese men's football team at a high level in international competitions. In this case, the team management may need to consider adjusting the composition of the squad to ensure that each player is able to give his or her all and contribute to the national team. Only in this way can the Chinese men's football team improve its mentality, so that it can also play better in terms of technology and tactics.