KUALA LUMPUR - When the Iranians danced joyously and the Japanese sauntered care-freely, the Chinese footballers had to stand aside quietly, appreciating their wonderful performance, which is beyond their ability now.

Iran's Ferydoon Zandi (R) is stopped by China's Zheng Zhi during their 2007 Asian Cup Group C soccer match in Kuala Lumpur July 15, 2007. [Reuters]

Those Asian top teams have shown at the ongoing AFC Asian Cup that they are a level higher than China in spite of the Chinese ambition. What the Chinese players lack is just the core to the question: why China cannot list themselves as one of the top teams in Asia.

The deadly wound lies in China's lack of certain technical style and faint conception on how to set well-organized midfield work characterized by bread and butter short passes and orderly interchanges.

Zhu Guanghu, head coach of the Chinese team, has done hard work to train the squad to be high-efficient with quick forays down the flanks, producing threatening crosses for the burly striker Han Peng.

The strategy told at the beginning spells against Iran, after Shao Jiayi's free kick and Mao Jianqing's half volley rewarded their athletic efforts and high morale. But the advantage gradually disappeared when a class-higher Iranian side wakened timely and exerted their neat techniques to make their rivals look like puppets.

Just have a comparison between those Europe-based stars. Cottbus midfielder Shao Jiayi and former Charlton Athletic player Zheng Zhi are two play-makers of the Chinese team, but they could even not control the ball under the fierce tackles from the Iranians, not to say help teammates organize the attacks, sometimes they were no difference to sweepers.

However, Iranian creative midfielder Andranik Teymourian, who served for Bolton Wanderers, led the offensive work well with threading passes and neat one-twos with his counterparts, moving and splitting the Chinese defence from time to time.

The Iranians proved their level with obvious control in the midfield, their fine short passes and interchanges are far for their opponents to read and understand.

Defending champions Japan did similar show to "Team Melli", they enjoyed easy dominance with quick passes in their first two games against Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, and made the goals logic results of their style.

As for China, no matter what the results they finally get at the tournament, a careful self-examination should be started. Chinese football has long been lacking clear style and tradition, and not until these basic questions be solved could it gets real improvement.