Soccer win greeted with pride and caution
KLAUDIA LEE
China was engulfed in growing nationalism yesterday after its soccer team ended decades of attempts to
qualify for the World Cup. However, analysts cautioned that the euphoria should not be allowed to mask
the problems facing the country.
China has had a fruitful year. Last month, it was approved as a full member of the World Trade
Organisation. In July, Beijing won the right to host the 2008 Olympic Games.
Soccer fan Zhang Juxiang, a business student at Jimei University in Xiamen, Fujian, said the successes
signalled China's growing national strength, adding: "We are becoming more unified than before. In the
past, China did not have a high standing internationally. However, the situation is very different now."
Michelle Wang, an office worker in Shanghai aged in her mid-20s, echoed Mr Zhang's views. "Every
Chinese expects success," she said. "I am very proud of China."
Poon Yeuk-yu, a business student from Guangzhou studying at Hong Kong Baptist University, shared the
optimism. "The success of the soccer team shows that our country has become stronger than before," she
said.
Lau Siu-kai, professor of sociology at Hong Kong's Chinese University, said the central Government had
taken advantage of the rise of nationalism to unify the people and legitimise its rule. However, he warned
that surging nationalism might lead to xenophobia if public sentiment was not handled properly.
"Chinese people always believe that China will eventually obtain her rightful place in the world,"
Professor Lau said. "However, over-aspiration - coupled with their self-awareness of the country's
shortcomings and problems - would make them over-sensitive to disrespect from Western countries."
Peng Kaiping, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of California,
Berkeley, did not believe recent successes would contribute to a revival of nationalism.
"Chinese people are enjoying a happy mood at the moment . . . nationalism will only be revived if people
are defeated or have negative experiences," he said.
But he added that recent international achievements would make the Chinese people realise that China
could succeed by "playing by the rules".
Hong Kong-based China-watcher Lau Yui-siu said while it was understandable that the Chinese
Government would emphasise the nation's achievements, it was important the public did not become
blinded to its problems.
He said if instability occurred, it was doubtful whether the Chinese could face the challenges posed, and
that public resentment would rise as more people felt the pain, through job cuts, of integration with the
global economy.
Tung tickled but fans keep their cool
CHOW CHUNG-YAN and PATSY MOY
China's history-making performance met with a cool reception from Hong Kong soccer officials and fans
even though some bars that showed the live broadcast reported better-than-usual business.
No official celebration was planned in Hong Kong by the Government or the Hong Kong Football
Association.
While many fans swarmed bars and pubs to watch China beat Oman, even more cheered England's
victory over Greece on Saturday.
Sports store Pro-kicker in Mongkok said England's national team shirts remained by far the hottest stock.
However, the Soccer Shirt, in Yau Ma Tei, reported people were asking to buy Chinese team shirts, but
they were not available in Hong Kong.
"You have to go to Shanghai to get one," he said.
Secretary for Home Affairs Lam Woon-kwong said China's success in the World Cup qualifier was a
boost to local soccer. Head of Invest Hong Kong Mike Rowse, who announced the changing of his
nationality to Chinese early this month, said: "I can tell you that I have been following the result more
closely in the last couple of months."
Policeman Leung Kam-man, 35, who watched the match at a bar in Wan Chai and sang the national
anthem immediately after the team scored, said: "I really want to cry. I am just too happy."
His colleague Yan Man-choi, 37, said he, too, was pleased to see China make it into the World Cup finals.
"I hope they can make it to the second round in Japan and South Korea," he said.
Another soccer fan, Lawrence Tang Ming-lok, said he supported England's team but it had nothing to do
with patriotism.
"I love to see China getting into the World Cup finals. I'm a Chinese. But I'm not very familiar with
Chinese players," he said.
"On the other hand, I watch English players on TV every weekend. They are like old friends. I don't think
we should turn football into a political issue."
Official party on hold until last qualifier
MARK O'NEILL in Beijing
Shenyang soccer fans were left somewhat disappointed last night after an hour-long extravaganza to
celebrate China's first entry into the World Cup was cancelled and a simple 20-minute ceremony was
conducted in its place.
However, Dalian, the team's home city, lifted a ban on the use of firecrackers, while restaurants and bars
across the country prepared for a bumper night.
