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Editor: Ennis Entertainment
The dust has settled on the group draw for the top 18 matches of the Asian zone of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, and the Chinese men's football team has once again been thrown into the "group of death" by fate, meeting with the Asian football powers.
The opponents in the same group include not only Asia's No. 1 Japan, traditional powerhouses Australia and Saudi Arabia, but also Bahrain and Indonesia, which undoubtedly paved the way for the Chinese team to qualify.
History clashes, and Indonesia's shadow is no longer there
Looking back on history, China's record against Indonesia seems to have brought a glimmer of comfort to the Chinese team.
In the past 13 meetings, the Chinese men's football team has an absolute advantage with a proud record of 9 wins, 3 draws and 1 loss, especially in the last five collisions, China has achieved an unbeaten record of 4 wins and 1 draw, and the only defeat dates back to 1957, 67 years ago.
In the most recent meeting, the Chinese men's team continued their strong campaign against Indonesia with a victory.
This undoubtedly added a psychological advantage to the national football players, and in the face of Indonesia, they had more faith in their hearts to win.
With Indonesia's rise, challenges remain
In recent years, Indonesian football has stepped up its naturalization policy, trying to quickly improve the strength of the national team by introducing overseas forces.
Despite its limited success, any slightness can become a fatal oversight.
In the round of 36 of the Asian zone of the World Preliminary Championships, the Indonesian team showed tenacious fighting spirit and good progress, their style of play became tougher, and their tactical execution was more resolute.
For the Chinese men's football team, this is by no means an obstacle that can be easily overcome.
Forge ahead, the national football team is reborn
Chinese football is in a period of unprecedented change, and the fight against match-fixing has become a key battle to purify the environment and reshape its image.
In this football field of self-redemption, the performance of the national team is particularly important, it carries the mission of inspiring and regaining confidence.
To this end, the Chinese Football Association invited Croatian coach Ivankovic to take charge of the coach, and the arrival of this experienced tactician has undoubtedly injected a shot in the arm for the Chinese men's football team.
After Ivankovic took office, he not only focused on the current competition, but also took a long-term view, proposing to tap potential new stars in the Chinese Football Super League (Chinese Super League), reduce the dependence on foreign naturalized players, and instead pay attention to the cultivation of local players, especially Wu Lei, who has high hopes on the front line, is regarded as the team's sword to attack the city.
In addition, Ivan emphasizes teamwork and the reshaping of mental outlook, and strives to build an iron-blooded division that is both technical and capable of fighting tough battles.
The arrival of coach Ivankovic is not only a simple change of coach, but an important step in the strategic transformation of Chinese football.
He knows that to stand out in a group surrounded by strong opponents, it is not enough to rely on the existing line-up.
So, Ivan began to implement his "youth blueprint", going deep into the Chinese Super League clubs, personally inspecting those young players who are emerging in the league, these young players may not have been perfected in their skills, but they have unlimited potential and desire to win, it is this passion and vitality that gives Ivan hope for the future of the national team.
On the training ground, Ivan emphasises high-intensity confrontations and quick passing and receiving of the ball, with the intention of building a team that can operate smoothly under high pressure.
At the same time, he also does not forget the psychological construction, regularly organize team activities, enhance the tacit understanding and trust between players, he knows that football is a team sport, every minute on the field needs eleven people to think in one place, work in one place.
Wu Lei: Sharp knives on the front line, leading the way
In this series of changes, Wu Lei is undoubtedly the soul of the team.
The striker, who had travelled to La Liga, returned with more mature skills and a deep understanding of the game, becoming the core of Ivan's tactical system.
Wu Lei's speed and breakthrough ability allow him to always find flaws in the face of dense defense, and his experience in the European arena also allows him to handle the ball more calmly at critical moments, becoming the key to the team's attack.
Ivan has designed a series of flexible offensive routines around Wu Lei, aiming to maximize Wu Lei's personal characteristics and also stimulate the potential of other attackers.
In the coordination drills again and again, the team's offense gradually found its rhythm, and the connection between the players became more and more tacit, as if an unstoppable force was quietly condensing.
Indigenous power rises
Faced with the controversy over the naturalization policy in the past, Ivan offered a different opinion.
He believes that naturalized players can indeed improve the strength of the team in the short term, but in the long run, the growth of local players is the foundation of Chinese football.
Therefore, he encouraged the club to increase investment in youth training, establish a more scientific and reasonable youth training system, and send more fresh blood to the national team.
At the national team level, Ivan prefers to promote homegrown players who have performed well in the league and have room to grow, so that they can be trained on the stage of international competitions.
The strategy quickly paid off, with a number of previously unknown young players beginning to emerge, not only enriching the tactical options of the national team, but more importantly, representing the future and hope of Chinese football.
A fierce battle is imminent, and the whole people are concerned
With the World Preliminary Tournament approaching, the attention of the men's football team across the country has reached a boiling point.
Fans are buzzing on social media, whether it's speculation about the lineup or analysis of tactics, everyone is expressing their support for Chinese football in their own way.
Businesses have also taken action, all kinds of cheering activities, advertising campaigns are overwhelming, and the whole country seems to be swept away by a football craze.
In such a high atmosphere, every member of the Chinese men's football team feels a heavy responsibility on their shoulders.
They know that this is not just a game, but a battle to prove themselves and win glory for their country.
In the face of the imminent strong enemy, there is no fear in their eyes, only determination and expectation.
Hit the World Cup and write a new chapter
Under the leadership of Ivankovic, the Chinese men's football team embarked on a new journey to impact the 2026 World Cup.
In the face of the severe test of the "Death Group", they are ready to rewrite history with sweat and hard work to create their own miracles.
Every training, every confrontation, is a solid step towards the dream.
Regardless of the final outcome, the efforts of this generation of players and coaching teams have left a strong mark on the history of Chinese football.
In the days to come, when people recall this time, they may remember how the Chinese men's football team broke out in adversity that summer, and how it used one victory after another to ignite the football enthusiasm of the people of the whole country, and let the world see the tenacity and hope of Chinese football.
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