After the conclusion of the Chinese Super League, the spotlight in the football world shifts to focus on the intense preparations of the national team. As the league approaches its final stages, many clubs no longer face the pressure of fighting for championships or relegation, and their states tend to relax. This, however, opens up an opportunity for young talents who are eager to seize the chance to showcase their skills. This also broadens the scope for the coaching staff led by Ivanković to scout potential national team players from a wider range.
The newly announced call-up list reveals several intriguing aspects. Tao Qianglong, the 24-year-old young player, has successfully entered the national team. Looking back at his journey in the league, he has played 25 times on the field, scoring only 1 goal and providing 2 assists, which may not seem impressive at first glance. However, the coaching staff's eyes are sharp, and Ivanković still handed him the national team entry ticket symbolizing recognition. For Tao Qianglong, this is undoubtedly a crucial leap in his career, signifying that he has stepped onto a higher level of competition.
Wearing the national team jersey for the first time, Tao Qianglong is filled with anticipation and nervousness. He understands that being selected is just the beginning, and whether he can establish himself in the national team in the future is the real challenge. At the same time, Wang Ziming from Guoan, relying on his recent outstanding performance on the field, has once again won Ivanković's favor and been successfully selected. The coaching staff's intention in selecting players is not difficult to guess. With Wu Lei getting older, the domestic front line urgently needs new forces to take on the responsibility, and Tao Qianglong stands out among players of the same age group for his talent and potential, which is likely the key factor for his entry into the national team.
While some newcomers join, others temporarily leave. Liu Yang, the flying wing of Taishan, unfortunately missed the call-up list this time. The last time he was left out dates back to August 2023, which has been 15 months ago. Liu Yang's performance in the football world has always been evident. In this season's league, he has been a regular member of the team, playing 25 times, starting 21 times, and contributing 1 goal and 1 assist to the team. Looking further back, he has worn the national team jersey 32 times, accumulating rich experience in major competitions. Just in 2024 alone, he has played for the country 10 times, starting 8 times, with unquestionable strength and foundation.
At this moment, Liu Yang's omission inevitably triggers heated discussions outside. It can be foreseen that in the upcoming FA Cup final, Liu Yang will undoubtedly still be a capable warrior under Cui Kangxi's command. After all, Ivanković only announces the call-up results and does not disclose the specific reasons for selecting and using players to the outside world. For Liu Yang, who is in the prime of his career, suddenly missing the national team must be a mixed feeling, and he needs to carefully analyze and adjust his mentality later.
Behind Liu Yang's omission lies the tactical considerations of the coaching staff. Each time the national team is called up, the opponent's situation is a key factor that cannot be ignored. This omission does not mean that Liu Yang's national team career has come to an end. As long as he continues to refine his skills and fits into Ivanković's thinking and tactical system, returning to the national team is not an unreachable dream. At present, Liu Yang's goal is clear and determined, which is to devote himself wholeheartedly to help Taishan win the championship that symbolizes glory on the FA Cup stage.
From Liu Yang's daily training scenes, you can see his dedication and concentration. Every morning when the dawn breaks and his teammates are still waking up, he has already dressed neatly and rushed to the training ground. During warm-up jogging, he is agile and powerful, each step seems to measure the distance between dreams and reality. In the group confrontation session, he is even more focused, his eyes tightly locked on the ball, and once the ball is at his feet, he launches an attack like an arrow leaving the string, dribbling, passing people, and passing the ball in one go, sharp and precise. Even if he occasionally encounters a mistake, he only frowns slightly, then adjusts his state and re-engages in the battle.
On Tao Qianglong's side, the excitement of joining the national team has not yet passed, and he quickly joins the high-intensity training. Participating in the first joint training, facing a group of seniors and strong players, he appears somewhat restrained, but his eyes are full of desire. When the coach explains tactics, he listens particularly attentively, nodding from time to time, and subconsciously gesturing with his hands, as if simulating drills in his mind. During group confrontations, he initially appears somewhat green, holding the ball nervously and occasionally making mistakes in passing choices. However, after a few rounds, he gradually adapts to the rhythm. In one counterattack, he keenly spots an opening, rushes forward at high speed, receives a wonderful pass from his teammate, and shoots powerfully, although it slightly misses the goal, winning cheers and encouragement from his teammates, which greatly boosts his confidence.
On the coaching staff side, Ivanković and his assistants have spent a lot of effort on the call-up list. In the meeting room, the table is covered with player data reports and game video clips, and they analyze frame by frame and compare each other. During discussions, some coaches frown, pointing to a certain data on the data sheet and raising questions; others wave their hands excitedly, passionately discussing the potential highlights of a certain player. To deal with different styles of opponents, they repeatedly weigh and strive to select the most suitable lineup combination, even the slightest decision is handled with caution.
Among the fan groups, everyone is also discussing this call-up. On online forums, topics related to this are hotly debated. Some fans support Tao Qianglong, listing his exciting moments in past games and firmly believing that he can shine in the national team; others speak up for Liu Yang, analyzing his tactical value at length, feeling that this omission is too regrettable. Various opinions collide fiercely, but they are all filled with deep concern and eager expectations for the future direction of the national football team.
The atmosphere at the FA Cup venue is so tense that you could wring water out of it. Outside the stadium, fans wearing team support uniforms arrive early to queue for entry, with face paintings and flags waving in their hands, and their shouts rise and fall. Inside the stadium, the players can feel the tension during warm-ups. Liu Yang is among them, with a firm gaze, doing stretching exercises while secretly cheering himself up in his heart, vowing to respond to the regret of not being selected for the national team with outstanding performance. The opponents are not to be underestimated, also preparing to compete with Taishan, and this FA Cup final is destined to be an intense battle with sparks flying.