According to a new report from Beijing Youth Daily, the Chinese national soccer team is gearing up for the upcoming
Elite 18
. According to AFC regulations, teams are required to complete their initial player registration between July 15 and August 5, with each team submitting a minimum roster of 35 players, and there is no cap on the number of places available. A maximum of 23 players can be registered for each match, and the latest time for roster adjustments is 90 minutes before the match, and all participating players must be on the previously submitted roster.
national soccer team
Upon his return to Beijing on July 19, manager Ivan immediately began working with his coaching team on the list of players for the new training session. In view of the long-term nature of the 18-team tournament and the intensive league and cup schedule, the coaching staff of the national football team plans to initially select about 50 players to be included in the roster, and to go through the necessary visa procedures for these players in advance for away matches, in order to cope with possible injuries and other unforeseen circumstances.
This weekend, Ivan and his assistants will split up to travel to various divisions of the Chinese Super League to conduct field trips for international players. Ivan plans to watch Beijing Guoan take on Tianjin Jinmen Tigers on the evening of July 21 and travel to Cangzhou the following day to watch the Cangzhou Lions host Shanghai Shenhua. Meanwhile, Chinese assistant coach Zheng Zhi will also watch Shenzhen Xinpengcheng take on Changchun Yatai on the same evening.
Ivan emphasized that age will not be the only criterion in selecting international players, but players who have strength, are in good form and are willing to play for the country will be widely considered. For example, young players such as Wuhan Three Town's defender Gumitijiang have already caught the attention of the national soccer coaching staff.
In addition, the coaching staff of the national football team is also paying close attention to the situation of overseas players, including the naturalized player Hou Yongyong, who plays in the Norwegian Second Division League, and Wu Shaochong, a defender who will soon join a Polish club. On whether Hou Yongyong can be selected for the national football team, the coaching team said that we need to further evaluate his competitive status and the level of the Norwegian second league before making a decision.
