Indignant Chinese language soccer followers lashed out Wednesday at their nation’s “shameful” document after a 3-1 defeat at Vietnam ended any slim hope they’d of reaching the 2022 World Cup.
The heavy loss on Tuesday brought about outrage on Chinese language social media as tens of millions took to platforms such because the Twitter-like Weibo to air their grievances towards the nationwide staff, who’ve lengthy struggled to dwell as much as expectations.
President Xi Jinping needs China to host and even win the World Cup sooner or later, however the humiliating loss left China one place off the underside of their qualifying group after eight video games. Vietnam are nonetheless backside however lastly obtained factors on the board.
Social media hashtags together with “Why does the nationwide soccer staff maintain dropping” and “Nationwide staff, give us a refund” obtained a whole lot of tens of millions of views on Weibo as folks piled in.
“For those who tied a bit of braised pork to the objective, a canine would kick the ball with extra enthusiasm than them,” one consumer complained.
“We should always withdraw from FIFA and cease bringing disgrace on our nation,” one other Weibo consumer advised sarcastically.
Regardless of Xi’s ambitions China have certified for the World Cup solely as soon as, in 2002, once they did not win some extent or rating a objective.
The most recent disappointment was particularly bitter as a result of it got here on the primary day of the Lunar New 12 months.
An previous interview with former worldwide Fan Zhiyi, given after China had been crushed 5-1 in a pleasant in 2013 by Thailand, made the rounds on-line — exhibiting what gave the impression to be a prophetic warning.
“After dropping to Thailand, we’ll lose to Vietnam after which to Myanmar. After which there’ll be nobody to lose to,” Fan mentioned within the now-viral interview.
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