Good question. I love football and it's sad to see China being this bad. Last year I think China beat the Korean team 1-0 and it was all over the headlines. Why? Because apparently they hadn't beaten them in 30 years.

As far as why they're that bad, I think on the one hand the football industry has been so shaken by repeated scandals the image of the sport has become associated with match fixing and bribes.

Second, there's no big star. Basketball has seen its popularity soar in high school because of Yao Ming doing so well in the States. Look at Li Na winning the French open a few weeks ago. It was all over the news - they didn't just say first Chinese to win, they would say in the news it was the first 'Asian' to win. There's a lot of pride at play, and with football not having an ego-boosting star, it's just harder to reach the younger generation.

Third, probably because there's very little funding in youth academies. Part of the reason such small countries as France, England, and Italy have such good players is because they invest a lot in training the kids. Here, not so much. The emphasis is put on other sports.

It's true football isn't exactly in the country's culture, but when you look at how far basketball has come, you realize how fast things can change.

Corruption

No potential. and china is a corrupted country. i guess thailand is much better