The latest men's football training squad has a total of 32 players selected. Unfortunately, only 23 can be registered for the next round of World Cup qualifiers against Saudi Arabia, meaning that 9 players from the training list will not be able to participate in this crucial match between China and Saudi Arabia.
In this article, we will analyze in detail which 9 players are likely to be eliminated, following the order of positions.
Goalkeeper position: Han Jiaqi is likely to be eliminated, with the other three retained
Wang Dalei and Yan Junling are regular starters, with unshakable positions.
The national team's defense against set pieces and corner kicks is relatively weak, so Ivan would prefer a goalkeeper with stronger abilities to catch high balls and punch the ball. Jian Tao is superior to Han Jiaqi in this aspect.
Defensive line: Wei Zhen, Han Pengfei, and Wu Mitijiang are likely to be eliminated, with the rest of the players retained
Wei Zhen has excellent physical talent but lacks defensive awareness and coverage, and has not yet come into his own. With each upcoming match being crucial for the national team, even if Ivan has the courage, he dare not risk the fate of the team to try to inspire the player. Han Pengfei does not have as much potential for development as Wu Shaocong, who will likely take his place.
Wu Mitijiang is indeed good, with excellent physical qualities, strength, and agility, and is one of the few domestic central defenders capable of playing the ball out. However, he has just recovered from an injury, has not played a game in nearly 5 months, and has not undergone high-intensity training in nearly 4 months, so his condition and physical functions cannot be guaranteed. It is predicted that in the next round of World Cup qualifiers, Wu Mitijiang will receive more attention.
Midfield: Huang Zhengyu, Cheng Jin, and Maiwulong are likely to be eliminated, with the rest of the players retained
On a scale of 10, Huang Zhengyu's interception and defensive capabilities can score 9 points, but his ball transfer and handling skills after breaking up play can only score 5 points, which is the reason why he will be eliminated.
Cheng Jin is physically thin and cannot support the midfield's toughness, making him unsuitable for Ivan's all-out defensive tactics. Maiwulong is too inexperienced for the World Cup qualifiers, and how could Ivan let a 20-year-old who has never played a World Cup qualifier take the field?
Forward line: Yang Liyu and Tao Qianglong are likely to be eliminated, while the rest of the players, including Hou Yongyong, can successfully retain their spots
Yang Liyu currently lacks attitude and drive, which Ivan Kozhikov has very strict requirements for.
Tao Qianglong's current abilities do not compete well with those in the same position, and most importantly, he has no distinctive features and is not very functional.
In summary, the 9 players likely to be eliminated include Han Jiaqi, Wei Zhen, Han Pengfei, Wu Mitijiang, Huang Zhengyu, Cheng Jin, Maiwulong, Yang Liyu, and Tao Qianglong.
What do you think about this, fellow football fans? Welcome to leave your comments and discuss in the comment section!