www.xinhuanet.com
XINHUA online
CHINA VIEW
VIEW CHINA
 Breaking News White House staff asked to hand over leak-related materials before Tuesday    Five killed in Karachi by gunmen     7 killed in blast near US coalition base in Afghanistan     One killed, 30 injured in southern Philippine mosque    Pakistan test-fires missile     Urgent: Dry cleaners in northern Iraq attacked by suicide bombers    
Home  
China  
World  
Business  
Technology  
Opinion  
Culture/Edu  
Sports  
Entertainment  
Metrolife  
Travel  
Weather  
  About China
  Map
  History
  Constitution
  CPC & Other Parties
  State Organs
  Local Leadership
  White Papers
  Statistics
  Major Projects
  English Websites
  BizChina
- Conferences & Exhibitions
- Investment
- Bidding
- Enterprises
- Policy update
- Technological & Economic Development Zones

   News Photos Voice People BizChina Feature About us   
Fans compliment Chinese women's soccer team through websites
www.chinaview.cn 2003-10-04 10:28:04

  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

  Related Story
Copyright ©2003 Xinhua News Agency. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.