After watching Italy barely defeat Australia on CCTV, and hearing commentator Huang Jianxiang’s euphoric pro-Italian, anti-Australian rant at the end of the game, I was reminded of something peculiar about the Chinese perspective on the World Cup.

Throughout my time here, I’ve been surprised by the apparent lack of support for dark horse (黒马) teams. Everywhere you go it’s Brazil, England, Italy, etc. I counted 15 France shirts the other day, none of which being worn by a French person. There seems to be an unshakable faith in the justness of the World Cup’s strictly limited group of past winners, and very little desire to see that community expanded. What accounts for this (to me at least) noticeable lack of interest in seeing the underrated teams prevail? It seems so much less fun.

Friends I spoke with said that it’s because Chinese football remains undeveloped and aspirational. There’s a hunger for heroes and instruction. To see a giant felled by a midget like Australia is less exciting than seeing a clearly superior team dominant its weaker opponent, or so the theory goes. One might argue that seeing a upstart team like the Socceroos advance could provide inspiration for a country struggling to make a dent in international football, but it doesn’t seem to be working like that. I guess this remains an open question…

UPDATE: Huang Jianxiang busted but unrepentant: “I don’t like Australians indeed.” Get this man an invite to the Player Haters Ball!!

Popularity: 5% [?]

• BROWSE / IN TIMELINE
• « Blog Bonito V: Japan vs Brazil
• » Feedback: Shi Jian (史建)

• BROWSE / IN everything is everything
• « Blog Bonito V: Japan vs Brazil
• » ¥€$ ma’am