CFA boss rips national teams

Official says lack of planning, poor coaching responsible for 'deep crisis'

Cai Zhenhua, president of the Chinese Football Association, said on Saturday that Chinese soccer has plunged to a new low and the men's side is just rated as "second or third class" in Asia.

China's Under-23 national team was eliminated 2-0 by Thailand in the round of 16 at the Asian Games while its women's team, which had reached at least the semifinals at the Asiad since 1990, lost to the DPRK 1-0 in the quarterfinals.