On the afternoon of August 30th, Beijing time, in preparation for the 2026 USA+Mexico World Cup Asian Qualifiers and the 2023 Qatar Asian Cup, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) announced a new phase of the national team training list, with a total of 24 international players selected. Shanghai Port, who just lost in the AFC Champions League play-offs, has become a big international exporter, with a total of 8 international players selected, accounting for 1|3 of the national team's entire squad.
Once the new training list of the national team was announced, it immediately aroused widespread skepticism and criticism from most Chinese fans and media. The outside world's skepticism about the new national team roster focused on the following three points.
First of all, Zhang Linpeng and Wang Shenchao in Shanghai Port's backline are too old and have been in poor form lately. How can they be selected for the new national soccer list at the same time? As we all know, recently, Shanghai Port failed to win four consecutive AFC Champions League play-off matches, and the reason why Shanghai Port is in poor form is because Zhang Linpeng and Wang Shenchao are the mainstay of the team's defense, and they should take a great deal of responsibility. It is really incomprehensible that Yankovic chose these two veterans who are in poor form without looking at the players' form.
Secondly, Beijing Guoan selected three international players, Li Ke, Li Lei and Wang Ziming. Apart from the undisputed selection of naturalized international player Li Ke, the selection of Li Lei and Wang Ziming lacked conviction. Li Lei's ability is unquestionable, but he has been injured recently and hasn't played a few games, so it's puzzling that he can also be selected for the national soccer team; Wang Ziming, who has been in relatively low form lately, so he can also be selected for the national soccer team, and I really don't know if Yankovic has ever watched any of the Chinese Premier League matches. Zhang Xizhe, the core of Guoan's midfield, has exploded in form recently, but was overlooked by Jankovic and could not be selected, which also made the outside world criticize.
Finally, in the Shandong Luneng team, this time the selection of Wang Dalei, Chen Pu, Sun Guowen. The selection of Wang Dalei and Chen Pu is indisputable, but the selection of Sun Guowen is a bit hard to understand. Sun Guowen has not only not been in good form lately, but he has not been able to play any games for Luneng. Why was he selected for the national soccer team? Shandong Luneng midfielder Li Yuanyi, who has been in hot form lately and has been widely recognized by the outside world, was dumped by Jankovic, and I really don't know what Jankovic's selection criteria are.
So, after reading the new national soccer training roster, most fans are very disappointed and we all agree that Jankovic is a bit of a mess. I'm afraid that if Jankovic brings such a group of international players to the World Qualifiers, the prospects are worrisome.
