Recently, the highly anticipated national football team has started its first training session of the new year in the warm and pleasant city of Haikou. This training session sees head coach Ivanković taking a hands-on approach, personally guiding every aspect of the training content. The focus of the training is not only on enhancing the players' physical fitness to ensure they have abundant energy and endurance on the field but also on a key task: conducting a comprehensive and in-depth review of last year's 18-team competition to identify problems and learn from experiences. This will allow for the development of more targeted and effective strategies for the upcoming matches against Saudi Arabia and Australia in March.
Originally, the national team planned to call up 32 players for this training session. However, due to the absence of naturalized player Fernandinho, the number of training players was reduced to 31. Coach Ivanković clarified that this change did not have a substantial impact on the team's training arrangements. After all, the team's overall strategy and training plan are based on the collective strength and tactical needs of the team, and the absence of individual players does not disrupt the overall rhythm and deployment.
During this training session, Hou Yongyong, a naturalized player making his first appearance with the national team, unsurprisingly became the focus of media and fan attention. Coach Ivanković gave him special consideration. Last season, Hou Yongyong's performance in the Norwegian domestic league was remarkable, scoring 19 goals and contributing 8 assists. His outstanding play earned him the honors of top scorer and best player in the league. His excellent performance perfectly filled the vacancy left by Fernandinho's absence, infusing the team with new vitality and competitiveness.
On the fifth day of the national team's training, domestic media revealed an important piece of news: Ivanković intends to push Hou Yongyong into a forward position. This change carries significant implications, suggesting that Hou Yongyong has likely secured a spot on the 18-team roster for the March matches. Similarly, defender Wu Shaocong, who also plays in Europe, is highly regarded by Ivanković for his outstanding abilities and potential.
However, not all players are as fortunate. First, goalkeeper Jian Tao, although making his first appearance with the national team, reflecting Ivanković's determination to promote youth, faces stiff competition from experienced and strong goalkeepers such as Yan Junling, Wang Dalei, and Han Jiaqi. It will be extremely difficult for Jian Tao to secure playing time. Perhaps he can only hope for next year, through continuous efforts and growth, to have the opportunity to represent the national team and showcase his skills on the field.
Furthermore, after Wu Shaocong's promotion, Han Pengfei, who has never had the chance to play, finds his status within the national team becoming increasingly awkward and dispensable, making it highly likely that he will miss out on the 18-team roster for March. Additionally, Cheng Jin and Wu Mitijiang, both making their first appearances with the national team, are expected to be notified of their departure soon due to their underwhelming performances during training or because they do not fit well with the team's tactical system.
According to the established plan, the national team will conclude this training session on January 18th. The next training session will take place in mid-March, at which time the national team will face Saudi Arabia away on March 20th and then host Australia on March 25th. These two matches present a significant challenge for the national team and are also an important opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities and strive for better results.