China National Team roster announcement and pre-game analysis
Tianjin Daily News revealed that the Chinese Football Association (CFA) recently unveiled the national team lineup for the first two matches of the 36-team world qualifying tournament. Despite the fact that some of the players have fallen out of the squad, the door to the national team remains open to them. Coach Yang Shuai is in possession of a huge list of about 50 players, starting from the 36-team tournament, which will last until June of the following year, a process that will undoubtedly be long. Yang will adjust the squad in real time based on player performance and injuries.
The following is the list of 24 players selected: goalkeepers Yan Junling, Wang Dalei, Liu Dangzheng; defenders Zhang Linpeng, Jiang Guangtai, Liu Yang, Li Lei, Zhu Chenjie, Jiang Shenglong, and Wu Shaochong, who plays for the Turkish Youth United Club; midfielders Wang Shangyuan, Wu Xi, Dai Weijun, Li Ke, Gao Tianyi, Liu Bunbin, Chen Pu, Lin Liangming, Wei Shihao, and Xie Pengfei; and strikers Wu Lei, Tan Long, Zhang Yuning, and Xie Weijun. All players need to arrive in Shenzhen base camp before 17:00 on the 9th. Although not in line with the Yang Shuai selection criteria and fell out of the naturalized player Eckerson, but the injured Xie Weijun with a strong sense of patriotism to prove themselves, after confirming that the injury is not a big problem, he was urgently recalled to the national team. Zhang Yuning, who has been out of action for a long time, will also return to the field. It is reported that Jankovic has fully assessed the physical and psychological status of all players before submitting the list.
However, some fans disagreed with Yang Shuai's choice of personnel. They found it puzzling that Yang did not choose the players who are currently in the best form, while those who have not participated in the national team training and warm-up this year were unexpectedly selected. There are also voices pointing out that Yang Shuai relies too much on veterans, a strategy that doesn't seem wise. Some fans even teased that they could start preparing for the 2030 World Cup qualifiers. Overall, the outside world is less satisfied with the Chinese team's upcoming World Qualifier trip list. For the two matches in November, the general opinion is that a draw on the road is already a good result.
China's national soccer team will have two key matchups in the 36-team phase of the world qualifying tournament on Nov. 16 and 21, when it faces Thailand on the road and South Korea at home, respectively.
