FIFA has promoted the expansion of the military system to 48 teams in order to enhance the commercial value of the World Cup, but the AFC's grouping decision has made the national football team in the same group as the Asian powerhouses, and there is little hope of qualifying.
FIFA's decision to expand the number of participating teams to 48 will not only provide a stage for more countries to showcase their football prowess, but also further tap the commercial potential of the World Cup.
However, for the Chinese national team, this expansion plan did not bring more hope of qualifying as expected.
The main purpose of FIFA's expansion is to attract more influential countries to participate in the tournament, thereby increasing the overall commercial value of the World Cup.
As one of the world's largest markets, China is undoubtedly the object of great importance for FIFA.
Through the expansion, FIFA hopes to attract more Chinese audiences and sponsors. But the reality is not as expected. The AFC's grouping decision puts the national football team in the same group as the Asian powerhouse, making the Chinese team's path to qualification extremely difficult.
At 3 p.m. on June 27, 2024, the much-anticipated World Cup group draw ceremony was held as scheduled. Chinese fans are full of expectations and hope that the national football team can be divided into a relatively favorable group.
However, the results were a big disappointment.
China have been drawn in Group C as a bracket of five, alongside Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Indonesia. The result of this grouping has made the qualification situation of the national football team extremely grim.
Although the number of places in the Asian Cup has been increased to 8.5, this "expansion bonus" does not seem to bring much practical benefit to the Chinese team.
The road to qualification for the national football team is still full of thorns, and the AFC's grouping arrangement has made the Chinese team face a huge challenge. In Group C, the national football team will not only have to face strong Japan and Australia, but also have to compete fiercely with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Indonesia.
These opponents have a wealth of experience in participating in the World Cup, and their strength should not be underestimated.
For the national football team, this is an unprecedented challenge, which requires the whole team to unite and go all out.
The Saudis are a strong opponent in Group C. In the past 20 years, the Chinese team's record against Saudi Arabia has not been ideal, with only 1 win, 2 draws and 3 losses.
The Saudi team is not only strong, but also psychologically superior. In the face of such an opponent, the national football team must go all out and strive to make a breakthrough in every game.
In recent years, the Indonesian team has greatly improved the team's combat effectiveness by naturalizing a group of outstanding foreign players. For the national football team, it will not be easy to beat Indonesia.
Every game is going to be a tough game and you need the players to perform at their best on the pitch. Bahrain is another opponent of the national football team in Group C.
Although the national football team has maintained an unbeaten record of 3 wins and 4 draws against Bahrain in the past 7 meetings, the situation in the group stage this time is still grim.
The national team will have to go all out to get six points from their two games against Bahrain to lay the groundwork for qualification. In the face of such a tight schedule, the preparation of the national football team is particularly important.
Coach Ivankovic and his players are still in the run-in, and they need to determine the tactical arrangement and game mentality as soon as possible. Every game is a huge test for the team, and the players' fitness, tactical execution and mental state will have a direct impact on the outcome of the game.
The national football team has a very tight schedule, which means that the players have little respite.
Playing multiple high-intensity games in a short period of time can be a huge challenge for players, both physically and mentally.
Ivankovic needs to motivate the whole team in a short period of time, find the best tactical plan and make sure that every player can perform at their best on the pitch.
In stark contrast to Group C is the situation in Group B. The teams in this group are relatively flat in terms of strength and market influence.
Such disparities in the results of the group begs the question: is FIFA taking into account the fairness of the competition while expanding the size of the participating teams?
It is undeniable that the group with the participation of the Chinese team has an incomparable advantage in terms of commercial value. This will not only attract the attention of more sponsors, but also greatly increase the interest of the global audience.
However, is this tilt contrary to the essence of competitive football?
FIFA's decision-making seems to be striking a balance between commercial interests and competitive fairness, but there is clearly room for improvement. While pursuing economic benefits, more attention should also be paid to the fairness and intensity of the competition itself.
After all, it's the excitement of the game that really attracts the audience, not the sheer appeal of the market. Chinese football has made great strides in infrastructure construction in recent years.
New football fields and training bases have provided better training conditions for players.
At the same time, the support of the government and enterprises also provides sufficient financial guarantee for the development of football. The perfect infrastructure has laid a solid foundation for the long-term development of the national football team, and also provided a guarantee for cultivating more outstanding football talents.
Youth football training is the key to the future development of Chinese football. A growing number of soccer schools and youth tournaments are providing a platform for young players to showcase their talents.
Through systematic training and competitions, these young players are expected to become the backbone of the future national football team.
The development of youth football can not only improve the overall level of football, but also provide a steady stream of fresh blood for the national football team. While facing many challenges, the national football team must also maintain firm beliefs.
Only by constantly improving their own strength and having the courage to face all kinds of difficulties can they achieve better results in future competitions.
The players need to put more effort into training, and the coaching staff need to constantly refine their tactics to ensure they perform at their best every game.
The spirit of unity and cooperation, tenacious struggle, and never say die is the core concept that the national football team has always emphasized. In good times and bad, this spirit is the team's most valuable asset.
In the face of strong enemies, the national football team needs to carry forward this spirit, unite as one, and go all out.
Only by maintaining this spirit can the national football team create miracles in the difficult group stage.
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