The China Football Association said the Government had decided to hold back on celebrations until after
China's final qualifying match against Uzbekistan on October 19.
Workers at the stadium were apparently told on Saturday afternoon to dismantle platforms and musical
equipment that had been brought from Beijing on Thursday.
"We will organise the festivities after the return from Uzbekistan," a spokesman for the association said.
"We did not want something so big at this stage."
A planned bonfire party at the Lu Dao Hotel in Shenyang, where the team is staying, was also cancelled.
However, the Dalian city Government announced earlier yesterday that it would lift a ban on the use of
firecrackers for one day if China qualified.
Channel Five of state television began a special broadcast devoted to the game and cancelled two news
broadcasts and other scheduled programmes.
In Beijing, preparations for the big game got under way early yesterday. Major universities installed TVs
in classrooms for students and bars and restaurants cancelled musical and dance performances and
replaced them with big-screen televisions. They stocked up on food, alcohol and national flags well in
advance.
Travellers were also thought of and Beijing railway station erected a giant screen and aired the game.
Three hundred police were assigned to keep the crowd under control.
China complete long march
JOHN MURRAY in Shenyang
China qualified for next year's World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea with a 1-0 win over Oman last
night, securing the nation's first-ever trip to soccer's most prestigious sporting event.
The win came in front of 50,000 rabid fans at Shenyang's Wulihe Stadium as well as a nationwide
television audience estimated in the hundreds of millions, many of whom had suffered years of
humiliation as the national side failed again and again to qualify for the showcase event.
China's only goal came in the 36th minute when a well-placed 60-yard cross-field ball by midfielder Li
Tie was nodded on by Li Xiaopeng and Hao Haidong. It fell to the foot of the charging Yu Ganwei, who
struck home cleanly from just in front of the goal.
The win guarantees a record fifth trip to the World Cup finals for China's charismatic Yugoslav coach
Bora Milutinovic, who previously led Mexico, Costa Rica, the United States and Nigeria at football's
ultimate event. A single point would have been enough, and China have two more qualifying games yet
to play, but the national expectation was that last night was to be the night.
"Our goal was to get China into the World Cup finals, so I feel tonight that we have succeeded in
obtaining that goal," an ebullient Milutinovic said. "If you want to know my happiest moment, you would
have to say it is tonight, because our team and our coaches have worked hard to get the results we have."
The Serbian coach further thanked China's sporting officials for the support they had given him, an
apparent reference to widespread calls for his dismissal following a series of dismal performances in the
preliminary round of Asian qualifying.
The match in the football-mad northeastern city was tense from the outset with the tight Omani defence
frustrating China's forwards as the two sides played evenly for most of the first half. China's goal,
however, appeared to lift a huge burden from the home side as they began to loosen up with a series of
well-engineered chances that threatened to shred what had been a tough Omani defence.
"You can say that we were under a lot of pressure, but we knew what we had to do and we came together
and proved that we were capable of qualifying," tearful midfielder Ma Mingyu said following the match.
China's best players had been humiliated by minnow sides and motley players in five World Cup
qualifying campaigns. The eternal also-rans had been a source of embarrassment since 1982. Now the
groans of hundreds of millions of fans have turned to relief-filled whoops of joy.
If anything, last night's victory that clinched top spot in Asian zone Group B was sweeter than China's
success earlier this year in being awarded the 2008 Olympics. To lose the Games would have been a cruel
blow; to miss the World Cup finals once again, unforgivable.
"In China there's the mindset that we're a late-developing country," said Wang Lian, 50, a retired
professor and a typically jaded Chinese fan. "So this is a huge mental boost."
Beyond soccer, the narrow win over tiny Oman has huge ramifications. The team's past bumbling
performances seemed to mock even those Chinese who did not follow the game. A national obsession
with soccer turned into a national neurosis.
Patriotism is a potent force in modern China so the sight of their side crumbling against Iraq in 1993 and
Iran four years later in World Cup qualifiers was almost too much to bear. The pain was sharpened by the
sight of Chinese gymnasts, table tennis players and runners sweeping gold at successive Olympics.
"People's expectations, however high, have been numbed over the years," said Wang. "Soccer's become
more of a subject for satire."
