China's U23 Football Team Ends 22-Year Wait, Reaches Asian Cup Semifinals

China's U23 men's football team has made history by advancing to the AFC U23 Asian Cup semifinals, marking the national team's first appearance in the final four of a major Asian tournament in 22 years. The young squad, comprised mostly of players born between 2003-2006 who grew up during Chinese football's long slump, secured a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Uzbekistan in the quarterfinals. They will now face Vietnam for a spot in the final. This breakthrough, achieved through resilient defense and collective spirit, serves as a significant confidence boost for Chinese football's future development.The historic achievement marks a significant boost for Chinese football, representing the national team's best performance in an Asian tournament in over two decades.(Photo/VCG)

By Wang Xinyuan,Li Yuanyuan,Zhang Lingxi(intern), Li Ziang,Guo Jian/ China Youth Daily