On April 20, at the end of the second round of the group stage of the 2022 U23 Asian Cup, the Chinese national football team U23 suffered a double defeat and said goodbye in advance with the United Arab Emirates U23.
The highlight of the match was none other than the showdown between 22-year-old Chinese striker Zhang Yuning and South Korean defender Lee Jung-so. This also indicates that in the football world, China is still in the dilemma of catching up with its old rivals.
At the beginning of the game, the high morale of the Chinese team was eye-catching. But our good times did not last long, and the old problem recurred—wasting a good opportunity to attack.
The Chinese team's passing was not accurate, and the high-altitude ball could not reach the front court, resulting in many attacks that could be broken with just one kick were defused. In contrast, South Korea scored with their first shot on goal. It's embarrassing and embarrassing.
In stark contrast to the years of weakness in Chinese football, Japanese and South Korean football has long been a strong player in Asia. South Korea, in particular, not only has an advantage in Asia, but also has a good strength in world football.
The success of South Korean football is due to its long-standing youth training system. If Chinese football wants to achieve a fundamental breakthrough, it must also start from youth training and no longer pay attention to the introduction of foreign aid.
In this Asian Cup, China sent a youth army with 22-year-old Zhang Yuning as the core. This is a new attempt by the national football team, and it is also full of hope. Although China lost 0-2 to South Korea again this time, the score was not too ugly.
It is right to boldly use new talents, and I hope that these players can develop in the future and inject fresh blood into Chinese football.
Football matchups between China and South Korea have a long history, and it is often South Korea that has the upper hand. In the 2002 World Cup between Japan and South Korea, South Korea reached the semi-finals, while China stopped in the group stage, which can be seen.
In 2010, China won the Asian Cup, but was subsequently replaced by Australia in 2015, and South Korea also beat China several times to win the title.
In the recent Asian Cups, although China has achieved good results, there is still a certain gap compared with South Korea, which also reflects the difference in football development between the two countries from one side.
The popularization of football requires the underlying foundation and accumulation. Compared with China, South Korea attaches more importance to the promotion of campus football and has formed a complete professional league system.
China must learn from South Korea's successful experience, start from the basics, truly attach importance to campus football training, cultivate football talents, improve professional leagues, and provide excellent players for the national football team.
China must make great efforts in youth training and insist on using new talents in order to realize the rebirth of the national football team. Otherwise, China will only continue to play catch-up with other Asian powers.
This is not only about sports honor, but also about national self-confidence, and it needs long-term accumulation and persistence.
In this Asian Cup, China lost 0-2 to South Korea, indicating that the football dream has a long way to go. But the newcomers also let us see where the hope lies. Let us continue to persevere, accumulate strength, and believe that the day will come when the national football team will be revived.
Football is not only a sport, but also a microcosm of national rejuvenation. After another failure, China can only get on the right track by constantly improving its system and developing the grassroots. I believe that through hard work, Chinese football can be revitalized.
With the rapid development of China's economy, the state and all sectors of society are gradually increasing their investment in Chinese football. Compared with a decade ago, the commercial value and popularity of the Chinese Football League have come a long way.
With the intervention of capital, the hardware facilities of Chinese football have also been significantly improved. However, this still cannot hide the shortcomings of Chinese football at the technical and tactical levels. Money alone without technology will not go far.
In order to achieve fundamental progress in Chinese football, it is necessary to adjust its development ideas, not only to pay attention to the construction of venues and the introduction of stars, but also to work hard to improve the level of youth training.
It is necessary to start from the baby, attach importance to campus sports, cultivate children's interest in football, and avoid simple marketing.
For the present, we still need to maintain faith. This group of post-90s players is on the rise, and their youthful energy will drive Chinese football to a new level.
There are still many difficulties, but as long as we are sober-minded and down-to-earth, the tomorrow of Chinese football will surely come. Let's all look forward to that moment together!