Milutinovic's veteran side responded to a do-or-die ultimatum from the Chinese soccer world with a
stellar qualifying run. They knocked in a barrage of goals in the first two rounds, displaying consistency
sorely lacking in the past.
After a series of lop-sided games, China were as good as through to next year's finals in Korea and Japan
even before the kick-off against Oman. But last night's victory has put them six points clear of
second-placed United Arab Emirates, who have just one game left. China have now won five and drawn
one of their six matches, scoring 10 goals and conceding only one with two games to play.
Still, many fans had their hearts in their mouths until the final whistle. They had bottled up their
excitement over China's lucky grouping in the final qualifying round, where they avoided old nemeses
Iran and Saudi Arabia as well as the 2002 joint hosts, Japan and South Korea, who qualified
automatically.
The sub-par competition, many feared, created as much opportunity for China to lose face as to make
history. The finals berth could not come at a more symbolically charged time. While the world reels from
an economic downturn and the global threat of terrorism, China is enjoying a banner year on the
international stage. The World Cup milestone, said the influential newspaper Southern Weekend, went
hand in hand with Beijing's victorious 2008 Olympic bid and the country's accession to the World Trade
Organisation, expected within months.
The string of events has given the world an "upbeat outlook toward the course of China's future," said the
paper. Many expect China's new-found soccer supremacy to lead to an eventual bid to stage the World
Cup in a market that could one day become the world's largest. "Soccer will only get hotter in China,"
said Liu Xiaoli, a senior soccer columnist for China Sports News.
The dark age of Chinese soccer under the old state-run system was the 1980s, most memorably a 1985
loss to lightweights Hong Kong, then a British colony, that led angry fans to smash cars and start fires.
Because of the May 19 Incident, as the loss was called, the team to this day avoid the room number "519"
when checking into hotels.
China finally began to wean their players off state dependency with the introduction of club soccer in
1994, following the example of Japan a year before. "The reform of soccer has made all the difference,"
said Liu. While state authorities still cap players' salaries and have the final say on who can be transferred
abroad, corporate-sponsored teams have rebuilt Chinese soccer.
An extensive youth development programme is producing stars of the future. The generation of players
leading China into their first World Cup finals is the first to be nurtured by the league. "The overall level
of play has not taken a great leap forward but it has shown marked improvement," said Liu.
Few doubt the "Bora effect" on Chinese soccer now. "It's psychological more than anything," said Liu.
"Milu's experience has tempered the players' impatience."
"He has been given all the leeway a coach should have, more than anyone had before," said Liu. As
China prepare for their first World Cup finals it is clear that Milutinovic's methods have paid dividends.
Bora and China have one more point to prove
JOHN MURRAY in Shenyang
China's national team have endured such heartbreak over the years in their failed attempts to qualify for
the World Cup finals that there was almost an inevitability that when it finally did happen, it would all
come to pass with a certain calm and ease. Chinese teams have shown a tendency in the past to choke
when those moments of truth arrived but, on this occasion, it would require a gargantuan act of
self-destruction to prevent them taking their place in Japan and South Korea next June.
Tomorrow night in Shenyang, they face bottom-placed Oman knowing a draw will be enough for them to
win Group B and secure their passage across the Yellow Sea. That this prize should be within their grasp
in this, just their sixth of eight second-phase qualifying games, is in no small part due to a good dollop of
assistance from their group opponents. Of course, Bora Milutinovic's team have done all that has been
asked of them in Group B of the Asian qualifiers - winning four and drawing one of their five matches to
date. Two of those wins came on tricky expeditions to the Middle East, a graveyard in the past for
Chinese World Cup ambitions.
But between them, their Group B opponents - Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Oman have conspired to make China's route to Japan and South Korea quite a smooth one. Consider the
situation. China, on 13 points, could afford to lose all three of their remaining games in Group B and still
qualify automatically for the World Cup because of their superior goal difference. But, there's a much
simpler route and one that they will likely take with open arms. A point against Oman tomorrow night
and China, and their millions of passionate supporters, will be celebrating the country's first-ever
appearance at the finals.
Coach Milutinovic admits his late-night viewing of recent fixtures in the Middle East involving his Group
B opponents has been very pleasurable. "Every result has gone our way so far and it leaves us in this very
good position. If someone had said to me that this side would lose at home, or that side would drop a
point here or there, I would not have believed them. But that is what has happened. At the same time, you
shouldn't forget how well we have done. Fifteen points have been on offer in our first five games, and
we've got 13 of them," he told the South China Morning Post.
