This World Cup qualifier match was nothing short of an awakening battle for the Chinese team. It's not just about winning against Bahrain but also about regaining the confidence of some fans, particularly in terms of tactical and mental shifts. This transformation, as highlighted by Dong Lu, is a critical step for Chinese football to emerge from confusion and find its direction. Despite Bahrain's dominance in possession, China managed to break the deadlock with a timely counter-attack in the second half, securing a 1-0 victory. This win brought China two consecutive victories in the qualifiers and pushed them up to fourth place in their group. Though the statistics may seem modest, this victory is far from ordinary; it signifies a strategic and mental awakening. Dong Lu described the tactical shift in this game as an "awakening." He suggests that Chinese football has often been trapped by a culture of face, overly focusing on ball possession and field dominance, leading to overconfidence or self-deception. In this match against Bahrain, China finally shed its past baggage and chose a more practical and pragmatic path. Specifically, China opted for a conservative approach: abandoning possession in favor of defense and direct long passes. This decision might appear passive at first glance but is, in fact, a pragmatic one. Facing a strong opponent like Bahrain, attempting to compete head-on for possession could have led to a passive situation. Instead, by relinquishing the ball to strengthen defense and focusing on creating opportunities through counter-attacks, China ensured defensive stability while posing threats through swift attacks. Some fans…

The latest training roster for the national football team has surprised fans as two key players, Wu Lei and Jiang Guangtai, have been left out due to injuries. However, the emergence of eight young newcomers has caught everyone's attention, suggesting that coach Ivan is keen on testing these fresh faces ahead of two tough matches in March. The changes in the training roster are significant, with Liu Dianzuo, Jiang Guangtai, and Wu Lei all missing from the list. Wu Lei's injury appears to be quite serious, as it is reported that he will need a long period of rest before he can return to training and competition. The competition for the goalkeeper position has always been fierce, so Liu Dianzuo's omission was somewhat expected. Wang Dalei has consistently shown good form, and other young goalkeepers have also performed well. Jiang Guangtai's absence is indeed concerning, as he plays a crucial role in the defense, especially against physically strong opponents. We hope he recovers quickly. The eight newly selected players are all young, with Jian Tao and Han Pengfei performing well in the league. Young talents like Wu Mitijiang and Mai Ulang, both only 20 years old, have also been included, indicating that the coaching staff is seriously considering the future. The average age of this squad is just over 26, with Wang Dalei being the exception among a group of post-90s and post-00s players, making it one of the youngest national teams in recent years. With more young players, there is undoubtedly an advantage in terms of physical fitness and…

On January 6th, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) announced the list of professional clubs eligible for the 2025 season. The list revealed that Guangzhou FC, a two-time AFC Champions League winner and eight-time Chinese Super League (CSL) champion, did not meet the standards and was ineligible to participate. Six hours after the announcement, Guangzhou Club released a statement declaring that due to its heavy historical debt, the funds raised were insufficient to repay the debts, and it could no longer compete in China's professional football league. Although the full text of Guangzhou Club's announcement contained factual errors (referring to the CSL eight-time champion as an eight consecutive championship), it did not mention any subsequent arrangements, did not mention the word "dissolution," and did not bear the club's official seal. However, various media outlets and the football industry have firmly concluded that Guangzhou FC is effectively dissolved. Currently, only 21 fan associations of Guangzhou Club are still unwilling to accept this outcome. They have issued a joint open letter demanding an explanation from the club and appealing to the CFA to understand the specific reasons for their exclusion from eligibility... Guangzhou Club announces its inability to continue participating in Chinese professional football leagues / Guangzhou Club Official WeChat Public Account Some fans believe that the final reason Guangzhou Club did not pass the eligibility criteria was because national team player Wei Shihao, who was once part of the club, publicly demanded his wages, which was the "last straw" that broke the camel's back. On December 20th last year, the CFA announced…

