Chapter 130

"It's tough!" 

When Yang Yang stepped out of Kuwait International Airport, he was greeted by Team Leader Zhu, who had personally come to pick him up. 

"How are you holding up?" Zhu asked with concern. 

"I'm fine," Yang Yang smiled. "I slept through most of the journey, so I'm feeling refreshed." 

For many, long flights and jet lag are difficult to cope with, but not for Yang Yang. His ability to sleep deeply during flights allowed him to arrive well-rested and energized. His response, however, only deepened Zhu's sense of guilt. Zhu felt that Yang Yang was merely trying to comfort him, knowing the Football Association's scheduling had caused Yang to rush to join the team. 

After leaving the airport, they boarded the hotel shuttle bus. On the way, Team Leader Zhu shared some news with Yang. 

"Coach Arie Haan is really counting on you," Zhu said. "As soon as he heard you could make it, he immediately added you to the 18-man squad, and no one on the team objected." 

"To be honest, everyone is here to win, and knowing you're joining us has boosted everyone's confidence." 

Yang Yang responded modestly, "I just hope I can help the team." 

"You already are," Zhu assured him. "Your presence alone is a huge boost." 

It was indeed remarkable. Despite being the youngest player on the squad, Yang Yang was undoubtedly the most talented. During the Asian Cup, the impact of his absence wasn't fully felt, but in the matches that followed, especially against Malaysia, the team struggled noticeably without him. 

"You're probably aware of the situation in Chinese football right now," Zhu continued, his tone becoming more serious. "It's complex, and it's hard to explain all the reasons behind it. But one thing is clear: everyone's goal is to see Chinese football rise, to qualify for the World Cup again." 

Zhu was clearly concerned about Yang Yang's thoughts on the matter, and he spoke earnestly. 

"Sure, we've made mistakes, and we have disagreements, sometimes due to inexperience. Like the last time we were in the World Cup, we weren't prepared; it was our first time." 

Yang Yang nodded in understanding. "I get it." 

"That's why, at this critical time, we need players like you—the ones playing abroad—to lead and keep the team's morale high. We're clinging to the hope of qualifying again," Zhu said sincerely. 

"You have to understand, we've faced too many setbacks. The media doubts us, the fans think they're dreaming if they hope for success, and even some of the players are unsure of what to believe." 

Yang Yang thought for a moment before replying calmly, "Then we can't afford to get distracted. Even if we can't see the path ahead clearly, we need to focus on what's in front of us and take it one match at a time." 

Zhu sighed deeply, a mix of emotions in his expression. "Who knows what the future holds? A lot of this is beyond our control. All we can do is play every game to the best of our ability, and hope we can build on the success of the 2002 World Cup and make it to the next one." 

Yang Yang nodded. "I really believe that, if we play to our potential, we have the strength to qualify." 

Zhu agreed, though he sounded cautious. "But as they say, sometimes the downfall begins from within. Right now, the public opinion is harsh, and the pressure is immense. This is when we need to stay strong." 

Yang Yang recalled some of the slogans from certain media outlets back home, criticizing Chinese football and spreading negativity. To him, the behavior of these reporters was more toxic than anything happening on the pitch. 

"I won't let anyone tear us down from the inside," Yang Yang said firmly. "I'll do my best to keep the team together and make sure no one derails our focus." 

... 

... 

When Yang Yang arrived at the Sheraton Hotel, where the national team was staying, several of his teammates quickly gathered around to greet him. 

This time, the national team had reserved the top three floors of the hotel, from the 17th to the 19th, to ensure privacy and avoid any external disturbances. Since Yang Yang's former roommate, Zheng Zhi, wasn't on this trip due to injury, Yang Yang had been given his own room. Most of his teammates simply dropped by to say hello and exchange a few words before leaving him to rest. 

Yang Yang showed his concern by asking about the condition of Li Weifeng, the team captain, who had been dealing with an injury. Li Weifeng reassured him, saying he was fine and would be fit enough to play. 

Shortly after, head coach Arie Haan came to visit Yang Yang. 

Yang Yang noticed a palpable shift in the atmosphere following the coach's arrival. It became clear that internal tensions within the squad were bubbling to the surface, including issues regarding Sun Jihai's position and the friction between Arie Haan and the Chinese coaching staff. 

To Yang Yang, these conflicts weren't surprising. No team is ever completely unified. The important thing is how those issues are managed and resolved. 

Coach Haan was in good spirits when he saw Yang Yang. He asked him about his journey and his current physical condition. 

Yang Yang responded to each question, assuring the coach that he felt fine and that there were no concerns about his fitness. 

However, Arie Haan, with his years of experience, found it hard to believe that anyone could travel thousands of kilometers on a long-haul flight, lasting over 20 hours, and still be in peak condition. 

"You'll start on the bench for this match. I'll bring you on in the second half," Haan explained, with a touch of his typical Dutch humor. "Of course, I hope you'll stay on the bench for the whole game." 

Yang Yang understood what the coach meant and smiled. "I hope so too," he said. 

