It's impossible to beat Japan without wanting to win, and while the internationals may not have beaten them yet, Ivankovic has had success. In 2021, Ivankovic was the head coach of Oman, where he led his team to a 1-0 victory in the qualifiers. Japan's star players such as Junya Ito and Air Endo were involved in the match, so Ivan's victory was very golden. If the national football team wants to beat Japan, the head coach must have some unique tactics, and defensive counterattack will be the only strategy.
To win matches, it is vital to fully utilize the role of the strikers. The Chinese soccer team's five strikers Zhang Yuning, Baihe Lamu, Fernando, Alan and Wu Lei will be used in a flexible mix. In games against stronger teams, Baiduramu and Fernando are more suitable. Wu Lei is in excellent form with the number of goals he has scored in the Chinese Super League reaching the peak of his career. Unfortunately, the national soccer team does not have a player like Oscar. He looked a bit invisible against a game of Shenhua's intensity, while he and Zhang Yuning were more appropriate on the bench against Japan. He could have played better in the last 30 minutes of the game, similar to the "Tian Ji Race Horse" strategy.
On September 5th at 18:35, China will face Japan on the road, followed by Saudi Arabia at home on the 10th. Due to the close proximity, the players are spared the fatigue of long distance traveling. Ivankovic picked his more familiar players. It would be perfect if they can unexpectedly win a game and get three points; even just one point is acceptable. Can Wu Lei be a key player for the team? Who will be the starting goalkeeper, Wang Dalei or Yan Junling, are all questions filled with uncertainty. Two naturalized players, Alan and Fernando, will be the key to change the team in the forward position. Most of the Japanese players play in European leagues and have outstanding individual abilities, but there are still opportunities to be exploited.
