China's Asian Games men's football team out of the playoffs
On October 1, the men's football matches of the Hangzhou Asian Games produced four leaders: the Uzbek team, Hong Kong China, Japan, and South Korea. The quarterfinal match held at the Huanglong Sports Center Stadium that night ended in a 0-2 loss for China vs South Korea. Men's soccer semi-finals will take place on October 4.
1 October 2023
Despite their weak ability, the Chinese team chose to use a 5-4-1 defense in the second half after falling behind by two goals. This defensive strategy was widely criticized as being too cautious and afraid of losing more points, sparking debate about coach Jovan Djordjevic's tactics. The players were praised for their efforts, but some questioned the leadership's decision to give up so easily in the face of adversity.
Hangzhou's football fans showed remarkable resilience and support, cheering on their team until the very end. Despite the loss, they remained optimistic about their team's future prospects. One fan asked if the players had fought hard enough, to which another replied that they had given it their all but were let down by poor defensive tactics.
The South Korean media celebrated their victory over China, describing it as a "library" where South Korea had beaten "Shaolin football". This was in reference to the Chinese team's perceived strength and skill on the field. The South Korean team's performance was praised for their ability to turn the competition site into their own "library", dominating the game from start to finish.
The loss sparked a wave of reactions on Chinese social media platform Weibo. Some netizens were disappointed but understanding, acknowledging that losing to South Korea was not unexpected given the gap in strength between the two teams. Others criticized the team's defensive strategy, with one user likening them to "soft and in need of stitching".
Some netizens pointed out that advancing to the quarterfinals, where they faced stronger opponents like South Korea, was a significant achievement for the Chinese team. They argued that it was normal for an adult team ranked 11th at the Asian Games to make it this far and that criticism was unwarranted.
On the other hand, some netizens were more critical of the team's performance, suggesting that they had not done enough to close the gap with stronger teams like South Korea. Despite their best efforts, the Chinese team ultimately fell short in their quest for a semifinal spot.
Coach Deyang Juguerichi, however, remained positive and proud of his team's effort, acknowledging that South Korea was one of the strongest teams at the Asian Games. He praised the players for their dedication and commitment, stating that they had given their best in the match.
The loss was a difficult setback for Chinese football fans, but it also served as a reminder of the challenges faced by the team in competing against stronger opponents. Despite the disappointment, many supporters remained optimistic about the future prospects of the Chinese team, hoping that they will continue to improve and eventually bridge the gap with top teams like South Korea.
