The Chinese national football team has officially started training in Haikou to prepare for the upcoming top 18 matches. After nearly a year of adaptation, head coach Ivan Kozlovic has finally initiated an intense "cleaning" process. This reform is swift and fierce, leaving little room for compromise. The fate of four players has been completely rewritten, as the "immunity period" for nepotism has ended. Behind this ruthless elimination, Ivan's determination and goal are crystal clear: to take the national team further. It is crucial to note that the prospects for the national team in this edition of the top 18 matches are significant. With six points after the first six rounds, they sit at the bottom of the group, but the hope of qualifying for the World Cup remains shrouded in suspense. At this critical juncture, every decision Ivan makes concerns the future of the national team. To prevent the "deadwood" of the past from continuing to drag down the team, he resolutely launched a large-scale "cleaning" with the support of the Football Association. Behind the list described as "cruel," two veterans were mercilessly eliminated - Zhang Linpeng and Wu Xi. As former captains of the national team, their fall from grace was not unexpected. In recent years, these two players have shown a noticeable decline in form, yet they were frequently selected due to their "nepotistic" status, always starting in matches regardless of their performance. Fans' anger had been accumulating for a long time, but nothing ever changed. However, Ivan's arrival has completely transformed the situation. He does not…

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 3rd, a day of great significance for Chinese football, the national team officially announced the new roster, with a total of 32 players selected, and six of them from Shandong Taishan team, which has undoubtedly become a hot topic among fans and also shown the strong ability of Taishan team in talent delivery for the national team. These six selected Taishan team players are Wang Dalei, Li Yuan, Gao Zhunyi, Huang Zhenyu, Mai Wulang, and Xie Weneng. Looking closely at this list, we can't help but notice one newcomer who stands out, the 21-year-old Mai Wulang. For Shandong fans, the name Mai Wulang is not unfamiliar. Looking back at the just-passed 2024 season, he was a key young force cultivated by head coach Cui Kangxi. On the field, Mai Wulang showed a tenacious competitive style, a boldness to fight and an unyielding attitude to make moves, which made him stand out among many young players. It is precisely because of this that he won the trust of Cui Kangxi and was able to accumulate experience and show his potential in many games. And this time being able to enter the national team's big list, it highlights the high recognition and trust that Ivankovic has for this young player. It can be said that for Mai Wulang, this is a real double happiness. First of all, being selected into the 32-man list of the national team is an honor in itself, and it means that he is likely to get more opportunities to be reused in the future journey…