He smiles at the notion that China might have been lucky, a suggestion made by one of the opposing
Group B coaches, Qatar's Paulo Campos. "I didn't have anything to do with their results against each
other. I looked after my own team and we've done well."
The Yugoslav - as he contemplates coaching a record fifth country to the World Cup finals - is
philosophical about the vagaries of footballing fortune. He resists the temptation to round on the many
critics who have questioned the wisdom of his appointment ever since he arrived on Chinese soil in
February last year. "Hey, I still can't read the newspapers so it makes no difference to me what they are
saying. I know I have a good team of players and they may not be the best squad in the world but they
have shown great courage and heart and skill so far in this campaign," he says.
If his belief in his players has been strong for most of his tenure, it rose immeasurably in Abu Dhabi two
weeks ago when Shanghai midfielder Qi Hong's goal gave China a hard-earned victory over the United
Arab Emirates. "They fought until they were nearly dropping to hold that 1-0 lead and they were fantastic.
I was extremely proud of them," he added.
That win, and the failure of their nearest rivals to make up ground since, has set China up nicely for
tomorrow night's match. They will be without Qi Hong, who is suspended after picking up a second
yellow card in Abu Dhabi. His place is likely to be taken by Tianjin's Yu Ganwei. Wu Chengyin, the
flamboyant leftback, will make a welcome return from suspension tomorrow night. And 21-year-old
Dalian keeper An Qi will continue to deputise between the posts for Jiang Jin - still out with a broken
finger.
Eriksson believes Beckham worth his weight in
goals
REUTERS in London
David Beckham completed his media transformation from public enemy number one to national hero
after his injury-time free kick earned England a 2-2 home draw with Greece and a place in the World Cup
finals.
The Manchester United midfielder, vilified three years ago after his World Cup red card for a petulant
kick at Argentina's Diego Simeone, adorned the front and back pages of yesterday's newspapers with
praise dripping from every pen.
"England saved by Beckham," said the front page of the Mail on Sunday, while its back read "King of the
World".
Photos of the England captain featured on the front pages of most of the national newspapers. Under a
photo of a totally focused Becks the Sunday Telegraph compared the midfielder to "a knight in shining
armour". The News of the World ran the headline "Captain Colossus" over a full front-page picture of the
midfielder celebrating his goal in the 93rd minute.
The Sunday Times led with plans to send British troops to Afghanistan following the September 11
attacks on the United States, but still found room for the same picture, saying: "We're there - with
seconds to spare."
"The ultimate hero, a happy finish avoided a Greek tragedy," said the Observer, giving the England
captain a perfect 10 out of 10 for his performance.
"Beckham's rescue seals England glory," continued the Observer, adding, "Last-minute free kick takes
Eriksson's jittery team to the Far East. It was fitting that David Beckham should secure the all-important
point. At the time the captain was almost playing Greece on his own. England were lucky - but when you
have Beckham, you always have a chance."
"Beckham has the world at his feet," estimated the Independent on Sunday, showing a photo of the
midfielder being hailed as a hero by the jubiliant crowd at Old Trafford. "Sven can thank lady luck and
his masterly captain," added the Independent under a picture of a visibly relieved England coach
Sven-Goran Eriksson.
Beckham, whose excellent all-round display overshadowed his teammates, is a favourite target of the
British media, along with his wife Victoria, a member of the Spice Girls.
In a recent interview she revealed she called her husband "Goldenballs" because of his unstinting success
for club and country and the Sunday People cheekily reproduced the nickname in monster print across its
front page. Inside, the papers were far more muted, recognising the fortunate nature of England's
qualification - only Germany's failure to beat Finland at home prevented them facing an awkward playoff
against Ukraine.
"One swing of David Beckham's right foot saved the national team from the consequences of an hour and
a half of embarrassing ineptitude," wrote Hugh McIlvanney in the Sunday Times.
Paul McCarthy, in the Sunday People, said: "Nine months of hard work and dedication was so nearly
destroyed in 90 minutes of arrogance."
