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WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- The Chinese women's soccer team failed to make
another World Cup glory, but they never fail their supporters, as fans sent compliments
to their beloved team through websites after they shockedly bounced
off the World Cup.
Most fans sang of the Chinese team, widely known as the "Steel Roses",
while others gave their advice to the re-construction of the team.
"I love you forever! You are our pride!" one poster said. Another said: "Women's
soccer is my spirit! You are the best in my heart forever no matter you
lose or win!"
More than 16,000 pages of comments swamped Sohu.com, one of China's most
popular websites, since China was upset by Canada 1-0in the quarter-final Friday
night. There were over 5,000 on another popular website sina.com.
The Chinese women's soccer team won the hearts of soccer fans in 1999 when
they lost to the World Cup final to the United Stateson penalty shootout. Fans
dub the women's team as the spirit of Chinese soccer, though the men's soccer is
more popular in China.
"China could have won the World Cup if the women's soccer had got as much
money as the men's soccer does," a fan lamented on sina.com.
Fans blamed the aging of the team and lack of new stars for China's World
Cup loss.
An anonymous fan said: "The Canadian team were not good enough to beat
China, unfortunately the Chinese team failed to play in their own rhythm. The
Chinese coaches should take responsibility for the loss and key players were too
old to play at the World Cuplevel."
Fans were disappointed with the loss but did not lose confidence in the
Chinese team.
"Don't cry, we are proud of you," a fan from Sichuan province said. "We are a
new generation born in the late 80s and early 90s. We'll inherit your spirit
and win back the glory in the 2008 Olympic Games." Enditem |