KICKOFF TO SUCCESS

Can the performance of China's national football team be improved? The World Cup is without a doubt a carnival for football lovers of all nations. Even without the participation of the Chinese national team, this year's tournament still captivates Chinese football fans, many of whom get up at three o'clock in the morning to catch the latest game. However, while they are immersed in enjoying the World Cup, Chinese fans also     

PEOPLE & POINTS

NEW HEAD COACH FOR NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM Li Tie was appointed head coach of Chinese men’s national football team on January 2.On November 14,2019,Marcello Lippi resigned as China’s head coach after China lost to Syria 2-1 in a crucial World Cup qualifier.Li,born in May 1977,started playing football at the age of 8.He was selected to the national football team in 2001 and participated in the FIFA World Cup in 2002.     

SO NEAR,YET SO FAR

Chinese team unable to make the breakthrough to the world's greatest football stage "I have many dreams, but I would never dare to dream of the Chinese football team winning the World Cup trophy!" This is the open admission of a member of China's national football team, which despite thrashing Hong Kong 7:0 back in the World Cup preliminary in November 2004, still failed to make the trip to Germany, as the Kuwaiti team had a higher goal count although they shared the same     

WEEKLY WATCH

OPINION A Global Game As the FIFA World Cup kicked off in Germany in early June, Chinese football fans were plunged into a state of craziness. Even those who don't usually refer to themselves as fans joined in the frenzy. Why does the World Cup drive people crazy? For all the discussions of a "global village," we still don't have many common topics that transcend national boundaries and differences in skin color, race, age and income. The World Cup is popular all over the world precisely because it provides such a rare topic for all     

PEOPLE & POINTS

"China has a huge population of football fans who will wake up at midnight to watch a game in the forthcoming World Cup in Germany and I am one of them." Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, to visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel     

LOVING THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

Fans love football despite the absence of China at the World Cup If his boss were not a football fan, Liu Chenguang, 28, might have to quit his job to watch the televised World Cup games. Liu works for a private firm in Beijing. "It is obviously unrealistic to ask my boss for a month's leave just to watch football at home," he said. "Quitting seemed a more practical choice." To Liu's surprise, he didn't have to take this drastic measure as his boss, Lin Yuan, introduced flexible work time during the World Cup. While allowing     

Footy Rules in China

One glance across the sports ground, and you could be mistaken for thinking you were watching any old football team training in Australia. The differ- ence is, the ground is at Nankai University in central Tianjin, all the players are Chinese, and the result from this training session is more important than a regular, relaxed kick and laugh.     

PUTTING FOOTBALL ON THE AIR

Football fans and TV stations seize their opportunities to indulge in World Cup mania In China, Huang Jianxiang is the king of sports commentators. His popularity is such that the affable but confident doyen of television broadcasting is mobbed when he goes out in public. He is a new breed of voice maestro, adopting a more professional and relaxed style to the commentators of the past. Those veterans come from an era of radio and are used to describing every detail of the play and the audience, despite viewers now being able to see the happen-     

ESPRIT DE CORPS

<正>Paris attacks likely to drive international cooperation on anti-terrorismFriday evenings in Paris are normally a time for people to unwind:visiting friends and family at cafes and restaurants,going to concerts,or watching a football match.But Friday,November 13became a real-life horror movie,when a series of coordinated attacks terrorized the city,killing at least 132 innocent people and wounded more than 300 others.     

What's on TV?

正A look at the small screen’s 40-year reform and opening-up history Lin Xi,a 44-year football fan in Beijing,watched the FIFA World Cup for the fi rst time in 1978 on a TV set in a college classroom.Forty years ago,TVs were rare in most Chinese households.Lin remembered it was late at night when his father dragged him to a big classroom at Peking University.     

Financial Fair Play

正China equalizes World Cup absence with financial contribution to the planet’s biggest football event ‘Except for the national football team,almost every other Chinese has gone to the 2018 FIFA World Cup."Bai Yansong,a well-known anchor on state broadcaster China Central Television(CCTV),     

PEOPLE & POINTS

<正>CHINESE REFEREES TO OFFICIATE AT QATAR WORLD CUP Chinese referee Ma Ning and two assistant referees,Cao Yi and Shi Xiang,have been recoently appointed for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.Born in 1979 in Fuxin,Liaoning Province,Ma graduated with a master’s degree in football from Beijing Sports University.Since 2009,he has become a referee for major events such as the Chinese Football Association Super League and AFC Asian Cup.     

Time for a Rethink

正As old alliances come under strain,the EU’s future lies in partnership with China The World Cup in Russia has been a reminder of the things that Europe does best.Even though teams like Portugal,Germany and Spain were knocked out before the quarter-fi nals,the overall level of football has been excellent.The World Cup has brought the best out of teams,with a lot of the best from Europe.     

2002 FIFA WORLD CUP Venues in the Repulic of Korea

The Seoul World Cup Stadium is located in Sangam-dong,along the banks of the Han River. It has one underground level andsix levels above ground. With a seating capacity of about 65,000,it's already known as the largest football stadium in Asia. from a bird's eye view, the shape of the stadium's roofappears to be a traditional kite, and the whole structure bringsto mind an image of the sailboats that used to ply the watersof the Han River from the Mapo ferry site.     

FIFA STUMBLES, SCORES

Celebrating its 50th Birthday, the world football body oversees Euro 2004 and looks for more revenue. China meanwhile seeks to host the World Cup.     

Rational Order

BIG FAMILY: Retired football players from a number of countries perform with children at the opening ceremony of the Assembly of the FIFA, or International Federation of Association Football, prior to the 2006 World Cup in Germany. The sport unites people…     

Shoot to Win! World Cup Special in vIC Restaurant

正During the World Cup(June 12-July 13),vIC Restaurant will offer a fantastic opportunity for all of our customers.Shoot to win!Six spots are placed in front of the goal,and by hitting any of these targets,you may get a chance to enjoy a free buffet,French wine and many other prizes.The World Cup challenge is available for all vIC restaurant’s buffet including the weekend specials—I Feel"Foody"offers.     

PEOPLE & POINTS

<正>FOOTBALLER BECOMES UNAIDS AMBASSADOR Chinese soccer star Shao Jiayi was appointed a national goodwill ambassador by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS(UNAIDS)on April 27.According to a press release from UNAIDS,Shao is expected to promote the goal of ending the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030 in China.He will encourage young people to become leaders in the response to AIDS and to help end the stigma and discrimination associated with people livingwith HIV.The 35-year-old Shao currently serves in the Chinese Super League.Previously,he enjoyed an extensive career in Germany and has represented China in the FIFA World Cup in 2002 and in Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup tournaments."Football is a powerful platform for engaging young people and raising their awareness of the importance of preventing HIV,and also forspeaking out in support of everyone who faces stigma and discrimination,"Shao said.     

WORLD

正RUSSIA Spanish and Iranian football fans pose for a photo ahead of a Group B match between Spain and Iran in Kazan at the 2018 FIFA World Cup on June 20JAPAN Recovery work at the site of a damaged road in Osaka continues through the night on June 18.At least three people were confirmed dead and     

Going In Style

For Ge Mu, the most exciting and satisfactory thing about the World Cup did not lie in the tournament itself, but in getting some hardcore fans to Germany to see the games live during the recently ended football classic. Ge, Marketing Operations Supervisor of the Beijing CAISSA International Travel