On the Asian soccer map, FIFA generously allocated 8.5 places to the Asian region, the national football team's dream trip to the World Cup seems to be within reach. However, whether the strength of this national team can shine in the 36-team tournament has become a fog in the hearts of Chinese fans. In the first round of the group stage, Thailand and South Korea will show up one after another, can the national soccer team make a strong effort, or can they only hope for a draw? Once a draw with Thailand, South Korea will lock the top spot in the group, Singapore's points will also pose pressure on the national football team, the shadow of the group out of the game is getting thicker and thicker.
The back and right back positions of the national soccer team always seem to be vacant of good players, but head coach Jankovic's selection criteria seems to be not focused on the players' performances in the league, but based on their familiarity with the tactical system. He seems to favor players who fit in quickly without much coaching rather than stars who shine in the league. Playing for your country is an honor, but not all players who have the ability to do so will be able to do so.
From He Yupeng to Xu Haofeng, Jankovic's selection strategy has been controversial. Unless a player's individual ability is widely recognized, he prefers to pick players from relegated teams rather than the Chinese Super League. in October, He Yupeng reached the peak of his career when he jumped into the national team. However, this time he was unable to play in the final round of the Chinese Super League due to injury, and the relegation of both Shenzhen and Dalian presented him with a new challenge. After Jiang Guangtai's injury, Jankovic chose Xu Haofeng from Shenzhen.
Gao Hongbo and Lippi share the same soccer philosophy that offense is the best defense. Facing strong opponents such as Japan and Australia, Li Tie chose to shrink his defense, but it led to a lack of power on the offensive end. Although Yankovic adopted the three center back system, the performance of the attacking end was not satisfactory and the defensive end was not solid enough. Although the team theoretically uses a 343 formation, the midfield defense is not hard enough. The wing backs need to get down quickly in defensive counter-attacks, and at the same time, they need to get back in time when defending, they need to be quick in thinking, skillful in footwork, have a strong sense of teamwork, and have a low turnover rate.
Is it true that Jankovic ignores players' form and stats when scouting Chinese players? Xu Haofeng is 24 years old, has an advantage in age and has performed well in the league. But compared to him, there are many players with more characteristics and experience. For example, Zhong Yihao of Henan, Tang Miao of Chengdu Rongcheng, Wang Shenchao of Shanghai Harbor, and Wang Zhenao of Dalian are not inferior to Xu Haofeng.
Wang Gang's injury has reduced the strength of the national soccer team, but the national soccer team is still expected to break through the barrier of 36. Some fans teased, "Let old Jan toss some more, it won't be for long anyway!" "If we lose two games in a row, Yankovic will be under pressure to fail." "President Song emphasized youth training, and Chinese soccer is back in disarray for four years!" Fans, do you have confidence in the national soccer team to face Thailand and South Korea in the first two rounds of the 36-team tournament?
