The head coach of China's national football team, Ivan Kozlovic, stated in an interview with foreign media that the Chinese team has a good chance of securing a direct spot in the World Cup. Therefore, our plan for scoring points in the next four matches of the top 18 qualifiers will undergo changes.
Ivan Kozlovic said: The first six rounds of the top 18 qualifiers have been completed, and although we are at the bottom of Group C, the national team is tied on points with Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain with 6 points each. It is only because the national team has fewer goal differences than their opponents that it ranks last. This indicates that the national team still has the opportunity to compete for the fourth-round playoff. However, the national team is only one point behind Australia, who is second in Group C. If the national team can perform well in the remaining four matches next year, directly advancing to the World Cup finals is not impossible.
Therefore, "Ivan Kozlovic will make significant adjustments to the national team's scoring plan and personnel tactics." The specific adjustments are as follows:
"The new Chinese Super League team Yunnan Yu Kun and Beijing Guoan are about to introduce Oscar and Serginho. The two players are just waiting for an official announcement to join their new clubs. Moreover, the naturalization process of these two players is underway." "Oscar and Serginho are expected to represent the national team in the remaining four matches of the top 18 qualifiers before March next year." Oscar can play as an attacking midfielder and forward, while Serginho can play as a defensive midfielder and attacking midfielder. "The Football Association is preparing to naturalize Oscar and Serginho, which indicates that the strength of these two players is definitely higher than that of the current starting midfielders of the national team. Otherwise, Ivan would not have let the Football Association naturalize these two players."
"With the addition of Oscar and Serginho, two midfield players to the national team, the midfield strength of the national team is likely to be significantly enhanced. Therefore, Ivan's original idea of competing for fourth place in Group C has changed. Now, Ivan and the national team coaching staff are considering how to secure second place in Group C and directly advance to the World Cup in Mexico, Canada, and the United States. It is understood that Ivan and the national team coaching staff have the following plans for the next four matches of the top 18 qualifiers next year."
In March next year, Ivan plans to get one point away from Saudi Arabia. Then he plans to get three points at home against Australia. In June next year, Ivan plans to get one to three points away from Indonesia. Finally, he plans to get three points at home against Bahrain.
In this way, Ivan and the national team coaching staff plan to get eight to ten points in the next four matches of the top 18 qualifiers next year. Adding the previous six points earned by the national team, the national team could potentially get at least 14 or 16 points after the end of the ten rounds of the top 18 qualifiers. "Such a score ensures that the national team can finish second in Group C and directly qualify for the World Cup, at which time the national team will advance to the 2026 World Cup in Mexico, Canada, and the United States together with Japan." "The addition of Oscar and Serginho to the national team has given Ivan and the national team coaching staff great confidence in the next four matches of the top 18 qualifiers next year."
"For Ivan and the national team, the top 18 qualifiers have already completed the sixth round, and no one could have expected the national team to get six points. Therefore, now Ivan, the Football Association, fans across the country, and sports media across the country all have high hopes for the national team's next four matches of the top 18 qualifiers next year. After the addition of two naturalized players to the national team, Ivan said: The national team has the opportunity to compete for second place in Group C, and we may not need to participate in the fourth-round playoffs, with the hope of directly advancing to the 2026 World Cup in Mexico, Canada, and the United States!"