The Chinese national football team has gathered for winter training in preparation for the two matches of the top 18 qualifiers in March 2025. According to recent reports from Japanese media, several positions in the Chinese national football team lineup are about to be strengthened with the addition of several naturalized players. They will aim for second place in the top 18 qualifiers, which could pose a threat to Australia and Saudi Arabia. In the 2024 games, except for the first match against Japan that ended in a 0-7 defeat, the other five matches showed remarkable competitiveness. The 2025 national team lineup is as follows: Forwards: Zhang Yuning, Little Oscar Midfielders: Xie Weneng, Serginho, Wang Shangyuan, Wei Shihao Defenders: Gao Zhunyi, Jiang Shenglong, Jiang Guangtai, Hu Hetao Goalkeeper: Han Jiaqi Head Coach: Ivanković Substitutes: Forwards: Bai Helamu, Lin Liangming, Hou Yongyong Midfielders: Wang Haijian, Cao Yongjing, Li Yuan Defenders: Zhu Chenjie, Li Lei, Wu Shaoc Zhang Yuning, who has proven himself in the top 18 qualifiers as a pivotal player with assists and goals, will partner with Little Oscar up front. Fans have jokingly said, "Brother Yuning, please cry four more times! If you cry four more times, we can qualify for the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico!" I believe that Zhang Yuning's determination to serve the country is very strong, and those tears are both excitement and difficulty. Little Oscar, a naturalized player, despite the arrears of wages from Cangzhou Mighty Lions, did not forget to express his love for China. The 25-year-old Congolese player…

On January 10th, Beijing time, the second day of the Chinese men's football team's training in Haikou has arrived. The highly anticipated naturalized player John Hou Saetre also gave his first media interview during the training period. Hou Saetre, who was selected for the national team for the first time, expressed with emotion that he was very happy to return to his motherland, and he also stated that the level of the Chinese Super League is slightly higher than that of the Norwegian First Division (Norwegian second-tier league). Hou Saetre frankly admitted that although he was somewhat tired due to a long-haul flight of 30 hours, he was still very happy to be able to return to his motherland: "There are still some jet lags that haven't been adjusted, but I believe that after a few days of adjustment, I will be able to get these states to the best." Regarding his first selection for the national team, Hou Saetre frankly said that he would be somewhat restrained: "My Chinese is not yet fluent, but I am very happy to be able to come back and see these old friends, especially those former teammates from Guoan. It's almost 2 years since I last saw them. Yesterday, I did have a more in-depth chat with them." Regarding Ivan's focus on observing him and giving him more attacking responsibilities, Hou Saetre frankly said that there would be pressure but also more motivation: "I played in the number ten position in Norway, and everyone has seen me score some goals. For this reason,…

The announcement of the national football team's training roster has set off a storm among fans. Not only are there adjustments in names, but the rejuvenation of the lineup is like an unstoppable revolution, full of excitement and expectation. Ivanković's moves have surprised and inspired hope. Let's talk about the newcomers that catch everyone's eye. Fresh blood like Jian Tao, Han Pengfei, Wu Shaocong, and Wu Mitijiang are young and strong players who have just emerged and been selected by the head coach, injecting vitality into the team. Among them, the rise of post-00 players can be described as "ready to strike." Looking at the list with names like Jian Tao, Zhu Chenjie, Jiang Shenglong, and Hu Hetao, these young players are like tigers ready to pounce, eager to kick away all doubts. Especially the two post-00 players, Maiwulong and Wu Mitijiang, these two young brothers are representatives of youthful vigor, born in 2004, they are surely the future of the national team. This wave of young players joining has really filled the national team with endless possibilities. Not every veteran can easily "retire" - veterans like Liu Dianzuo, Jiang Guangtai, and Wu Lei, who were once important pillars of the national team, have not been selected this time. These three players were once the backbone of the national team, and their absence will undoubtedly make many fans feel regretful. Liu Dianzuo's saves, Jiang Guangtai's defense, and Wu Lei's attacking ability once became the team's reliance. However, with the passage of time, the head coach apparently feels it's time to…

