China's national football team has officially concluded its winter training for the New Year, with most of the players returning to their respective clubs to continue training. The head coach, Ivanković, needs to finalize the squad for the away match against Saudi Arabia during this period. A total of 31 players were called up for the training camp, but only 26 are needed for the away match against Saudi Arabia, meaning that 5 players will not make the cut.
Firstly, goalkeeper Han Jiaqi is likely to be left out due to his average performance during the training camp. This was evident when he was outplayed by Wei Shihao's spectacular goal during a group confrontation. Therefore, Han Jiaqi will not be included in the squad for the away match against Saudi Arabia. In the central defender position, Han Pengfei and Wu Mitijiang have a high probability of being excluded. Han Pengfei is considered a fringe player for the national team, rarely representing the team in matches. Hence, he is likely to miss out on the squad for the away match against Saudi Arabia. Wu Mitijiang's main focus during the training camp was to experience the atmosphere of major competitions. He needs to fully recover from his injuries to establish himself in the national team. Lastly, Maiwulang and Yang Liyu also have a high likelihood of not making the squad.
The failure of these five players to impress Ivanković is seen as expected by many fans. The key for the national team is to adjust to their best form before the away match against Saudi Arabia, which is a must-win game for the team. If China can pull off an upset victory against Saudi Arabia, they could potentially secure direct qualification for the second round of the group stage.
Therefore, the team must select the strongest and most capable players to lead the charge in the away match against Saudi Arabia. Among them, Hou Yongyong stands out among the newcomers for his abilities and characteristics. He had an impressive performance in the Norwegian First Division last season. Whenever the national team faces a deadlock in a match, Hou Yongyong is the first to step up, which is what the fans want to see.