Recently, the red ocean of basketball has receded early, and the football field has once again been filled with the cheers and shouts of various teams seeking opportunities. It's another season that football fans have been eagerly awaiting, with everyone's attention focused on the fiercely competitive fertile ground of the Chinese Super League (CSL). Especially for Beijing Guoan, a traditional powerhouse team, their performance in the new season is eye-catching, making people忍不住想说：“Guoan really won big!” Speaking of this topic, a recent episode left a deep impression. According to the report of "China Sports Daily", Guoan has gradually shown its strong team strength during the winter training period in the new season's preparations, and made bold attempts and adjustments in player recruitment and coaching staff, especially the iconic introduction of Setien, a world-renowned coach, which caused quite a stir in the football circle. On the national team side, there was also good news. The Chinese Football Association announced the latest training list at the beginning of this month, among which Guoan received a substantial nomination, with as many as 7 players selected, which is astonishing. This number is not easy. Other teams are struggling to make ends meet, but only Guoan can be said to have "unique scenery". As time goes by, we gradually see that Guoan has indeed taken the lead in many aspects. After last season, the team introduced Setien, who is known as the "football philosopher," began to formulate specific and meticulous plans for player recruitment and preparation for the team. Guoan is not only decisive in the…

Last week, the highly anticipated official announcement of the new training squad for the national football team was made, which includes a total of 32 players actively preparing for the two crucial top 18 qualifiers set to kick off in March against strong opponents Saudi Arabia and Australia. According to detailed statistical data, the average age of the new national team training squad is 26.7 years old, clearly reflecting the national team's strategy of optimizing its age structure. Among them, it is noteworthy that a total of 11 post-00s players have been selected, with Hou Yongyong, Maiwulong, Jian Tao, and Wumiti Jiang all donning the national team's jersey for the first time. This move fully reflects head coach Ivan Kozlovic's firm determination to continue promoting the rejuvenation of the national team. For example, in past games, young players were often questioned due to their lack of experience, but Ivan Kozlovic dared to break conventions and boldly启用newcomers, a boldness that has won warm acclaim from many fans. With newcomers entering the national team camp, it inevitably means that there will be old ones exiting. For instance, Wu Lei, Jiang Guangtai, and Liu Dianzuo, with Liu Dianzuo, the goalkeeper, already 34 years old, it is reasonable for him to be abandoned by Ivan Kozlovic from the perspective of competitive form and long-term development. The younger Jian Tao, on the other hand, serves as a reserve force for the national team's goalkeeping talent, adding more possibilities for future matches. Furthermore, an in-depth analysis of the distribution of players across various clubs reveals that…

In the field of football, there is a young man shining with oriental charm not far away in Portugal. He is called Francisco Wang, and the Portuguese like to call this talented 14-year-old Chinese youngster. The news about Francisco Wang's hot football career was first exposed by Portuguese sports media. It turned out that this child from Qingtian, Zhejiang, born in the small town of Abrantes, Portugal, wore the No. 7 jersey of the Portuguese U15 national team to participate in the UEFA Development Cup. This event is known as the European Championship for 15-year-old players and is important in the youth training circle. In the three group matches, Francisco Wang played in all of them, playing 75 minutes, 55 minutes, and 46 minutes respectively. Although he failed to score, his performance won unanimous praise from the coaching staff and fans, earning him the title of "genius midfielder." With his excellent form, Portugal U15 eventually advanced to the quarter-finals as the top of the group. Just a few days ago, Francisco Wang followed the team to defeat Spain U15 in the semi-finals and will compete with Germany U15 in the final. His outstanding performance has been highly regarded by the Portuguese sports department, which may give Francisco Wang the green light to represent Portugal at various national teams. There is no need to be surprised by Francisco Wang's current achievements. Since the age of 8, he has joined the Benfica youth training camp in the Portuguese Super League and has always been the brightest new star in the youth training…

Currently, although the Chinese Super League is still in its winter break, the anti-corruption and anti-gambling storm in Chinese football continues, with Chinese fans continuing to pay close attention. The first batch of banned list released by the Football Association previously caused a sensation, and now the second batch of banned list will soon be announced. In the first batch of banned list, as many as 43 people were banned for life, including influential players such as Sun Junhao, Jin Jingdao, and Guo Tianyu from Shandong Taishan team, and former international Wang Song was also on the list, along with another 17 players who were banned for 5 years. The release of this list came as a surprise to many and sparked widespread attention and discussion, making people realize the intensity of the anti-corruption struggle in Chinese football. As time goes on, rumors about the second batch of banned list continue to heat up. It was previously reported that the list would be announced before the end of the league and the end of 2024, but until now, it remains elusive with no signs of movement. However, with the sentencing of former national team coach Li Tie and the impending sentencing of former international Qin Sheng, it is widely believed that the announcement of the second batch of banned list should be imminent, and it is rumored that there will likely be some unexpected heavyweight players on the list. Recently, famous football media personality Miao Yuan revealed a major scoop, saying that among the second batch of banned list is…

