On May 14, AFC officially announced that the 2023 Asian Cup tournament, originally scheduled to be held in China, would be relocated. This unexpected decision has had a profound impact on the Chinese team's preparation program. Although the Chinese team exited the final stage of the World Cup in Qatar, there is no big game task this year, but the Asian Cup results and the 2026 World Cup is closely linked to the preparation task is still arduous.
The issue of the retention of the current manager Li Xiaopeng needs to be clarified so that the team can quickly find its way into the new cycle of preparations. Since the end of March this year, the national football team ended the 12 strong journey, the team management of the coaching team to stay silent on the issue, which makes Li Xiaopeng in a dilemma.
Host status of the national football team is no longer
After the 2023 Asian Cup was confirmed to be held in a different location, the Chinese team, although as one of the 12 teams that advanced to the second stage of the Qatar World Preliminary 12 and the Asian Cup qualifiers, entered the final stage of the Asian Cup in all but name, but due to the loss of the status of the host, affected by the international rankings fell to 10th place in Asia, and can only participate in the second or even the third tranche of the team to participate in the Asian Cup next year in the main round of the tournament.
According to the opening program reported by the Football Association on May 16, the new season of the Chinese Super League will open on June 3rd. And FIFA, AFC calendar shows that the latest section of the international competition cycle will be arranged from May 30 to June 14, which means that the national football team will not be able to organize training and games in this cycle.
According to the competition program, the FA is expected to organize five rounds of AFC Cup main round competitions or working leagues in September, which may result in the national football team not being able to organize training and matches during the international competition day cycle that month as well. In view of the Qatar World Cup before the start of the year, the only remaining two international competition day cycle, coupled with the U23 national football team admitted to go to Japan to participate in the East Asian Cup, the national men's football team is likely to have no tournament tasks this year.
National football team "no leader" is not appropriate
However, for a national team, more than half a year without training or competition is indeed abnormal. Up to now, the AFC has only confirmed that the 2023 Asian Cup will be held in a different location, and has not changed the program of the competition period. After the end of the Qatar World Qualification campaign, the Chinese team objectively needs to go through a renewal. Even if the team is affected by the epidemic and other objective factors in the short term can not perform international warm-up matches, but still need the necessary preparatory planning, "no head of the dragon" is obviously not appropriate. In this case, Li Xiaopeng team is to stay or quit, need to come up with a clear statement as soon as possible.
On May 16, a media report said that "the probability is that the national football team will pick a new head coach". However, there is no such confirmed information from the FA. It should be noted that the appointment of Li Xiaopeng's team is led by the sports management department of the national football "leading operation group" under the leadership of the implementation, then even if the confirmation of the change of command, but also by the management of the team through a rigorous process to the specific implementation. From this point of view, the decision-making power around this matter is not in the Football Association, or the Association is also waiting.
No clear answer yet on whether to stay or leave
It is understood that when the team management selection of Li Xiaopeng had a clear point, that is, under normal circumstances, the national football team will not change in the short term, the situation with the national women's football team selection of water Qingxia as the commander-in-chief of the situation is consistent.
However, up to now, the team management did not give a clear statement on the issue of Li Xiaopeng's retention. Li Xiaopeng has not even received the notice of "report on the last 4 rounds of the final 12 rounds of the team's work". In other words, Li Xiaopeng himself has no clear answer as to whether he will stay or leave his post. Strictly speaking, Li Xiaopeng is still the head coach of the national football team, so should he continue to prepare for the next stage of the team to start the preparatory work?
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Lok Kwok Fu gets his first start in his return to the Barclays Premier League
In the 6th round of the Brazilian Primera A soccer tournament that ended early on May 16th, Minero Americas lost 0-1 to Coritiba at the Couto Pereira Stadium. Chinese naturalized player Luo Guofu, who plays for the visiting team, made his debut in the match and was substituted in the 62nd minute. This was the first time that Luo Guofu made his debut for his new club after returning to Brazilian professional soccer.
In the 5th round of the Barclays Premier League match on May 8, Beijing time, Minero Americano had defeated Atletico Mineiro 2-1 on the road. The two Chinese Super League (CSL) veterans, Luo Guofu and Hulk, who played for the two teams respectively, realized a special reunion in this game. Unfortunately, both failed to score. Luo Guofu did not make his debut for Atlético Mineiro until the 57th minute.
After the recent hard training, Luo Guofu's physical and mental condition has reached the standard of debut. In the 6th round of the Barclays Premier League (BPL), which kicks off at 4:30 a.m. Beijing time on the 16th, Luo Guofu will make his debut for the Minero Americano team.
With Nascimento's goal at the end of the half, Coritiba won the match 1-0. Lok Kok Fu was replaced by Nascimento in the 62nd minute. In the previous round, it was the same man who was replaced by Lok Kwok Fu.
Although he didn't score a goal, Luo Guofu was more active and created a few chances during his hour-long appearance on the pitch. Being able to get a start in his second game back in the Barclays Premier League, Lok Kwok Fu's form has indeed improved significantly, and he himself is looking forward to his "first goal" to come sooner rather than later.
