The future looks so dim for China's national soccer team that even the fans have lost faith.
"We are numb. We have no tears anymore," said one anonymous comment on Sina.com after China's woeful 2-1 loss to Iraq at home eliminated it from the 2010 World Cup.
"We do not see any hope for China's soccer. We doubt whether China will be able to make it to the World Cup finals again any time in the foreseeable future."
Chinese captain Zheng Zhi reacts after China lost 2-1 to Iraq during the 2010 World Cup qualifier on Saturday in Tianjin. The defeat destroyed China's last hope of qualifying for the World Cup Finals in South Africa.
Qatar's Hussain Yasser (R) fights for the ball with China's Zhi Zheng during their World Cup qualifying soccer match in Doha June 2, 2008. (Photo source: China Daily) China has only qualified for the World Cup finals once - in South Korea and Japan in 2002. It was knocked out in the first round without scoring a goal.
Now, some are saying China's only hope of making it to another World Cup final is if the nation is awarded hosting honors of the international soccer gala.
But others scoff at the idea of China as a World Cup host, convinced Chinese soccer will just lose more face.
"Even if we are in a World Cup final, I'm afraid it will just become a stage to highlight our embarrassment," wrote another anonymous commenter.
"We are not playing modern soccer. We are playing ugly soccer. Please do not display it in such a beautiful soccer tournament."
Source: China Daily
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