Translation: The 2026 World Cup Asian Qualifiers Round of 18 has completed six rounds, and the next stage of the competition will resume in March 2025, a critical period for determining the qualification situation. The Chinese men's football team will face Saudi Arabia away and Australia at home in March. To better prepare for these decisive battles, the Chinese national team will hold training from January 8 to January 18. Ivanković announced the latest list of players for the national team training camp, as follows: Compared to the previous national team roster, Ivanković has called up eight newcomers and dropped three veterans. In the goalkeeper position, Liu Dianzuo did not make it into this training roster, replaced by young player Jian Tao. On the defensive line, Jiang Guangtai and veteran Wu Lei were not selected. Players making their first appearance under Ivanković's leadership include Hou Yongyong, Huang Zhengyu, Mai Wulang, Yang Liyu, Han Pengfei, Wu Shaocong, and Wumiti Jiang. According to statistics, the average age of the players in this training camp is 26.7 years old, with a total of 11 players born after 2000, showing Ivanković's determination to push for rejuvenation in the national team, which is great news for Chinese football. From the training roster, Hou Yongyong's inclusion has attracted the most attention from fans. Hou Yongyong plays in the Norwegian First Division and scored a total of 19 goals with 8 assists last season, becoming the top scorer and winning the Best Player award in the league. Therefore, Hou Yongyong's selection can be said to be well-deserved.…

Hubei Youth Star has recently been embroiled in a controversy that not only questions the morality of its players but also exposes the Chinese football youth training system to public scrutiny once again. The protagonist of this incident is Player No. 49, Wang Moumou, who was once seen as a promising star for the future of Chinese football. However, his name has now become synonymous with scandal. The incident began with a video posted by a blogger named Jia Qi Zhaozhao on social media, exposing several players from Hubei Youth Star for their indecent behavior, frequenting nightclubs and engaging in intimate contact with women, leading a life of indulgence. Wang Moumou, as the focal point, seems to have been involved in more egregious behavior. These young players, aged only 19 or 18, are at the prime of their lives, yet they have chosen to live such an irresponsible lifestyle. The blogger did not directly show any specific improper behavior in the video but pointed out the professional conduct issues of the players, criticizing them for having no sense of responsibility towards their profession and future. Although the video was deleted, the impact of the incident has not faded away. Public opinion has pushed Hubei Youth Star and these players into the limelight. Fans are understandably angry and disappointed with the players' actions. These young players possess rare talent and potential, yet they have lost themselves in the pursuit of fame and wealth. One cannot help but ask: Is this talent worth being squandered in such a way? Some netizens commented…

Beijing Guoan Club has arranged a series of winter training plans early in order to achieve good results next season. However, the original cancellation of the winter training plan by the Football Association and the national team coach Ivankovic has changed, with an additional 10-day winter training plan scheduled for January 9th, which conflicts with Beijing Guoan Club's second phase of winter training starting on January 5th. With the arrival of new coach Setien's team and key signing Serginho in Beijing, the club has already gathered a complete squad at the Hainan Guoan Winter Training Base on the 5th, which is also the key stage of the entire winter training plan. Setien's tactical approach and personnel configuration will initially take shape during this period. However, due to the fact that seven Beijing Guoan players are included in the national team training list, the club and Setien have encountered a pleasant dilemma. On one hand, it shows that Beijing Guoan players' abilities are recognized; on the other hand, the absence of seven main players has caused Setien to be unable to train normally. This unexpected situation has indeed caught the Guoan Club off guard. Beijing Guoan faces a four-front battle this season, including the league, AFC Champions League, FA Cup, and the national team. If Serginho's naturalization is successful and Wu Shaocong and Wei Zhen can join smoothly, the number of players selected for the national team could increase to ten. Beijing Guoan Club has always prioritized the interests of the national team, selflessly contributing many main players to bring glory…