China News Service Client, Beijing, May 31 (Bian Liqun) Today, 18 years ago, is also such a season of early summer. In excitement and anticipation, the World Cup of Korea and Japan officially kicked off.

　　It was the first time the World Cup came to Asia, and it was also the top stage of the national football history for the first time in world football, plus traditional strong teams such as Brazil, Germany, and Italy. Under multiple factors, the almost zero-day World Cup in Korea and Japan is by far the most popular football feast.

Korea-Japan World Cup Opening Ceremony

　　"Scoring a goal, get a point, and win a game!" At that time, the outside world set such expectations and goals for the national football team.

　　However, the national football team failed to complete this "KPI" in the end. The three defeats, 9 goals and 0 goals were even more disappointing for fans. But even so, 18 years later, the World Cup experience still makes fans often miss, and some video clips often appear on the mobile phone screen in front of people.

Miracle Coach Milu

　　Some "chicken soups" said: "The reason I miss the past is because I am not doing well enough now." It seems reasonable to put it on the national football team. In the comment area of ​​related videos, fans always said with emotion: "I thought it was the beginning at that time, in fact it was already the peak". There are also new fans who refreshed their understanding: "It turns out that the national football team has also been so powerful."

　　This "powerful" stems from the comparison with the status quo. Once upon a time, the national football team was able to play offense in the competition. In the face of Brazil, which won the championship all the way, they also dared to get rid of and transfer cooperation under the pressure of strong opponents.

　　These seemingly familiar scenes have indeed not been seen in the national football team for a long time. Li Tie, who had been playing for a long time, turned into the head coach of the new national football team.

Data map: On the evening of February 12, 2003, the national football team tied the Brazilian national team 0: 0 and Li Tie guarded the ball during the game. China News Agency issued Wu Junshe

　　It is reported that Li Tie did some tests for the internationals during the previous training and found that basic data such as strength, speed and long transmission distance lags behind the 2002 World Cup international.

　　Perhaps these data have added some support to the Chinese player's argument that "a generation is not as good as a generation", or perhaps this comparison of space under different real conditions is not completely scientific. But from the perspective of perception, today's national football is indeed not as good as it was then.

National Football debut in the World Cup

　　Revisiting the 23-man World Cup roster that year, you will find that the national football team will be so luxurious. Fan Zhiyi, Sun Jihai, and Yang Chen have all played the main role in European teams. Among them, Yang Chen also left a good transcript of 23 Bundesliga single-game appearances and scored 8 goals.

　　At the time, Li Weifeng and Li Tie were also closely watched by the Premier League team. The two joined the Premier League team Everton after the World Cup. Li Tie also played the "China Derby" in the Premier League with Sun Jihai of Manchester City. Shao Jiayi also landed in the Bundesliga. League ...

　　According to statistics, as many as 8 of the 23 people at that time had overseas study experience. Although I felt that it was not enough compared to Japan and South Korea at that time, it was very different from today's situation.

　　The average age of the national football team is only 26.6 years old, which is the year of the fight. There are as many as 6 U23 players in the lineup, 23-year-old Xu Yunlong played in 3 games, Zhao Junzhe and 20-year-old Dewey played 2 games, 21-year-old Qu Bo and 22-year-old Shao Jiayi also all came off the bench. Opportunity. In "Houlang", only the 21-year-old third goalkeeper An Qi failed to appear.

National Football debut in the World Cup

　　On June 4, 2002, in anticipation, the national football team ushered in the first game of the World Cup. Thousands of people were empty, and the high-standard treatment of the national football at that time was even unimaginable today.

Fragment of the match between the national football team and Costa Rica

　　The Costa Rica team is considered to be an excellent opponent for the national football team to complete the goals of "scoring a goal" and "win a game". Judging from the scene, the national football team and its opponents were basically evenly matched. However, the opponent's tackle in the 27th minute of the first half seemed to directly affect the trend of the game, and the key player Sun Jihai came off the court due to injury.

