AFC Asian Cup: Chinese social media applauds Hong Kong footballers after UAE loss – and city’s use of foreign-born stars
- Weibo users say selection of naturalised players who are making an impact for Hong Kong contrasts with those recruited by mainland China
- ‘[Hong Kong’s] naturalised players had spent years living there,’ one commenter says. ‘Our naturalised players were paid for with substantial money’
 - Mike Chan.jpeg?itok=EQbwYm3R&v=1669714688)
Fans suggested that Hong Kong’s national team were on the right track by naturalising foreign-born players while criticising their own Chinese Football Association for its attempts at pursuing that policy in the past.
A Weibo user sparked a debate by starting a thread suggesting Hong Kong’s surprisingly competitive performance was based around the naturalised players, and questioned why the same strategy worked less well in mainland China.
“Hong Kong’s naturalised players are quite good, they’re even more threatening than UAE when attacking,” one comment said.
“[Hong Kong’s] naturalised players had spent years living there,” a user from Liaoning commented. “Our naturalised players were paid for with substantial money.
“Just like Ricardo Goulart, returning to Brazil after earning enough and switching back to his original nationality.”
Another commenter from Shandong said any naturalisation had been pursued without enough of a plan, other than officials seeking credit for themselves.
“They planned for it just on their terms, and the plans became useless once there were personnel changes at the association,” they posted.
“Everyone knows from the beginning this was just a matter of emergency treatment, and it was just a flash in the pan for those working on it.”
After Philip Chan Siu-kwan scored to equalise for Hong Kong at the Khalifa International Stadium, fans also joked that at least one Chinese team had scored, given the mainland’s 0-0 draw with Tajikistan on Saturday.
And after Vietnam, ranked No 94 in the world by Fifa, managed to score twice in a 3-2 loss to Japan, one Chinese fan was concerned beating the Southeast Asian nation would be beyond their side, ranked 79th, who lost 2-1 to 150th-rated Hong Kong in a friendly last week.
“We can’t even beat Hong Kong, and you are thinking about Vietnam?” a user from Hunan replied. “You’re rather optimistic.”
“We are stagnant but others are running forward,” read another comment. “Vietnam’s technique and tactics are ahead of us by at least two blocks!”
A Shanghai Shenhua fan said the rise of Hong Kong must have “embarrassed” Dai after his decision to switch allegiance. The 24-year-old was ineffective in China’s drab draw with Tajikistan and was substituted.
China will next play Lebanon on Wednesday, before Hong Kong face Iran two days later.
