Chinese soccer appears to be getting worse despite President Xi’s pledge to make it better
6 months, 1 week ago

Chinese soccer appears to be getting worse despite President Xi’s pledge to make it better

Associated Press  

TOKYO — Chinese President Xi Jinping is reported to be a big soccer fan, and he promised in a 2015 document to resuscitate the men’s national team, damaged by abysmal results on the global stage and widespread corruption in local leagues. Japan defeated China 7-0 on Thursday in a World Cup qualifier in Saitama, Japan, a brutal loss that came against one of China’s biggest sports and geopolitcal rivals in Asia. China’s national team coach Branko Ivankovic of Croatia called it a “most difficult night,” as quoted in English by the official Xinhua news agency, which termed the loss “humiliating.” Wataru Endo and Kaoru Mitoma scored in the first half on a night of Asian World Cup qualifiers. The China Sports Daily had a very short story titled: “China lost to Japan in World Cup qualifier” with few details. “Leaders should not place high hopes on the sport, and the government needn’t give it a lot of care.” China has nine more qualifying matches remaining, and still has a shot at reaching the expanded, 48-team World Cup in 2026, hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

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History of this topic

China loses to Japan in World Cup qualifier
3 months, 3 weeks ago

China loses to Japan in World Cup qualifier

China Daily  

Wang Dalei, goalkeeper of China, reacts during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifier match between China and Japan in Xiamen, Southeast China's Fujian province, Nov 19, 2024. XIAMEN -- China conceded three headers and lost to Japan 3-1 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier here on Tuesday. China pulled one goal back in the third minute of the …

China suffer crushing defeat against Japan in WC Asian qualifiers
6 months, 1 week ago

China suffer crushing defeat against Japan in WC Asian qualifiers

China Daily  

Wataru Endo of Japan celebrates with teammates after scoring during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifier match between China and Japan in Saitama, Japan, Sept 5, 2024. TOKYO - China's national team suffered a crushing 7-0 defeat to Japan on Thursday in their 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers third round opener. The third round of the Asian qualifiers …

China coach describes humiliating WC qualifier defeat to Japan as 'most difficult night'
6 months, 1 week ago

China coach describes humiliating WC qualifier defeat to Japan as 'most difficult night'

China Daily  

China men's football team head coach Branko Ivankovic and forward Wu Lei attend the pre-match press conference for the final stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifier, in Saitama, Japan, on Sept 3, 2024. SAITAMA, Japan - China national team head coach Branko Ivankovic said "this was the most difficult night" for him after a humiliating 7-0 defeat …

A winning assist
7 months ago

A winning assist

China Daily  

Race walker Yang Jiayu and her Italian coach, Patrizio Antonio Parcesepe. Despite dealing with cultural differences and a language barrier, as well as the fierce on-field competition, Team China's foreign coaches and their assistants have hit on a medal-winning formula with the country's hard-working Olympians, leading them to a series of historic "firsts", huge ranking leaps and long-awaited revivals at …

A winning assist
7 months ago

A winning assist

China Daily  

Race walker Yang Jiayu and her Italian coach, Patrizio Antonio Parcesepe. Despite dealing with cultural differences and a language barrier, as well as the fierce on-field competition, Team China's foreign coaches and their assistants have hit on a medal-winning formula with the country's hard-working Olympians, leading them to a series of historic "firsts", huge ranking leaps and long-awaited revivals at …

Finally, something to Sing about
9 months ago

Finally, something to Sing about

China Daily  

Chinese fans look nervously on during a 2026 World Cup Asian qualifier between China and South Korea at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on Tuesday. Xinhua Lady Luck's benevolent smile shone brightly on Team China, whose odds-defying survival in the fight for World Cup qualification has given long-suffering fans a way overdue reason to celebrate — though not yet enough …

Finally, something to Sing about
9 months ago

Finally, something to Sing about

China Daily  

Chinese fans look nervously on during a 2026 World Cup Asian qualifier between China and South Korea at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on Tuesday. Xinhua Lady Luck's benevolent smile shone brightly on Team China, whose odds-defying survival in the fight for World Cup qualification has given long-suffering fans a way overdue reason to celebrate — though not yet enough …

Time for Team China to reassess its goals
1 year, 1 month ago

Time for Team China to reassess its goals

China Daily  

A dejected Zhang Linpeng and his Team China players take stock after losing their last Asian Cup group match to Qatar on Monday. Team China's disappointing Asian Cup campaign has further burnished Chinese soccer's unwanted image as a perpetual underachiever, while the country's soccer revival project struggles on all fronts. "In the three games we played here, a lot of …

Trusting the process
1 year, 8 months ago

Trusting the process

China Daily  

From left: Team China's Yang Liwei, Jin Weina and Li Meng pose with their gold medals as they celebrate victory over Japan in the final of the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup in Sydney, Australia on July 2. AFP Mentally tougher Team China developing into a more versatile outfit on the world stage, reckons coach Zheng Fresh from leading China to …

Trusting the process
1 year, 8 months ago

Trusting the process

China Daily  

From left: Team China's Yang Liwei, Jin Weina and Li Meng pose with their gold medals as they celebrate victory over Japan in the final of the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup in Sydney, Australia on July 2. AFP Mentally tougher Team China developing into a more versatile outfit on the world stage, reckons coach Zheng Fresh from leading China to …

