Home>News Center>Sports
             
     

    Football fever sweeps China
    By Chen Xiangfeng (China Daily)
    Updated: 2004-08-05 06:15

    Hundreds of thousands of soccer fans took to the streets across China on Tuesday night, shouting slogans and waving flags in celebration of the national team's shootout victory over Iran in the Asian Cup semi-final.

    Moments after the win in Beijing, a victory motorcade toured around Workers's Stadium, trailing huge red Chinese flags.

    "My heart is still beating fast. This is fantastic. I have never thought of such a thrilling victory from China," said Wang Guobiao, who was driving his own car in the parade.

    "This match gave more ecstasy and excitement than the match in 2001," said Wang, referring to the 2002 World Cup qualifier in Shenyang that saw China advance to the global showcase by beating Oman 1-0.

    China tied 1-1 with Iran in regulation time, then pulled off the 5-4 victory after a grueling penalty shootout, setting up Saturday's long-awaited final showdown with archrival Japan.

    Dancing and singing on car tops, Beijing fans were immersed in venting their joy.

    Most Chinese soccer fans have been waiting for 20 years for the team to make it to the final of a major international tournament.

    The last time was in the 1984 Asian Cup.

    And most fans were aware that China had lost to Iran nine times in their last 15 matches, including squandering a 2-0 second-half lead en route to a 4-2 loss in a 1997 World Cup qualifier.

    "It is incredible. I could not believe that China took control of the match most of the time and created lots of chances. It is normal that China won matches against teams like Indonesia or Kuwait. But this time we beat Iran and even showed some superiority," said Jiang Zhengzhou, who watched the match with a group of friends on a hotel television.

    With their first victory over Iran since 1994, China extended its unbeaten run to 19 games.

    Now fans have their sights set on the final against Japan.

    The defending champions fought their way into the final after a succession of unconvincing performances.

    "This will be the best chance for us to beat them and I have never seen China win a major tournament title," said Jiang.

    With the passionate home crowd at Workers' Stadium and with Japan playing without key players like Shinji Ono, the starry 24-year-old midfielder from Feyenoord and Hidetoshi Nakata of Bologna, China's prospects of winning the nation's first Asian Cup trophy look brighter.

    Chinese fans booed the Japanese team and threw articles at Japanese supporters during Tuesday's other semi-final in Jinan, which saw Japan edge Bahrain 4-3.

    Thousands of fans booed the Japanese national anthem and jeered the team throughout all three of their Group D matches and the Japanese players had to have extra security for their matches. So the approaching final has stirred pressure for both teams and security officials.

    "Sports and politics should not be confused," one newspaper said, adding that although there is anti-Japanese sentiment stemming from historical problems, those who booed the anthem and jeered the Japanese players expressed their patriotism in a negative way.

    It is believed more fans will go to the final to show their support for the team.

    "I am not a real football fan because I did not watch too many of China's matches. But I was really moved by the atmosphere yesterday.

    "I have bought a ticket for the final and I will give my utmost support for China,"said 18-year-old Luo Haoling.



     
      Today's Top News     Top Sports News
     

    Old industrial base creating more jobs

     

       
     

    US urged to honour promise on Taiwan

     

       
     

    HK, Guangdong explore joint projects

     

       
     

    University chiefs converge in Beijing

     

       
     

    Schoolyard stabbing kills child, injures 18

     

       
     

    Environmentalists work to stem 'red tide'

     

       
      China make Asian Cup final
       
      China down Iran to make first Asian Cup final in 20 years
       
      Yi taking game to new heights
       
      Bigger, tougher squad carries China's hoop hopes
       
      Italy stuns US in Athens basketball warm-up
       
      Serbia-Montenegro defeat Lithuania for title in Olympic tuneup
       
     
      Go to Another Section  
     
     
      Story Tools  
       
      Related Stories  
       
    Japan, China set up explosive Asian Cup final
       
    Bahrain make it to Asian Cup semis
       
    A right royal soccer supporter at Asian cup
       
    China beat Iraq 3-0 to reach Asian Cup semis
    Advertisement
             
    亚洲成?v人片天堂网无码| 成人A片产无码免费视频在线观看| 麻豆AV无码精品一区二区| 成人免费无码H在线观看不卡| 中文字幕一区二区三区久久网站| 人妻无码一区二区三区免费| 天堂网www中文在线资源| 无码任你躁久久久久久| 亚洲AV无码久久| 熟妇人妻中文a∨无码| 波多野结衣中文字幕久久| 91久久精品无码一区二区毛片| 亚洲精品午夜无码电影网| 狠狠精品干练久久久无码中文字幕 | 中文字幕人妻无码一夲道| 今天免费中文字幕视频| 无码精品第一页| 88国产精品无码一区二区三区 | 在线观看片免费人成视频无码| 中文字幕本一道先锋影音| 亚洲精品成人无码中文毛片不卡 | 人妻系列无码专区无码中出| 国产精品99久久久精品无码| 欧美亚洲精品中文字幕乱码免费高清| 曰韩无码AV片免费播放不卡| 精品久久久久久无码中文野结衣| 久久久久久国产精品无码超碰 | 99久久人妻无码精品系列| 久久人妻少妇嫩草AV无码专区| 亚洲av无码一区二区三区不卡 | 中文字幕无码AV波多野吉衣| 中文字幕无码不卡在线| 亚洲AV中文无码乱人伦| 无码夫の前で人妻を犯す中字| 日本中文字幕免费看| 无码粉嫩小泬无套在线观看| 国内精品无码一区二区三区| 亚洲精品无码AV人在线播放| 亚洲成AV人片在线观看无码| 无码国产69精品久久久久网站| 无码av免费一区二区三区|