The implication was clear: if China could secure an easy win against Kuwait, Yang Yang wouldn't need to play at all. 

But, deep down, both knew the game might not go as smoothly as they hoped... 

... 

... 

On the evening of October 13th, at the Peace and Friendship Stadium in Kuwait City, China faced Kuwait in the fifth round of Group D in the AFC World Cup qualifying second stage. 

By the 54th minute of the match, China was holding on, but a quick counterattack from Kuwait changed the momentum. After a misplaced pass by Shao Jiayi in midfield, Kuwait surged down the right wing. 

In a moment of desperation, Sun Xiang attempted a reckless sliding tackle, completely missing the ball. The Kuwaiti winger easily skipped past him, sending a dangerous cross from the byline. The ball curved sharply across the box, evading both goalkeeper Liu Yunfei and the Chinese defense. 

Right in front of goal, Bashar Abdulaziz met the ball with a precise header, setting it up for his own follow-up shot. He struck it cleanly, sending the ball into the back of the net. 

The stadium exploded with cheers. 

Kuwaiti fans celebrated with unbridled joy as their team took a 1-0 lead. This goal not only put them ahead in the game, but it also placed Kuwait level on points with China in the group standings. Crucially, thanks to a superior goal difference, Kuwait now sat at the top of Group D. 

For the Chinese players, it was a crushing blow. Many stood frozen in disbelief, their expressions a mix of frustration and shock, unable to process how quickly the game had slipped away. 

Back in China, millions watched the game live, and even the commentators struggled to contain their disappointment. 

"This has been the story of Chinese football for years," one commentator said, his voice heavy with resignation. "At every critical moment, we falter." 

He continued, "A draw tonight would have been enough to secure our spot in the third round of the AFC World Cup qualifiers, but once again, we've conceded at the worst possible time." 

"As we look back, we must ask ourselves: is this truly the limit of our team's ability, or are there deeper issues at play?" 

Before the game, the national team coach, Arie Haan, had candidly pointed out two major problems within Chinese football. The first was a lack of tactical understanding and football intelligence, an issue that extended beyond the current squad to the entire system of player development in China. 

"Our players struggle to grasp the tactical nuances required at this level," the commentator echoed. "This has been a long-standing issue." 

The second problem Arie Haan highlighted was the team's psychological frailty. "At crucial moments, our players are weighed down by pressure and expectation," the commentator said. "They're unable to rise to the occasion when it matters most." 

"Coach Haan isn't the first to identify these issues, but finding a lasting solution has proven difficult." 

He added, "Our team often starts slowly, lacking the intensity and cohesion needed from the first whistle. It seems like only when we're pushed to the brink do we start to fight back. But not every match gives us the luxury of a comeback." 

Reflecting on the team's recent performances, the commentator concluded, "After the Asian Cup, we thought the team had turned a corner. But tonight's performance, like the struggles against Malaysia, shows we are still plagued by the same old issues." 

"In the first half, Kuwait dominated us, and we played without any real structure or discipline. It was nothing like the form we showed in the Asian Cup." 

"There's no doubt that coach Arie Haan bears responsibility for this performance." 

... 

... 

Yang Yang sat silently on the visiting team's bench, watching the game unfold before him. 

He noticed that after conceding the goal, the Chinese players on the field began to unify their approach, finally showing some desire to fight back. 

Arie Haan had set up the team to play defensively, relying on counterattacks. A draw would have been enough for China, but Kuwait needed a win, so they were pushing forward, leaving gaps. However, it was clear that not all the Chinese players fully understood Haan's game plan. Some were focused on attacking, while others were still trying to defend. 

Eleven players with eleven different ideas on the pitch—no team could function well that way. 

Naturally, the head coach had to bear responsibility for this lack of clarity. 

On top of that, several players seemed to be off their game. The absence of Zheng Zhi, the team's primary ball distributor and midfield anchor, was especially noticeable. Without him, Shao Jiayi was left isolated in midfield, unable to replicate the strong performances he had shown during the Asian Cup. 

Yan Song was also on the bench for this match, with Xu Yunlong occupying the right-back position and Yang Pu on the left. 

In this match, both left-winger Yang Pu and left-back Sun Xiang were struggling, particularly against Kuwait's relentless attacks down their right flank, targeting China's left side. This added pressure led to frequent defensive lapses on that side. 

On the contrary, Kuwait's left side—the Chinese team's right—posed little threat. But that shouldn't have been the case. According to Yang Yang's assessment, Xu Yunlong appeared to be playing through an injury, which could have explained his limited effectiveness. 

The performance of other key players was also worrying. Hao Dong and Li Jinyu on the front line, as well as Li Weifeng and Zhang Yaokun in defense, were clearly below their usual standard. Even goalkeeper Liu Yunfei had made several avoidable errors. 

It was evident that the entire team was struggling mentally. Their balance was off, and as a result, their performance was far from satisfactory. 

As the situation on the pitch grew more tense, Yang Yang noticed Arie Haan in discussion with De Jong on the sideline. After a brief exchange, De Jong turned toward the bench and called out to Yang Yang. 

"Yang, quick, warm up!"