　　The national football team that supported the first half was scored two goals by Costa Rica in the 61st and 65th minutes. Sun Jihai, who was watching the live broadcast in the hospital, yelled and stunned the Korean doctors and nurses. This anger was soon overwhelmed by sadness and regret. Because of the injury, Sun Jihai was finally missed the game with Brazil and Turkey. His World Cup trip was frozen in the 27th minute.

Sun Jihai was injured by this opponent's foul

　　This regret also extends to the national football team.

　　In the battle with Brazil, the national football team really had no idea. "Aliens" Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Carlos, Rivaldo, Cafu ... Standing in front of the Chinese team is the Samba Corps, which has entered the new century. And powerful.

　　However, this game was the most positive one for the national football team in the World Cup. It took off the ideological burden and gradually adapted to the rhythm of the World Cup. The international players dared to make moves and played their momentum from the opening stage.

Zhao Junzhe shot regrets the center column.

　　In the 61st minute, the goal of the national football team and the goal of "scoring a goal" was very small. Zhao Junzhe flashed Lucio and shot with a right foot to hit the right post. The arc kicked by Shao Jiayi's left foot was also saved bravely by goalkeeper Marcos.

　　Although a 0: 4 dazzling score appeared on the scoreboard when the final whistle blew, it was not a shame that the national football team lost to Brazil's big score. It is no shame that the international football team has used the performance to win the hearts of fans.

Zhao Junzhe shot replay.

　　The last battle against Turkey became the battle for the national football's name. The internationals who are dedicated to the goal of "scoring a goal" have launched a fierce attack on Turkey from beginning to end, changing the conservative play of the first two games.

　　However, the goal always seems to be very close to the national football. In the 28th minute, Destiny played a joke on the national football again, Yang Chen volleyed the outside of his foot and hit the left goal post. Until the final whistle sounded, the expected goal failed to arrive. 0: 3 lost to Turkey, the national football team's trip to South Korea and Japan World Cup ended sadly. The Brazilian team in the same group as the national football team later won the championship, and the other pay line team, Turkey, won the third place in that competition.

Yang Chen shot the center post

　　"We will stand up at the 2006 World Cup." Li Weifeng threw this sentence at the end of the World Cup journey. Dewey, who was a teenager at the time, also said firmly: "The next game can still qualify." Hao Haidong also seems to default to the next time the national football team can enter the World Cup: "At that time I am 35, and I can play again."

　　It was just this kind of anticipation that was soon devoured by reality. In the 2006 World Cup Asian Qualifiers, the national football team and Hong Kong China lost the goal difference due to miscalculation, and eventually lost to the same group of competitors Kuwait.

Data map: On November 14, 2019, in the Asian World Top 40, the national football team lost to Syria 1: 2 away, and the situation of the promotion to the top 12 was precarious. Lippi directly announced his resignation after the game.

　　After 2002, the national football team is far away from the World Cup. Today, 18 years later, the national team is not in touch, and it is struggling in the top 40, and entering the World Cup again seems to have become a luxury. Although Li Tie quickly stepped into the coaching position, naturalized players such as Exxon, Luo Guofu and others were also in place, but I am afraid that everyone will have no idea what the future of these internationals and coaches looks like.

People's nostalgia for the national football team during the World Cup in Korea and Japan also stems from this feeling of powerlessness under the cruel reality. The wonderful experience of the World Cup is so short that it takes 18 years to miss it. And 18 years, it may still not be the end of a nostalgia.

Data Map: Will the "Exxon" lead the national football team to the World Cup?

　　Perhaps, the next time the national football team rushes into the World Cup, it will make the miss pause. But remembering the past and looking forward to the future do not conflict. For Chinese football, the Korea-Japan World Cup will be an eternal milestone. For a generation of players and fans, it is also an indelible youth memory. The memories of the summer of 2002 that we have had will always be alive and tearful forever. (Finish)