China

Media mock national soccer team

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-01-07 15:49

BEIJING: Chinese media bombarded the national team's 0-0 draw with Syria on Thursday despite its qualification for the 2011 Asian Cup finals.

The team failed to impress in Wednesday night's match in Hangzhou's Yellow Dragon Stadium but got a ticket to the Asian Cup finals this month whatsoever as Vietnam drew with Lebanon 1-1 in another Group D match.

The awkard qualification drew a great deal of criticism from the media in a sarcastic tone.

Qianjiang Evening News's report of the game was just a few lines and a picture.

"0-0. Syria coach told our reporter: 'China, very good. Chinese football, terrible'," the newspaper said. A picture was put below the big bold letters showing a group of soccer fans and a slogan that read: National team, stop gambling. Your mom calls you to go back home and have dinner.

Whereas for The First newspaper based in Beijing, the headline for its sport page was "Be cautious! This page contains content about the national team!"

"The national team's continuous failure has drained the fans of all confidence. They went from angry to numb and then to sarcastic. But all they did was for one purpose -- real changes take place in Chinese soccer," it said.