Chinese Soccer Legend Slams U-23 Team’s Quarterfinal Run as “Chocolate that Tastes Like Poop”
A historic run to the quarterfinals of the 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup has been met with harsh criticism from Chinese football icon Dong Fangzhou, who believes the team’s success is a facade masking deeper problems within Chinese football. The tournament is currently underway in Saudi Arabia.
Despite the celebratory mood surrounding the U-23 national team’s unprecedented advancement in the tournament currently underway in Saudi Arabia, Dong Fangzhou offered a scathing assessment, as reported by China’s NetEase on January 16th. He characterized the team’s performance as ultimately unsustainable, despite achieving positive results.
The Chinese U-23 squad secured its place in the quarterfinals – a first in the nation’s history – by finishing second in Group D with one win and two draws. Key results included draws against Iraq and Thailand, and a victory over Australia achieved through a single set-piece play. While a win against Thailand in their final group stage match would have secured first place, the team settled for second by prioritizing avoiding defeat.
NetEase previously expressed confidence in the team, stating they were “ahead of Korea in terms of player stability and tactical organization” and positioned as strong championship contenders. However, Dong Fangzhou sharply disagrees with this optimistic outlook.
In contrast, the Korean U-23 national team faced a more challenging path to the quarterfinals, qualifying with a 1-1-1 record in the group stage. A particularly concerning loss of 0-2 to Uzbekistan, a team comprised of younger players, highlighted vulnerabilities. The team’s advancement was ultimately secured by a favorable result in another match, as Lebanon’s performance against Iran allowed Korea to finish second in Group C.
NetEase noted that the Korean team doesn’t present an overwhelming challenge for China, suggesting they would prefer to face Korea over Uzbekistan in the quarterfinals. Uzbekistan is considered a top contender in Asian youth football, comparable to Japan, while Korea is categorized as a mid-to-lower tier team with a widening gap behind the continent’s elite. ‘Sina Sports’ echoed this sentiment, analyzing that Uzbekistan would be a more formidable opponent than Korea.
However, Dong Fangzhou, a former Manchester United player, offered a starkly different viewpoint. He confessed to feeling conflicted, stating, “I don’t know how to say it. I’m half happy and half worried. It’s really arduous. Even after watching the game, I don’t know whether to be happy or sad.” He added, “I play really hard, but to be honest, if I can say ‘I know how to play soccer’… that’s really difficult. It feels like everyone doesn’t know soccer well.”
He continued with a blunt assessment, stating, “It’s better than losing. But I can’t see the future. Do you see the future of Chinese soccer if you do it the same way today? Honestly, I don’t see it.” Dong Fangzhou famously described the team’s performance as “chocolate that tastes like poop,” acknowledging the positive results while lamenting the lack of underlying quality. he conceded that the team had utilized its best available resources, but the only aspect worthy of praise was the defensive execution.
He further qualified his criticism of the defense, noting that the team’s success was largely dependent on the performance of goalkeeper Li Hao. Dong Fangzhou also criticized the team’s tactical approach, arguing that a reliance on defensive play and long balls is outdated and ineffective, even by the standards of English football. He believes a minimum level of ball possession and connected passing play is essential for future success.
The former professional player expressed deep reservations about coaching the national team, stating, “I don’t think I will live long if I coach the national team. I can’t bear that stress. I want to live longer, and I want to see my son grow up, get married, and have children. I would rather teach my son.” He concluded by stating that coaching these players would only result in “high blood pressure,” and that they are unable to accept even constructive criticism.
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[사진] Provided by the Korea Football Association,AFC Asian Cup,NetEase.
Go Seong-hwan ([email protected])
