In the group stage opener of the highly anticipated 2024 U23 Asian Cup and Paris Olympic Games Asian qualifiers, the Chinese Olympic team encountered a fierce rival Japanese Olympic team. Although they fell behind early in the opening game and were forced to play with 10 men after central defender Takaya Nishio was sent off, the Chinese Olympic team failed to seize the numerical advantage to turn things around, and finally ended 0-1. This game, which ended in more games and fewer losses, not only highlighted the difference in performance between the two sides under specific match conditions, but also provided an opportunity for the Chinese football community to deeply analyze the gap between the Chinese and Japanese football youth training systems, tactical literacy and psychological quality.
Technical and tactical level: the contest between delicacy and efficiency
1. Technical level and individual ability: Japanese football has always been known for its solid fundamentals, delicate skills and excellent passing and control. The Japanese Olympic team members have been systematically trained from an early age, paying attention to technical details and the cultivation of personal ability, which enables them to deal with high-pressure defense more calmly in the game, passing the ball accurately, controlling the ball and breaking through. In contrast, the Chinese Olympic team may have gaps in one-on-one dribbles, accurate passes, shooting accuracy, etc., resulting in some chances created in the case of more plays and fewer shots, but failed to effectively convert into goals.
2. Tactical execution and adaptability: The Japanese Olympic team often shows a high degree of tactical discipline and teamwork spirit, and can flexibly adjust tactical deployment at different stages of the competition. Even when playing with fewer men, they are able to maintain a tight formation, use space efficiently to defend and threaten the opposition goal with quick counter-attacks. On the other hand, the Chinese Olympic team, despite its superiority in numbers, may have problems in how to continue to press, break the opponent's dense defense, and grasp set-piece opportunities, etc., in terms of tactical implementation or lack of quick response.
3. Players' sense of position and space utilization: Under the disadvantage of numbers, the Japanese team showed a good sense of position and a keen perception of the space on the court, and effectively made up for the lack of numbers through close filling, timely retreat and efficient running. Although the Chinese Olympic team has the advantage of numbers, it may not make full use of the width of the field to pull on the offensive end, or fail to effectively compress the opponent's activity space when defending, resulting in the opponent being able to organize effective defense and counterattack despite the disadvantage in numbers.
Mental quality and game experience
1. Tournament mentality and ability to resist pressure: Japanese football has accumulated a wealth of successful experience in continental and international competitions, and its young players tend to have strong ability to resist pressure and calm mentality. In the face of unfavorable circumstances, the Japanese Olympic team can stay focused and not panic because of the disadvantage in numbers, but may inspire a stronger fighting spirit. In contrast, when the Chinese Olympic team faces a good situation of playing more and playing less, it may fluctuate due to its eagerness, which affects the quality of decision-making and on-field performance.
2. Decision-making decisiveness and game wisdom: In the long competition of more and less, the game often tests the decision-making ability and game wisdom of the players at critical moments. Japanese players tend to be able to make more calm and rational judgments when faced with pressure, such as choosing the right time to consume time on the ball, timing counterattacks accurately, or cleverly using rules to delay the pace of the game. The Chinese Olympic team may be lacking in these areas and fail to make the most beneficial choices at key points to change the situation.
Youth training system and talent training
1. Long-term planning and systematic training: The success of Japanese football is largely due to its well-established youth training system and long-term talent development strategy. From school football to professional club teams, Japan focuses on the all-round development of players, emphasizing the balanced improvement of technical, physical, mental quality and tactical understanding. In contrast, China's youth training system may have shortcomings in some aspects, such as too much emphasis on short-term results, neglect of basic technical training, and insufficient quantity and quality of youth competitions, which affect the cultivation of players' comprehensive quality.
2. Overseas Attendance and International Vision: Japanese football actively encourages young players to develop overseas, and many of the national Olympic players have experience in high-level European leagues or youth competitions, which not only improves their competitive level, but also broadens their horizons and enhances their ability to adapt to different styles of confrontation. The Chinese Olympic team may have relatively few members in this regard, and the lack of opportunities to hone in a high-intensity and high-competition environment has affected its competitiveness on the international stage.
The Chinese Olympic team still lost to the Japanese team under the condition of playing more and less, reflecting the gap between the two sides in terms of technical and tactical execution, psychological quality, game experience and youth training system. In order to narrow this gap, Chinese football needs to start from multiple dimensions such as deepening youth training reform, improving coach training, strengthening psychological counseling, and encouraging players to stay abroad, so as to systematically improve the overall strength and international competitiveness of young players. Only in this way can we truly transform the numerical advantage into a victory in the key battles in the future and write a new chapter in Chinese football.