Although the overall tone of the coverage was positive several papers also took the opportunity of
reproducing the stinging criticism that followed the appointment of Sven Goran Eriksson as England's
first foreign manager exactly a year ago.
Eriksson himself took the chance to sing his captain's praises. The relieved Swede called Beckham the
"big captain" who inspired his teammates to the World Cup finals.
"You could see that he wanted really, really hard to win this game and he showed once again that he is
such a big captain because he took his chance," Eriksson said. "It was a very difficult afternoon because I
don't think we played very good today, and the reason was difficult to understand.
"We lost a lot of passes especially in the first half and they seemed to be first to the ball every time. We
came out a little bit better in the second half and we finally scored a goal and it looked better, then some
minutes later they score for 2-1."
Eriksson admitted he knew instantly that England were on their way to the finals in Japan and South
Korea when Beckham's free kick hit the back of the net.
Eriksson added: "In the last minute Beckham hit his marvellous free kick and the tickets for the World
Cup were ready. We knew from the second half that it was 0-0 and we knew as soon as Beckham scored
that the game in Germany was finished. We didn't play very well but we got the result we had to get.
"It is much easier now to celebrate, maybe tonight but then that's it.
"It is one big step to a big objective which is the World Cup, and now we have a lot of time to plan and
organise it."
Tuesday, October 9, 2001
China's Cup heroes hit the jackpot
JOHN MURRAY in Beijing
China's World Cup heroes are set to cash in on a financial windfall and seek greener pastures abroad after
they helped their team qualify for next year's finals in Japan and South Korea. Estimates in the Chinese
media suggest that each player stands to receive a World Cup qualifying bonus of about about one million
yuan.
Endorsements and sponsorship deals are likely to boost that figure considerably. Some newspaper reports
yesterday suggested that by the end of the World Cup adventure, the booty may come to as much as five
million yuan a player. During the buildup to the match, it was reported the 14 clubs who make up China's
First Division would be asked to give 200,000 yuan each as their contribution to the players' pool.
China's soccer players are the best-paid sportsmen in the country. Top players such as Liaoning's Li Tie
and Dalian's Hao Haidong are said to earn somewhere between 250,000 yuan and 400,000 yuan a month lottery money to most citizens.
Also due for a financial boost is the man who made it all happen, China's Yugoslavian coach Bora
Milutinovic. "Milu" expects to finalise the extension of his contract after the two remaining qualifying
games. A Chinese Football Association spokesman said the renewal would be a mere formality and
pointed out that there was a clause in the original contract that automatically assumed an extension if
qualification was achieved. His salary is said to be about US$400,000 a year.
There is also speculation that more Chinese players will be lured by rich clubs in Europe. Interestingly,
even though he's playing in the far more competitive environment of German's Bundesliga II, striker
Yang Chen is said to lag behind many of his home-based colleagues when it comes to salary.
Li Tie, the midfield dynamo, has been linked with a move to Ajax of Amsterdam, while Sun Jihai has
attracted the interest of fellow Italian Serie sides, AC Milan and Torino. Shanghai Shenhua's Qi Hong,
arguably the star of the second phase, has also been mentioned in the overseas transfer speculation.
Sun has declined to discuss any potential moves but the man who has come in from the cold in the
Chinese set-up is thrilled to be a central part of the new-found international success.
"I am delighted to be part of this moment. It's great to have China playing in the World Cup. First and
foremost, though, we need to win back the fans who had left us. It is important they come behind us."
China needed only a draw against Oman on Sunday to qualify for the World Cup finals for the first time
in their history. They went one better with a 1-0 victory thanks to Yu Ganwei's 36th-minute winner in
Shenyang.
Oman coach Rashid Jabir was philosophical about the defeat. Hands in pockets and speaking in a voice
not much louder than a whisper, he had the good grace to congratulate China on qualifying for their
first-ever World Cup finals and to concede that they had been beaten by by far the best team in Group B.
He also made the point that Oman remained well behind China in the development of their football
structures and did still not to boast a full professional league. As he left the post-match press conference
to make way for the arrival of the victorious Milutinovic, China's charismatic coach, Jabir was less sure
about China's ability to make the next substantial step.
"Of course, I wish them well but they will find it difficult to progress in the World Cup finals. Asian
football still lags behind Europe and South America and there is so much work to be done here to
improve standards. There needs to be a vast improvement in technical skills and physical strength."
