China's press called for urgent reform of the country's soccer system on Thursday and berated the sport's governing body after the team's humiliating failure to qualify for the 2006 World Cup.

Their disastrous exit came despite beating Hong Kong 7-0, since Kuwait had scored one more goal than them overall, 15 to China's 14, so went forward from Asian Group 4.

"Chinese soccer kills itself," screamed the Beijing Youth Daily. "Nothing could be worse, the Chinese team won by seven goals but still cannot qualify."

"China's luck was used up by Milu three years before," it added, referring to former coach Bora Milutinovic, who steered the team to their first World Cup appearance in 2002. "Haan cannot save a weak Chinese soccer team. It's no use crying, start self-treatment now."

The Beijing News took a similar tack, saying "Chinese soccer has died many times, but is yet to be reborn."

Coach Arie Haan, who took over from Milutinovic, was the major casualty of China's World Cup exit, hanging up his tracksuit.

Sina.com, a popular website, severely criticized his match tactics: "His hackneyed 4-4-2 formation was too conservative for a match that needed such a big score. Everything points to the fact that China deserved to lose through over-caution."

"Chinese soccer is much like Monk Tang and his disciples in the novel Journey to the West, who had to experience a lot of difficulties," sighed the Beijing Morning Post. "It seems that our soccer team has suffered even more frustrations than them.

"Having seen an almost useless Chinese soccer team during the last match, people need to realize it is high time to find a direction for it."

While some newspapers blamed Haan for the disappointment, others trained their sights on the China Football Association (CFA) and the players.

"The CFA, as a manager, should be blamed," said the Beijing Times, saying the players were paid too much and new talent was not being cultivated.

"Chinese soccer players earn lots of money but their skills and competence don't live up to their salaries. They are becoming more and more impulsive," it said.

"We can see the lack of good forward players. Hao Haidong, a 34-year-old, still occupies a position in the team's main force. Although he is excellent, his energy, physical power and injuries are undermining his soccer life.

"China cannot make breakthroughs excessively relying on him.

"We need to improve the competence of Chinese soccer by playing down the impulsive attitude, practicing basic tactics, and hiring a smart coach."

China Sports Daily also pointed out that a lack of consistent training of soccer players is a major factor behind the disaster.

"We haven't made enough efforts in the root of Chinese soccer -- development of teenage players," it cried. "We should carry out deeper soccer reforms and focus on our young players in the coming years."

China faces an uphill battle to raise its game.

Not only are they out of the World Cup and without a manager, but the domestic league is in crisis amid allegations of corruption and match fixing. Seven of the 12 league teams last month threatened to walk out if something wasn't done.

(China Daily November 19, 2004)