In the wee hours of the morning, on September 3, the Chinese men's football team is about to go all out in their first-round showdown in the World Qualifying 12 to face Qatar for a place in the World Cup. Led by manager Li Tie, the team is ready to start a fierce battle on the road. With the impact of the epidemic making this match far more difficult than losing home advantage, the AFC is not optimistic about China's prospects for the Round of 12, but the Chinese team still has the potential to be the dark horse of the tournament.
brimming with confidence
Before departing for West Asia, Li Tie emphasized in an interview, "Strength is not equal to victory, I have confidence to beat you." These words are the preview of the match against Australia and Japan. Li Tie constantly instills the concept of "can win" and "dare to win" in his team, trying to cultivate a winning mentality.
a lesson from history
Looking back at the 2008 World Qualifiers, the Chinese team was grouped with Iraq, Australia and Qatar in the 20-team tournament. Facing Iraq, the Chinese team drew with one more player; against Australia, the Chinese team missed penalty kicks and finally lost three consecutive matches to bid farewell to the World Cup in South Africa.
Cohesion and Confidence
Taking over the baton from Lippi, the Chinese men's soccer team is led by Li Tie, and the team has shown great cohesion and confidence. Players Wu Lei, Wei Shihao and Zhang Xunzhe all expressed their confidence in the Top 12.
"The strength of the teams in the Top 12 is close, play one game at a time, we have to have confidence in ourselves." -- Chinese men's soccer player Wu Lei
"The grouping is not bad, if you play well, chances will naturally surface. It is every player's dream to participate in the World Cup and we will do our best." --Chinese men's soccer player Wei Shihao
"Now is our best chance, after the experience of the last edition, we understand the game better and have more confidence." --Zhang Xizhe, Chinese men's soccer player
Strength Enhancement
The Chinese team's confidence stems not only from its mental level, but also its strength. Wu Lei's overseas trip has taken his skills to the next level, and the addition of naturalized players has given the team a more balanced attack and defense. Despite injuries on the defensive end, the overall strength of the team has improved compared to the previous 12-team tournament.
logistical support
The Chinese team has a strong logistical team and the security is organized in a relaxed manner. The team carries a large amount of luggage, and hotel accommodations and immunization measures are strict to ensure the health and safety of the team.
Challenges and opportunities
Although according to the data, China's chances of getting out of the group are insufficient, the exercise of the Top 40 tournament gives the team a chance to show themselves on a bigger stage, which is a time for miracles and a chance to fight for glory.
