At the recent Asian Cup, one phenomenon attracted a lot of attention: among the 24 teams that participated, there were119 players play for clubs in various European countries and regions, a record high. This is not only a quantitative increase, but also a symbol of Asian football moving to a higher level. For us Chinese fans, this is both a moment of pride and an opportunity for deep reflection.
First of all, it's really inspiring to see so many Asian players showing their talent on the big stage in Europe. This shows that the level of football in Asia is improving, and our players are starting to be more widely recognized internationally. These players in Europe have not only opened up new paths for their careers, but also brought new perspectives and impetus to the development of Asian football.
However, this also exposes the challenges facing Chinese football. Compared to other Asian countries, China does not have many overseas players. What's even more worrying is that we don't seem to have fully embraced this "going out" trend. Sometimes, our attitude towards bringing in Asian players is still stuck in an outdated mindset, which is considered to be a "self-surrendering identity". But in fact, this openness and pragmatism is exactly what we lack.
Impressively, even in a major tournament such as the Asian Cup, there are still a handful of players who can hone their skills in the Europa League. It begs the question, are our players really ready to take on the challenge and show themselves on higher platforms? A comfortable life and a lack of morale can be a major factor hindering our progress.
"Going out" is not only a physical migration, but also a change in mentality. We need more players who are willing to challenge themselves, even if it's a second- or third-rate league in Europe, it's a valuable experience and an opportunity to learn. In the long run, these experiences will greatly enrich the players' careers, improve their technical and tactical understanding, and ultimately feed back the overall level of Chinese football.
As an ordinary fan, I hope to see more changes and progress in Chinese football in the future. We need to be more open-minded and encourage and support our players to 'go out' and learn and grow on the international stage. At the same time, the Chinese Super League and other domestic leagues should also learn from advanced international experience and concepts to continuously improve their competitiveness and attractiveness.
In short, this phenomenon in the Asian Cup has given us a lot of inspiration. As fans, we hope that Chinese football can seize this historic opportunity and let Chinese football truly go to the world through a more pragmatic and open attitude, so that the world can see the progress and hope of Chinese football.