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Sign up with Google Sign up with FacebookQ: Chinese football/soccer
I know this isn't a sport forum but it is 'China related'.....seriously....1.3 Billion people there has got to be 11 decent soccer players in this vast country to qualify for the world cup!
The following countries have not only qualified but made the semifinals:
Belgium (10 million people) - 1986
Sweden (9.4 million people) - 1994
Croatia (4.4 million people) -1998
Uruguay (3.3 million people) - 2010
Is it:
- Lack of youth development?
- Cultural and a 'lack of team lead players?
- Corrupt team selection???
...a combination of all the above...?
ironically China has produced some half decent players (Sun Jihai, Zheng Zhi & Shao Jiayi).....surely these kinds of players should qualify in the Asia Qualification Zone vs teams like Singapore, Iraq and Jordan?
You have to think about environment. Be honest with yourself and go look outside. Do you see soccer stadiums in abundance or any type of playing fields? I haven't even seen a regular soccer club here. If they were to invest in this I believe the soccer team would be a lot better, but at the current moment it's not! This is why they can't qualify for the world cup. If they had regular youth soccer clubs for kids to play when they are younger and build more clubs for adults things will get better for the soccer team in China.
Jona:
But would parents let kids play or would they force them to rather focus on their studies/homework? But children aside - Why are there not MORE amateur leagues at universities or for 'young proffesionals' to take part in the different cities?? I also disagree with you in that in Brazil, soccer is in their blood and even if there are no fields people and children will play in the streets, parks or on the beaches. It just doesnt happen here.
When China moves the focus away from straight education to a more balanced lifestyle for the youth you will see some potential not only in soccer but a variety of sports.
The super league here is not to bad but not up to euro standards of course but still exciting to watch. Also in Australia we have the AIS (and state versions) Australian inst of Sport where people scout for the next talent in a range of sports and support them through education while focusing on the sport China could support the same structure.
Moving into the wider sport in China at the Atlanta olympics China got 16gold (4th), Sydney olympics 28gold (3rd), Athens Olympics 32 gold (2nd), and Beijing 51 gold (1st). They will try and become the best at any sport as you can see by the olympics
In many countries football (or soccer) IS THE SPORT. People live by each game, multitudes gather at stadiums, they even have big fights if team loose one game. But in China, football is not the game, it is basketball. So, even if many do play from early age onwards, there is not really a well articulated program to bring quality players up. So, so far no teams from China on World Cup competition levels.
And it is not true that there are no stadiums, or leagues to play here. I have been to three different ones in Guangzhou, and seen many games there. There is also a huge, modern one in Nanning, and people from all ages play there. Maybe some day they will develop a team worth to be proud of, then it will become a popular sport