The Asian Cup has thrown up a number of surprises but none more jolting than China topping Group B with a perfect record of three wins from three. A chance to reach the semi-finals awaits Alain Perrin’s side when they play hosts Australia in Brisbane on Thursday night, a scenario that was barely conceivable before the tournament began.
Some in the million strong Australian Chinese community had disconnected from the national football team, unable to endure their downward spiral since making the final of the 2004 Asian Cup. An 8-0 humiliation at the hands of Brazil in 2012 represented an unprecedented low point and, for many, the last straw.
China had missed qualification for the last two Asian Cups and won only two of their six qualifying games to get to the 2015 edition. Perennial underachievers, their Fifa ranking had plummeted to 96 from a high of 37 in 2008.
Their qualification for the Asian Cup 2015 was a near disaster, but results went their way on the final matchday and by the skin of their teeth, they slunk in the back door to Australia.
Expectations had never been lower.
Three months out from the start of the tournament I was invited to a press conference in a hotel in Brisbane hosted by Michael Ma, an AFC Asian Cup Community Ambassador.
Ma leads the peak Queensland Chinese community organisation and in response to slow ticket sales for China’s two games in Brisbane, he had invited the local Chinese media and community organisations to rally for the cause.
Part of the event involved an Asian Cup trivia quiz where the crowd was asked a mix of historical and topical questions about Chinese football. Ten Asian Cup hats were up for grabs.
Questions such as “who is China’s highest all time goalscorer?” were met with awkward silences. After a few more unanswered questions the session descended into comedy. The hats were eventually given away.
Ma explained, “We have had too much pain from following China, we have had to look away and now we don’t know the answers to these questions. From today we move forward and give the new young guys a go. We will read and learn about them and give them 100% support.” The crowd vigorously mumbled in unison, wanting to believe.
But the draw was not overly kind, and China were pitted in Group B with heavyweights Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan, and North Korea.
A good start against the Saudis in Brisbane was vital and at least Team China could rely on strong local backing – after three months effort, Ma and his team’s tireless marketing culminated in a big and vocal crowd.
The faith of those inside the stadium was rewarded with a moment of magic that will resonate through the ages. Just before facing a penalty, Chinese goalkeeper Wang Dalei asked Stephen White, a local ball boy standing behind the goal, which way he should dive. Stephen said dive left, and we all know what happened next.
One of the most extraordinary cross-cultural exchanges in the history of sport had unfolded on the pitch and the youngster became the darling of 1.3 billion people after China went on to win 1-0.
Ahead of the second game against Uzbekistan, also in Brisbane, I ran into Ralph Yan, a softly-spoken, football-mad reporter for a Chinese Christian newspaper in Melbourne. After some pleasantries I asked if he would be happy with a draw with the White Wolves after the victory over Saudi Arabia.
“We will win convincingly,” came the reply. I was taken aback by his confidence. I probed further. “You haven’t beaten Uzbekistan in 10 years, they are ranked 25 places higher than you. Do you know something I don’t, Ralph?”
“It’s the Evergrande factor,” he whispered, as if passing on a family secret. Most of the Chinese team play for Guangzhou Evergrande, the former Asian champions and Asia’s first superclub. Their academy in Guangzhou is 167 acres of football paradise, boasting 50 pitches, 2,300 students and 24 foreign coaches.
Ralph believed that the high number of Guangzhou players in the team gives China a chemistry far superior than other teams thrown together from disparate lands. Bayern Munich have performed a similar role for Germany, with great success, so why not Guangzhou for China?
The night of the match was sticky and humid and an even bigger Chinese crowd was in attendance at Brisbane Stadium, despite it being a Tuesday night.
Confidence was high. I sparked a conversation up with Ye from Shanghai. He was tall and meaty, his face painted red, and he was bursting out of his red “Go China” T-shirt. He had been previously been a student in Australia and flown back especially for the Asian Cup. “No draw. No tight game. We will be too strong,” he beamed.
Uzbekistan scored first and it looked like that confidence was misplaced. But China roared back and scored twice, including a brilliant strike from substitute Sun Ke as the Uzbeks wilted like an orchid in Brisbane’s tropical humidity.
With qualification in the bag, a flotilla of Chinese fans sped down the Hume Highway from Sydney to Canberra for their team’s final pool match against old friend North Korea.
The match was a sell-out and the army of fans who had poured into the stadium went sent into early delirium as Sun struck again, this time within 90 seconds of kick-off.
I sat next to Lin Zu who is an Asian Cup Community Ambassador and writes content for a Sydney Chinese website. I asked her what the difference was between this team and other Chinese teams. “Before, they bring me much shame,” she said. “But this team is young with no fear. It is very exciting. They are new China.”
Sun scored a second to prompt a Mexican wave around the stadium as Lin’s media accomplice Ste Lin shared a theory with me: French coach Perrin was the difference. He is calm and understands the Chinese ways. “After winning the top medals in Beijing Olympics we have big expectations for our football team,” Ste said. “With a good coach like Perrin, we can now believe.”
The game ended 2-1 and China topped the group, undefeated without a point dropped – and real reason to believe.
Next up are the Socceroos, again in Brisbane, in front of what will be a thronging crowd of red and yellow. Australia face their number one trade, tourism and education partner but that will mean nothing for 90 minutes in what is arguably the biggest match ever played between the two countries.
Australia has the edge with a 5-4 historical record, but the dragon has awoken and if not careful the Socceroos may feel the flames.
