The Chinese team was placed in Group C, along with Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Indonesia.
Japan is a top team in Asia, and there is almost no suspense about qualifying for the World Cup.
Australia has good strength, Saudi Arabia has strong financial resources, Bahrain is the bitter master of the national football team, and Indonesia has excellent youth training, and its strength should not be underestimated.
The AFC's grouping results undoubtedly presented a difficult problem for the Chinese team. Group C is the "Group of Death" and includes Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Indonesia in addition to China.
Every opponent should not be underestimated, and they may become a stumbling block on the road to the promotion of the national football team.
As a super-class team in Asia, the strength of the Japanese team is undoubted. They have performed well in the past World Cup qualifiers and qualifying for the main tournament is almost a certainty.
The Japanese team has a number of players who play in Europe's top leagues, such as Kenhiro Tomiyasu and Shinji Okazaki, who play in the Premier League. These players are experienced in international competitions and highly skilled and will put a lot of pressure on the Chinese team's defence.
Although the Australian team belongs to Oceania geographically, it belongs to the Asian zone in football. This team has a good quality and has participated in the main tournament of the World Cup many times.
Australia are known for their physicality and tenacity, and their high-altitude tactics are particularly troubling for their opponents. In the face of such a tough head, the Chinese team needs to be fully prepared tactically and psychologically.
Saudi Arabia has grown rapidly in recent years, and its league has attracted many world-class stars with its deep pockets. Although these foreign players are unable to represent the national team, their addition has undoubtedly improved the level of Saudi homegrown players.
The Saudi team showed good strength by beating Argentina in the 2022 World Cup. When facing Saudi Arabia, the Chinese team needs to be wary of the threat of a quick counterattack from the other side.
Although the overall strength of the Bahrain team is not as good as the previous teams, it is an old rival for the Chinese team. In past meetings, the Bahrain team has caused problems for the national football team on several occasions.
In the semi-finals of the 2004 Asian Cup, the Bahrain team eliminated the Chinese team. This psychological advantage could play a role in future matches and the Chinese team will need to overcome the psychological barrier against Bahrain.
Although the Indonesian team is ranked low in the world, it has done well in youth training in recent years. They also have several naturalized Dutch players, which has breathed new life into the team.
In the face of the Indonesian team, the Chinese team cannot take it lightly and must pay full attention to every opponent.
In such a difficult group, the prospects for the Chinese team to qualify are not optimistic. The odds given by a number of bookmakers show that the chances of the Chinese team advancing to the next round are almost zero.
This undoubtedly poured cold water on the team and fans, but it may also inspire the fighting spirit of the national football team.
To add insult to injury, at this critical moment, head coach Ivankovic temporarily left the team to deal with personal matters.
The Serbian coach has been working to improve the squad since he took over the Chinese team in 2019. His temporary departure has sparked concern among fans and the media.
Still, Ivankovic is not out of the question. It is understood that he has designed a framework preparation plan before leaving, and handed it over to the assistant coaching team to implement.
He plans to refine his preparations during the holidays, keep a close eye on the Chinese Super League, and return to China on July 10. This shows his sense of responsibility and professionalism towards the Chinese team.
Despite the challenges, head coach Ivankovic remains positive.
He is well aware of the huge pressure that the opponents in the same group will put on the team, and calls on the whole team to work together and give it their all.
Ivankovic stressed: "There are no weak teams in this group, every opponent is strong. We have to rely on the strength of the team and give it our all to win every game. "
In addition to the emphasis on teamwork, the boss has another idea: he may restart the "naturalisation scheme" and bring in quality players to improve the current situation.
Ivankovic admitted: "Although there are several naturalized players in the team, people like Ackerson are older. We are seriously considering whether to bring in new players to improve the overall strength of the squad. "
The Chinese Football Association is also actively creating conditions for the preparation of the national football team. They are communicating with clubs and planning to adjust the Super League schedule to make time for the national team's training camp.
At present, the 24th round of the Chinese Super League has been confirmed to be advanced to July 19-21, which will provide more time for the national football team to prepare for the World Preliminaries. Most clubs support this, showing the determination of the Chinese football community.
In terms of home selection, a number of cities have submitted applications to host home matches in the round of 18. Among them, the Dalian competition area has received special attention due to its geographical advantages and suitable climatic conditions, especially the match against Saudi Arabia may be scheduled here.
Choosing the right home stadium is crucial for the national football team to maximize the home advantage.
In the face of such a difficult task, the national football team needs to develop targeted tactics. For the Japanese team, the Chinese team may adopt a defensive counterattack strategy, taking advantage of the gaps that may arise when the opponent attacks.
Against the Australian team, they will need to strengthen their high-altitude ball defense while using their speed advantage to break through the opposition defence. Against the Saudi team, the Chinese team should be wary of the opponent's quick counterattack and maintain the compactness of the formation.
In addition to tactical preparation, it is also important to strengthen the tacit understanding and teamwork between players. In the limited training time, the coaching staff needs to improve the cooperation between the players through various training methods.
Only by forming an overall combat capability can we make a difference in a group surrounded by strong enemies.
Faced with a difficult group situation and the temporary departure of the coach, the road to the World Cup for the Chinese team is full of challenges. However, the difficulties are not insurmountable.
Through scientific preparation, reasonable tactical arrangements, and the hard work of the players, the Chinese team still has the potential to create miracles. Regardless of the outcome, this round of 18 will be an important experience on the road to the development of Chinese football.
It is expected that the national football team can show tenacious fighting spirit and outstanding performance in the game, and bring surprise and pride to Chinese fans.
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