Certainly, on the evidence of Sunday night, China have plenty of work to do if "Milu" is to emulate his
achievements with the four other World Cup teams he has coached in bringing them all into the second
round.
Yesterday, the Yugoslav was prepared to make allowances for the stuttering display. "The players knew a
draw would do and it is hard when you know the prize is so big sometimes to perform to your best. All
the hard work had been done in the previous matches and they knew last night was just about
qualification, nothing else. I think football in Asia is progressing, little by little and step by step," he said.
Back in their hotel after Sunday night's game, players showed all the signs of mental and physical
exhaustion. Many of them opted not to attend a special party with a guest list of 300 in the hotel complex,
preferring instead the privacy of their rooms and the quiet contemplation of the part they played on an
historic night for Chinese football.
Milutinovic is delighted that his players are attracting the interest of some major clubs - and says it can
only benefit the development of Chinese soccer in the long-run. "Yes, it would be good for China if more
players are playing at the top level in Europe or wherever. If it happens now, all the better," he said.
There is the more immediate matter of the two remaining qualifying games in Group B, home to Qatar
next Saturday and away to Uzbekistan the following week.
With qualification out of the way, Milutinovic admits there is some room for experimentation. "Yang
Chen and Xie Hui will go back to their clubs in Germany today so it gives me a chance to look at two or
three players in the next two games. The pressure is off now so it is an opportunity for players to show
what they can do," he says.
Milutinovic will now go on holiday with his wife and daughter to Mexico City and will return in
November before turning his attentions the World Cup draw proper in December. And has he any
preferences? "I would like to be in a group with England, France and Argentina but I think that is
impossible," he jokes.
You get the impression, though, that he relishes the prospect of being there in the thick of things at his
fifth World Cup. It's almost as if the tournament was made for him. Who's to say the Midas Touch of
"Milu" won't see China through to the second round?
Tuesday, October 9, 2001
Eriksson has put England back among best,
says Crozier
AGENCIES in London
Football Association supremo Adam Crozier has declared that England's reputation on the international
stage is now restored.
Crozier believes the national team's progress in the past 12 months has been "outstanding". And he says
that resurgence has been inspired by Sven Goran Eriksson and led by captain David Beckham. It was a
year ago on Sunday that Kevin Keegan resigned in the wake of the lacklustre 1-0 home defeat by
Germany, with memories of England's embarrassing early Euro 2000 exit still vivid. Indeed, when
Eriksson was initially appointed a few weeks later, England had just one point from two qualifying games
after also drawing away in Finland.
At that point, qualification itself was even in doubt, let alone the feat of winning the group courtesy of
Beckham's last-minute weekend equaliser against Greece, coupled with Finland's goalless draw in
Germany. Reaching at least the knockout stages at the World Cup could be worth as much as £150
million to the English game, with another boost to the "feel good factor" just like after Italia 90 and Euro
96.
FA chief executive Crozier, who took the gamble in appointing England's first overseas coach, declared:
"It's virtually a year to the day that we lost to Germany at Wembley. We've come much further much
quicker than we expected, even if we also saw against Greece that we still have a lot to learn and do.
"I think the perception of English football has changed, I think people believe there is the potential for a
very bright future. Everywhere you go, people want to talk non-stop about young English players. I think
they feel England have as healthy a crop of young players as anyone else in the world. It's very important
within that that we don't get carried away. But around the world, I think people view England as a big
footballing nation.
"Your aim can't be to win everything you enter but it is to be there or thereabouts. That's our task - to
enter tournaments feeling that, in a sustained way, we can compete to win."
As the man who was vilified in many quarters for appointing Eriksson, Crozier could be excused a
measure of satisfaction at the results under the Swede so far. "We feel very proud of what has been
achieved. Sven is Swedish and I'm Scottish but we're both incredibly proud," he said. "I know Sven has
thanked a lot of people but it is a team effort. You should never underestimate the enormous role played
by people such as Tord Grip, Dave Sexton, Sammy Lee, Steve McClaren and indeed Peter Taylor.
"Then there are the players who have responded magnificently, led by a captain in David Beckham who
has really grown into the role in the most fantastic way. Everyone in the country should be proud of the
team."