China, a country of 1.4 billion, again misses World Cup
2 years, 4 months ago

China, a country of 1.4 billion, again misses World Cup

Associated Press  

Even with 1.4 billion people, China can’t find 11 solid soccer players. “China is bigger than most things, so China is used to doing things on its own terms,” said Cameron Wilson, a British journalist who has lived in China for almost two decades and is the founding editor of the website “Wild East Football.” “Football is one of the …

Well-drilled Team China ready to ratchet up intensity
2 years, 6 months ago

Well-drilled Team China ready to ratchet up intensity

China Daily  

Coach Du hopes tough training stint gives his men an edge in qualifiers Du Feng, head coach of the Chinese men's basketball, during the World Cup qualifier against Australia in Melbourne, Australia, June 30, 2021. Team China is confident a rigorous European training trip has given it the best possible chance of redemption in its upcoming World Cup qualifiers in …

China unveils plans to achieve global soccer domination
8 years, 11 months ago

China unveils plans to achieve global soccer domination

CNN  

Story highlights Chinese authorities want to turn China into a world football power by 2050 President Xi Jinping has previously expressed his wish that China wins a World Cup Football in China has been beset by corruption and poor performances on the pitch Hong Kong CNN — China has unveiled its blueprint to transform the country into a “soccer powerhouse” …

- Chinadaily.com.cn
9 years, 6 months ago

- Chinadaily.com.cn

China Daily  

China's Zhang Changning, center, and Zeng Chunlei, right, talk with each other during the women's volleyball World Cup final in Nagoya, Japan, on Sept 6, 2015. Boasting a strong roster and great team spirit, the Chinese women, led by Lang, claimed five consecutive world titles, including two World Cup titles, two World Championships and an Olympic gold in the 1980s, …

For China, soccer is passion and misery[1]- Chinadaily.com.cn
10 years, 5 months ago

For China, soccer is passion and misery[1]- Chinadaily.com.cn

China Daily  

China's U-23 players react next to their winning Thai counterparts during their Round of 16 soccer match at the 17th Asian Games at Ansan Wa Stadium in Incheon, South Korea, on Sept 25. Chinese soccer fans were left disheartened again as the U-23 team ended the Asian Games campaign with a 2-0 loss against against Thailand, turning a redemption-seeking rematch …

For China, soccer is passion and misery[1]- Chinadaily.com.cn
10 years, 5 months ago

For China, soccer is passion and misery[1]- Chinadaily.com.cn

China Daily  

China's U-23 players react next to their winning Thai counterparts during their Round of 16 soccer match at the 17th Asian Games at Ansan Wa Stadium in Incheon, South Korea, on Sept 25. Chinese soccer fans were left disheartened again as the U-23 team ended the Asian Games campaign with a 2-0 loss against against Thailand, turning a redemption-seeking rematch …

China loses Asian Games soccer opener 3-0[1]- Chinadaily.com.cn
10 years, 6 months ago

China loses Asian Games soccer opener 3-0[1]- Chinadaily.com.cn

China Daily  

DPRK's Ri Yong Jik challenges China's Chang Feiya during their men's soccer qualifier match for the 17th Asian Games at Incheon Football Stadium in Incheon, Sept 15, 2014. INCHEON - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea on Monday handed a 3-0 defeat to an ambitious Chinese side who had expected a top-four finish at the Asian Games men's soccer tournament. …

Getting kicks out of a struggle with soccer[1]
10 years, 8 months ago

Getting kicks out of a struggle with soccer[1]

China Daily  

Getting kicks out of a struggle with soccer Updated: 2014-06-20 07:20 By Kurt Nagl Soccer fans in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, dress up to cheer their favorite teams at this World Cup. Dong Jinlin / For China Daily As an American, especially after the United States beat Ghana in this year's World Cup, I feel guilty admitting I could really care …

Fans' cup runneth over[1]- Chinadaily.com.cn
10 years, 9 months ago

Fans' cup runneth over[1]- Chinadaily.com.cn

China Daily  

Despite the national team failing to qualify, Chinese are pumped up for soccer, Yang Yang reports in Beijing. Soccer- While it's ultrafashionable to talk about soccer - after all, who doesn't love "the beautiful game", as it's known to billions across the globe - the sport's massive following in China is slightly baffling to non-aficionados. Although China is always at, …

Road to Brazil 2014 begins at home
14 years, 8 months ago

Road to Brazil 2014 begins at home

China Daily  

Op-Ed Contributors Road to Brazil 2014 begins at home By Joergen Lindgren Hansen Updated: 2010-06-25 07:50 Chinese athletes' impressive performance at the last two Olympic Games showed us how far China has come in the world of international sports. But the Chinese football team's failure to qualify for the World Cup reminds us how far China still has to go. …

Road to Brazil 2014 begins at home
14 years, 8 months ago

Road to Brazil 2014 begins at home

China Daily  

Op-Ed Contributors Road to Brazil 2014 begins at home By Joergen Lindgren Hansen Updated: 2010-06-25 07:50 Chinese athletes' impressive performance at the last two Olympic Games showed us how far China has come in the world of international sports. But the Chinese football team's failure to qualify for the World Cup reminds us how far China still has to go. …

Soccer fans want national men's team dismissed
14 years, 8 months ago

Soccer fans want national men's team dismissed

China Daily  

2010-06-21 07:20 BEIJING - Chinese netizens and football fans are venting their anger against the Chinese national men's football team, with some even calling for their dismissal, after watching the outstanding performances of the nation's neighbors' teams in the 2010 South African World Cup, an online survey said. Young netizens and fans last week made sharp comments at kaixin.com - …

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