On the 15th, a commentary article titled "Not being able to go to the World Cup is not because the Chinese national team is bad, but because their Asian rivals are too strong" was published on the Chinese news website Guancha.cn.

The article mentioned that, as of that day, South Korea defeated Czech Republic 2-1, Qatar drew 1-1 with Switzerland, Australia defeated Turkey 2-0, and Japan drew with the Netherlands, noting that Asian teams remained undefeated in 4 matches. It somewhat exaggeratedly stated, "Asian football has emerged, or looking at the average points, one could say Asia is now the strongest in the world."

Furthermore, it introduced comments found online such as "South Korea and Japan's performance in this tournament so far is truly amazing," and "Why does Europe have 16 slots, while Asia only has 8.5? That's unfair." It then argued, "In that sense, it's not surprising that the Chinese national team couldn't participate in the World Cup. It's not that the Chinese national team is weak; it's that their Asian rivals are too strong."

It then pointed out that what the four high-achieving Asian teams have in common is "either employing coaches from their own country or continuing to use coaches from a specific country until results are achieved." It stated, "Coaches must adapt to the talent structure of their own country. A coach is like a chef; they must look at the given ingredients, prepare a dish, and make it as delicious as possible."

Next, regarding players, it mentioned that "in all four countries, the number of players playing in Europe is on the rise." It emphasized, "The increase in Japan and South Korea, in particular, is remarkable, and as a result, they are achieving top-level results in Asia. If Japan had only defeated European powerhouses once or twice, it could be attributed to the opponent's overconfidence. However, if it happens repeatedly, it means that the gap in ability between them has almost disappeared."

It also stated, "Many members of the Japanese national team play for strong European clubs and are accustomed to high-intensity interpersonal battles and match environments. Therefore, moving to Europe is not just for show. It is important to bring back European training, match experience, and a soccer philosophy. The more players who play in Europe, the more it contributes to strengthening the national team, allowing them to compete in the World Cup without problems even if a few key players are missing."

Furthermore, it pointed out that Japan's development system is behind this success. It argued, "They broaden the base of soccer, discover talent from within, and further develop it. High school soccer, in particular, cannot be ignored. Thousands of schools participate every year, and the enthusiasm and attention it generates give children a strong aspiration. In Japan, anyone who wants to can continue playing soccer. They are not cut simply because they are short (unlike in China)."

The article recalled, "Some people bring up a scene from 'Captain Tsubasa' and say that the old Chinese national team was stronger than Japan. (Former Chinese national team player) Fan Zhiyi said, 'In the past, we hardly ever lost to Japan.' However, dwelling too much on the past means losing the opportunity to face the future squarely. It's true that the old Chinese national team was strong. However, that was a very long time ago, and since the establishment of the J.League in 1993, Japan has made dramatic progress."

Then, citing the examples of Japan and South Korea, it pointed out, "A domestic professional league is the foundation that supports the strength of the national team, and only with that foundation can continuous vitality be supplied to the national team." It criticized, "The Chinese Super League sometimes rushed for results too quickly. There were times when players were detached from the league for long national team training camps, causing them to lose their sense of match play. Under the mandatory U-23 (under 23) player appearance system, there was a continuous string of cases where young players were substituted almost immediately after appearing (just to meet the regulations)."

It also referred to the naturalization policy of a certain period and asserted, "Simply gathering star players won't lead to victory. Naturalized players are meant to complement development, not be the main focus. And most importantly, it's about continuous development of (young players)." It concluded, "Soccer is a science, and success is not achieved by whims. Self-satisfaction and tradition are irrelevant. Can you participate in the World Cup? How far can you advance? That is everything. Therefore, the first step in strengthening soccer is to abandon illusions and respect science." (Translated and edited by Kitada)