Football fans have always been an indispensable part of the game. For years Chinese football supporters have ardently stood by their team, even when Chinese football was at its lowest ebb. The dream of entering the World Cup finals became true after more than forty years of yearning. Our reporter Yang Fuqing talks to some supporters during these magic hours for the country's fans.
It's a party of yet another kind. Fans in Beijing are watching China's national football team playing against Portugal, the last warm－up match for the Chinese team before its debut in the World Cup finals. When the team lost the game 0:2, the disappointment was obvious, but the result seemed to be accepted without much grudge.
Vice Chairman of Beijing Guo'an Football Fans Club Yu Zhigang said:"We call upon our members to offer unswerving support to our team whether it wins or loses. We also urge them to abandon practices that corrupt a football match－－swearing, riots and the like."
Criticism, swearing and even riots used to plague the Chinese football team as it suffered repeated defeats in its attempts to enter the World Cup finals. Football fans often booed Chinese footballers when they were not satisfied with their performance. After the national team encountered a humiliating defeat to the comparatively weak team of Hong Kong on May 19th, 1985, fans vented their anger in the worst riot in China's football history.
Zuo Ruilian, a football fan said: "People burnt down cars and shouted insults near the head coach's house. I think quite a few fans were simply finding an outlet for their disappointment after losing a game we shouldn't have lost. "
Though Zuo presents a more sober version of football fans, he is no less keen. The owner of a small photo shop, he spends much of his income travelling around the country watching football matches. His prize possessions are articles he collected through various tournaments － tickets, caps, T－shirts.
Mr. Zuo added :"I am glad that after such a long and bitter struggle we finally made it. I was so excited when we beat Oman last October that I took the family to Tian'anmen square to join the parade."
Zuo is one of an estimated 100 million Chinese football fans, a community that has grown rapidly along with the introduction of the premier league system 8 years ago. Meanwhile, fans clubs have also mushroomed all over the country. The Beijing－based Guo'an Football Fans Club with a membership of over 13,000, is one of the largest. Compared with more than a dozen years ago, this community tempered by experience is better prepared for failures.
Cheerleader Kang Ning and many of his fellow club members will be in Korea cheering for the Chinese team. He expressed the expectations of many for the Chinese players.
Kang Ning, Member of the Beijing Guo'an Football Fans Club said:"All I want to say to our footballers is, take it easy and enjoy the World Cup as much as you can. Any outcome is acceptable to us."
Kang said they don't expect a miracle at the World Cup. By simply making it into the World Cup finals this time, the national team has already given them a lot of excitement. Whatever the outcome, they will cheer on the Chinese players with passion, allegiance and good sense.
Editor: Liu Hongji CCTV.COM
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