(Sports Focus) China soccer reform sees reward first from women squad

Nine days away from the one-year anniversary for China's release of the Overall Plan of Chinese Soccer Reform and Development, Chinese soccer has already seen decent reward after Chinese women team fixed a berth for the Rio Olympics with one game remaining on Monday.

China, 17th in the world rankings, had failed to get the London 2012 ticket and was not a favorite in the Rio 2016 qualifications as compared to former world champions Japan, traditional powerhouses Australia and DPR Korea, but the Chinese team, nicknamed "Iron Roses" have collected three wins and one draw to secure an Olympic slot in advance, beating Japan, South Korea and Vietnam, tying DPR Korea in Asian qualifiers.

Chinese team, the former world runners-up, revealed glimpse of rejuvenation during last year's World Cup, where they reached the quarterfinals before losing to the eventual champions USA 1-0 last June, just three months after the reform plan was issued by China's central reform group led by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Aiming to revive the Chinese soccer, the reform plan covers almost every aspect of the sport, including the management system, professional clubs and leagues, the national teams and grassroots soccer. The reform has been working well so far and speeding up the resurging process, at least for women squad.

The plan is not just a guideline, also a guarantee of full support for the sport's promotion in the country. Frenchman Bruno Bini had been named the new head coach of the Chinese women's team on Sept. 17 and more overseas training camps had been arranged, mainly in France. The players even missed the chance to stay with family in China's most important festival, Chinese New Year in order to attend the 21-day training session in France.

Bini, who led the French women's team to a fourth finish at the 2011 World Cup as well as the 2012 London Olympics, has went through an inspiring period at the helm of Chinese women team, maintaining an unbeaten record. China defeated World Cup semifinalists England 2-1 before holding Australia to a 1-1 draw on last October at the three-nation tournament in Yongchuan, Chongqing municipality of China.

In January, China beat South Korea 2-0 to win the four-nation tournament in Shenzhen, South China after they thrashed Vietnam 8-0 and tied Mexico 0-0.

Now the 60-year-old Frenchman is a hero in China, but his countryman Alain Perrin, who was sacked on Jan. 8 as head coach of Chinese men team, had to end up as a loser.

Perrin experienced roller coaster in China. Under his rein, who took charge in March 2014, the Chinese team underwent a 10-game unbeaten run first. China won all the three group matches in Asian Cup, beating Saudi Arabia 1-0, Uzbekistan 2-1, DPR Korea 2-1, which was the best result at group stage for China in the tournament.

Although China were knocked out by hosts Australia 2-0 in the quarterfinals, Chinese fans gave the team and Perrin thumbs-up.

However, the team performed so poorly in the 2018 World Cup Asian qualifying tournament later. In a relatively easy group with Qatar, China's Hong Kong, Maldives and Bhutan, China suffered a 1-0 loss to Qatar on road and were held scoreless away and home by Hong Kong, already giving the top position to Qatar which qualify for the next stage directly. China's chance of advancing as one of the four best runners-up from eight groups is dim. Then, it's time for Perrein to leave.

The reform has been less effective for Chinese men squad apparantly comparing to women. Chinese Super League had spent the most in transfer market in the winter window opening period. How many changes can these methods bring to Chinese men soccer? Only time can tell. Endite