Here are the four best technical players in the history of Chinese men's football, according to my personal opinion as a former fan and player: Peng Weiguo: A classic technical player with precise skills, especially in passing like a scalpel. He was the absolute core of the team's offense, with a broad perspective and vision, making him a genius attacking midfielder. Watching Peng play is like reading a textbook on technique. However, his weakness was physical strength and lack of robustness, typical of someone from the south. Zhang Xiaorui: Known for his technical prowess and Latin American-style awareness, but he was physically weak and not good at tackling. After suffering from injuries and being relegated to the bench, his career gradually declined. Despite this, he was once considered a savior during the Olympic qualifiers, often coming off the bench in the second half. His dribbling ability was top-notch, delicate, and he could use his speed and technique to get past defenders. Shen Si: Familiar to old fans, Shen Si played for Shanghai Shenhua and was known for his free-kicks, which rank first in the history of Chinese men's football. His left foot was particularly strong, even surpassing Beckham in some aspects. He was also a player who used his brain, participating in two free-kick competitions in 2004 and 2008. Chen Tao: Considered one of the most technically skilled players in Chinese football over the past 20 years, Chen Tao was a creative midfield organizer with dreamlike footwork, top-level dribbling, speed, and passing abilities. His highlight moment was scoring three goals…

With the announcement of the Chinese men's football training squad list, fans have begun to speculate on who will be selected and who will be eliminated, especially with the upcoming World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia, where the final lineup is becoming increasingly uncertain. Out of the 32-man training squad, only 23 players will make it onto the matchday roster, meaning that 9 players will face the reality of being cut from the team. Let's delve into the reasons why these 9 players might miss out on this crucial match. Starting with the goalkeepers. Everyone knows that the goalkeeper position in the national team has been largely settled, with Wang Dalei and Yan Junling almost guaranteed as starters. Han Jiaqi seems destined to miss out on the 23-man list. Although his performance during training was acceptable, he falls short compared to the other two experienced goalkeepers. Especially when it comes to defending high balls and corners, the national team clearly prefers goalkeepers with stronger aerial control abilities, which Han Jiaqi fails to meet. As a result, his elimination is almost certain, unless some unforeseen circumstances occur. Moving on to the defenders. Wei Zhen, Han Pengfei, and Wu Mitijiang are likely to be left out of the final 23-man list. First, let's talk about Wei Zhen. Although he has excellent physical conditions, his defensive awareness and positional sense on the field are clearly lacking. In high-pressure matches, his performance could affect the team's defensive stability, so coach Ivan is unlikely to choose him as a key defensive player. Next, Han Pengfei,…

Let's talk about a heavyweight figure in Chinese football - Li Xiaopeng. After experiencing the ups and downs as the head coach of the national team, this former Shandong Luneng meritorious coach has finally chosen an unusual path - returning to his hometown to coach Qingdao Hainiu. This decision not only demonstrates his infinite love and dedication to football but also allows us to see the sentiment and responsibility that a professional coach should have. Li Xiaopeng's return to coaching Qingdao Hainiu is a decision with great symbolic significance in his career. As a representative figure of Shandong football, Li Xiaopeng won widespread acclaim from fans during his time at Luneng for his stable tactical layout and profound football heritage. Although he was unable to leave his name in the honor book of top league championships, the feat of leading the team to the FA Cup final twice is enough to prove that his coaching ability cannot be underestimated. After experiencing the brief ups and downs of the national team coaching position, Li Xiaopeng did not choose to escape or retreat but bravely faced the challenges and proved his worth with practical actions. This time, he chose to return to his hometown to coach Qingdao Hainiu, which is not only a nostalgic look back at his football sentiment but also a deep affection for the development of his hometown's football. Looking back on Li Xiaopeng's coaching career, it can be described as magnificent and full of legendary color. During his time at Luneng, he led the team to repeatedly challenge…

