Fans are still perplexed by the results of the previous round of the Top 12. Under the baton of Li Tie and Li Xiaopeng, the national soccer team failed to break the siege of Japan, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam, and once again flirted with the World Cup feast. Now, the national soccer team is once again standing at the crossroads of the World Cup. A new round of World Cup qualifiers is about to kick off. This time, whether the national football team can bring a touch of freshness for Chinese fans?November 16th at 8:30 pm, CCTV will be live broadcast, the national football team once again set sail. Will we be able to capitalize on this opportunity in our first match against Southeast Asia's Thailand? Find out.
In the current World Cup qualifiers, the Chinese team did not encounter good luck. The bitter rival South Korea is a headache to face. In recent years, Thailand and Singapore have improved significantly. For the Chinese men's soccer team, the competition in this group can be described as fierce. The road to promotion is not far, but the strength of this group, the challenge is heavy. South Korea is undoubtedly the top seed in the group, while Thailand and China will compete for second place. Even though Singapore is a bit weaker on paper, they are not to be underestimated in the China-Thailand matchup. The first match against Thailand is especially crucial, as a loss would greatly reduce the chances of advancing to the second round. There are three things to watch out for in this match. Let's take a look at them one by one.
Watch 1: Can we wash away the shame of 1:5?
Chinese fans' memories of Thai soccer are always associated with the "first team" and the "1:5" score. Younger fans may still remember the victory of the youth team that humiliated the national soccer team with a score of 1:5. Yes, Thailand, even as a young team, won a heartbreaking victory on China's home turf. The victory was a valuable asset for Thai soccer and a profound humiliation for the national football team. With the declining strength of the national soccer team and the rise of Thai soccer, they no longer have fear of the national soccer team, but are eager to win. So, can the national soccer team return the favor this time in the China-Thailand showdown, returning the favor with a score of 1:5?
Point 2: Can newcomers make their mark?
Under Jankovic's leadership, the national soccer team indeed lacks distinctive characteristics and strong strength. Jankovic seems to lack the courage to change, hardly ever adjusting the training list and starting lineup. From the few matches under his leadership, the performance of the national soccer team has been lackluster. The veterans lacked passion and were passive on the field, and even against Vietnam, it was hard to see the national soccer team of the past. Many fans are therefore looking forward to the emergence of newcomers. However, according to media reports, Jankovic does not seem to give the newcomers much of a chance.
Watch 3: Can Akerson break his goal drought?
The naturalization of the former Brazilian player Aixon for the Chinese men's soccer team was a sensational event. However, as a center forward, Aixon has not scored for the national football team for a long time. Whether in official matches or friendlies, Aixon's goal scoring record is almost blank. He seems to have only scored against weak teams like Maldives. Will he be able to break his goal drought and make a difference against Thailand in this World Qualifier?
Both sides will be more cautious considering the game is away and the first match of the World Cup qualifiers. If the Chinese soccer team can play at its normal level, it is expected to get a draw or even win the game. However, it seems unlikely that they will be able to win by a large margin, so the predicted score of this match could be 1:0 or 2:1 in favor of the Chinese soccer team.
