Is winning for the U23 team like chocolate with a bad taste? The real thrill is in the feeling of victory!

On my way to the office this morning, I saw a video clip that immediately made me want to comment.

The video basically meant that former national player Dong Fangzhuo, when evaluating the U23 national football team, described their performance as “chocolate with a bad taste.” He felt the team played in a simplistic way, attacking mainly through long balls and solo runs, lacking coordinated teamwork and tactical structure, while the defense relied too much on goalkeeper Li Hao’s outstanding efforts.

Although the players gave their all, he bluntly stated that he sees no future for Chinese football...

My thoughts after watching:If the team making history by reaching the semifinals is “chocolate with a bad taste,” then at 11:30 tonight against Vietnam, I hope the lads treat the entire nation’s fans to another bite.

Chocolate with a bad taste is still chocolate, which is way better than losing to Vietnam on New Year’s Day and tasting “poop-flavored chocolate” a hundred times over!

Imagine someone wandering in the desert for days, nearly dying of thirst, who finally finds a small water source with great effort.

Then someone says the water isn’t clean, you shouldn’t drink it, it might make you sick...

Can he afford to care about that?

Is Dong’s comment reasonable?

There is definitely some truth in it, but it lacks consideration of the current realities of Chinese football.

He implies that the U23 team doesn’t play beautifully enough, with low possession and poor coordination...

From a viewing experience, that’s indeed the case.

Continuous passes over five times seem like a luxury, like Baihelamu’s technique... it made me cringe watching.

But this is the level we have now; can we really expect to score through possession football?

It’s more important to earn points steadily; playing long balls and parking the bus is nothing to be ashamed of.

Can this group lead us to the World Cup? I’m very pessimistic.

However, a senior team ranked 93rd in the world, and your U23 squad reaching Asia’s top four is already a huge blessing—no need for fancy tactics...

What do China’s men’s basketball and football teams lack right now? They lack victories.

A team that constantly loses cannot claim to be brave.

As long as the rules allow it, no matter how you win...

Ideally, the U23 team shouldn’t score another goal but still win the championship.

When asked which felt better, saving a penalty or being lifted by teammates, Li Hao said:“The feeling of winning is the best damn feeling!”

Isn’t winning the greatest joy in competitive sports...

Now, let’s talk about tonight’s preview against Vietnam.

What am I worried about?

That the U23 team might get carried away by previous wins, think they’re capable, play offensively, and try to play possession football.

Then... bad results might follow.

Lately, the media has been “idolizing” Li Hao.

This might not be a good sign.

He is truly outstanding and likely the national team’s goalkeeper choice for years to come.

But have you guys thought about this:If Li Hao often faced one-on-ones, close-range attacks, and headers, could he still be this miraculous?

Even Buffon, De Gea, or Martinez would struggle.

A goalkeeper is the last line of defense; sometimes they just can’t stop the ball.

If Li Hao never conceded, he wouldn’t be playing for Qingdao West Coast, but for Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid...

Anyone who watches football or plays penalty kicks knows Antonio’s counterattack strategy relies on layered defensive positioning, compressing opponents’ space, forcing long shots, and reducing scoring threats.

Let me use basketball as an example.

Xu Xin defends well, right? Many fans enjoy his blocks.

But if Guangzhou Long-Lions’ perimeter players get past him every time, exposing the best defensive line, how good is his defense then...

Anthony Davis’s defense needs no explanation; when the Lakers couldn’t defend outside, he was just as flustered...

So, the U23 team’s success so far is a victory of strategy design and execution.

Just like basketball’s defensive system, one person alone can’t hold up the entire team’s defense.

Tonight against Vietnam, after a victory that lifts the whole nation, sticking to their principles and playing a style that suits them is most important.

On this basis, offensive sparks like Wang Yudong, who has been quiet for many games, should step up when the chance comes...

No matter what, please let the whole nation’s fans have another taste of this “chocolate,” even if it’s chocolate with a bad taste!