On January 9th, Beijing time, the second meeting of the 12th member congress of the Chinese Football Association was held in Beijing. The 2024 Chinese Football Association work report released at the meeting pointed out that significant progress has been made in the reform of the "separation of management and operation" in our professional league. All parties will accelerate the establishment of the Chinese Football Professional League Federation (CFLF), which has independent legal person status, and actively and steadily promote the registration of CFLF, improvement of league systems, and adjustment of operating entities. At present, the CFLF establishment plan has been submitted for approval according to procedures and is expected to be registered in Beijing before and after the Spring Festival of 2025. Authorized by the Chinese Football Association, it will mainly be responsible for the organization and commercial operations of the three-level professional league. These business projects originally managed by the Football Association will be separated. With the confirmed establishment of the CFLF, the "separation of management and operation" in Chinese football, after thirty-six years, has finally taken another solid step. According to relevant data, as early as 1989, during the preliminary stage of the professionalization reform of Chinese football, the Chinese Football Association proposed the suggestion of entity establishment, which later became known as "separation of management and operation". In the early days of the professionalization of Chinese football, the main focus of the "non-separation of management and operation" was on the "Chinese Football Sports Management Center," which evolved from the original division-level unit, the National Physical Education…

Consecutive victories over Indonesia and Bahrain have given fans renewed hope of advancing to the top 18. Although the prospects of qualifying for the World Cup remain slim, it has at least provided fans with something to look forward to. The latest national team roster has also been officially announced, and all the players on the current national team have reported to Hainan in the past two days. However, the latest national team roster is also highly controversial, with Ivan continuing to rely on young players, such as the 20-year-old Buyu Lang and the 20-year-old Wumiti Jiang, both of whom are post-00s youngsters making their first appearance on the national team. In addition, naturalized player Jiang Guangtai is absent due to injury, leaving only two naturalized players selected for this national team, Fernandinho and Hou Yongyong, who is making his first appearance on the national team. Hou Yongyong has already arrived in Haikou, but Fernandinho is causing trouble again and is expected to miss this training camp. Ivan confirmed this news in an interview, saying that Fernandinho will be absent from the national team due to personal matters. This is not the first time that a naturalized player has caused trouble; previously, naturalized player Li Ke was unsuccessfully persuaded by Ivan several times, ultimately leading to Ivan giving up on selecting him for the national team. According to media reports, Fernandinho's contract with Shanghai Shenhua has expired, and after the last match, he emptied his apartment overnight, sending all his luggage back to Brazil in nine large boxes. According to…

For the national football team, every head coach is a matter of great attention. Whenever a new head coach takes office, fans across the country will pin high hopes on him, hoping that under the leadership of the new coach, they can change the depressed state of Chinese football and revitalize the development of football. During the period from 2000 to 2002, world-class coach Milu served as the head coach of the Chinese men's national team. Despite having such a coach with a glorious record, good results were not achieved, and Milu had no choice but to step down. According to media reports, opinions on Milu at the time were mixed, and the only fair evaluation of Milu heard was from Xie Hui. Even during his playing days, Milu had outstanding performances. During his career, Milu reached the pinnacle of his career while playing for Club America in Mexico. At that time, he was undoubtedly the main player of the club. Through working together with his teammates, Milu led the team to win the Mexican national championship trophy. Soon after, Milu won the championship again in the Central American National Club Tournament. Later, Milu encountered a low point in his career. Years of injuries and declining physical fitness made him no longer adapt to the harshness of the court. Out of necessity, Milu made the decision to retire. However, Milu was still unwilling to give up football, a project he loved so much, and he simply decided to transition to becoming a coach. The process from athlete to coach is…

The Chinese national football team has been exposed to a major scandal, with one player reportedly taking money without doing any work. Despite repeated attempts by coach Ivan to persuade him, the player did not respond. Fans are expressing their frustration, saying that if he doesn't play, he should leave. During the Qatar World Cup, the Chinese team had a good chance of participating, with many naturalized players still in their prime. However, it was unexpected that the head coach had ulterior motives, which ultimately led to the downfall of the team. As a result, the team failed to qualify from the top 12 and did not make it to Qatar. The person responsible for the team's failure has since faced consequences for their actions. Now, the Chinese team is aiming for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Among the naturalized players, Luo Guofu stayed in Brazil, while Ai Kesen's performance has significantly declined. In the two victories the team achieved, they played well even without Alan and Fernandinho. Currently, the only remaining naturalized player is Jiang Guangtai. Hou Yongyong has joined the training camp this time, but whether he can make the final 23-man squad will depend on Ivan's assessment. Some may notice that the article does not mention Li Ke, who recently joined Shanghai Greenland Shenhua as a free agent. With a new head coach and many new players, the 31-year-old Li Ke is not too old to still contribute if given the opportunity. However, it seems that he is not part of…