China drew 0-0 with Tajikistan in their first match of the Asian Cup group stage. After this match, the national soccer team had only one point and had to play well in the group matches against Lebanon and Qatar in order to guarantee advancement. CFA President Song Kai took the initiative to communicate with the team's work team on the front line of the Asian Cup in Doha, encouraging them to do a good job of the technical work of the whole team's training while guiding the players to adjust their mentality as much as possible, putting forward the 16-word requirement of seriously summarizing, adjusting, maintaining the mentality, and keeping the goal unchanged.
"Stay with the team until the end of the game."
The Chinese team continued to train at Qatar University 3 in Doha at 10am local time yesterday. Shortly after head coach Jankovic's training session, Song Kai entered the stadium accompanied by Luo Zhao, the head of the FA's foreign affairs department. At the invitation of the AFC, Song Kai arrived in Doha on January 11 and then attended the opening ceremony of the 2023 Asian Cup, which took place on the evening of the 12th local time, to watch the opening match of Qatar vs. Lebanon.
After that, Song Kai did not return to China immediately. In an interview with Beijing Youth Daily, he said:Â "I will stay with the team until the last moment of the game. At this time, I must care, encourage and help the national soccer team."
It is understood that on the morning of the 13th local time, the day after the opening of the Asian Cup, Song Kai entered the hotel of the national football team. Upon arrival, he quickly communicated with the team's coaches and working group members. The weak performance of the Chinese team in the first match made it difficult to satisfy the new leader of the Chinese Football Association (CFA). Although there is a voice that Zhu Chenjie's goal in the live game was blown away by a controversial penalty, Song Kai believes that the Chinese team did not get off to a good start or a bad performance, so he should find the reason from himself.
The players are psychologically burdened
For the first round of the group stage of the national football team's poor performance, the possession rate, shooting ratio and other key data is the best evidence. At the scene, the media reporters watching the game were surprised by the Chinese team's "relentless" kicking and passing back in the course of the game - did the Chinese team really want to use this kind of "pressing" style of play? The Chinese team really wants to use this kind of "pressing" style of play.
An insider of the national soccer team commented after the game, "Most of the players seemed afraid to take the ball, and seemed to be afraid of losing the ball." The national soccer team is currently burdened with a heavy psychological burden in the actual game.
"Top 8" goal unchanged
For this reason, Songkai approached members of the national soccer team, hoping that they could guide the players to maintain a normal mindset on a psychological level. Songkai traveled to the team's training site and also wanted to understand the international players' physical condition and psychological state, showing that they always accompany and support the team.
In addition, from Song Kai to the national football team put forward "serious summary, adjustment, keep the mentality, keep the goal unchanged" requirements, the Asian Cup national football team to compete for the top eight goals will not change.
forward camping
The odds are stacked against Lebanon for the national soccer team.
Yesterday morning, local time, the Chinese team went for an outdoor training session at Qatar University's Field 3 in Doha. Notably, first captain Wu Xi returned to the joint training camp of the national soccer team. This is the first time Wu Xi has participated in training with the ball since his arrival in Doha on the 7th. Wei Shihao, an attacker who also missed the first round match against Tajikistan due to injury, practiced in a single session accompanied by the team doctor. All indications are that China will change their lineup for the match against Lebanon.
Prior to the start of the practice, the NorthJersey reporter saw 20 members of the media in attendance at the Carters' practice field #3.
The first captain Wu Xi returned to the team's joint training lineup after continuing to practice alone due to injury. Recalling the scene of the first match of the Asian Cup group stage of the national football team "waist soft", Wu Xi's return is undoubtedly the team's good news.
Also of note, wing attacker Wei Shihao, who caused a strain during pre-World War I training, returned to the practice field. He did not take part in the cooperative training, but instead jogged and trained alone on the sidelines accompanied by team doctor Kim Il. Zhang Linmiao, who is physically tired, was also on the sidelines for physical training.
Combined with the problems exposed in the first round of matches, China's head coach Jankovic is likely to adjust the starting lineup in the second round of matches on the 17th, and the direction of the candidate's adjustment is likely to focus on the midfield, i.e., the forward and back positions.
Yesterday's training still took place only 15 minutes before the media opening. Thereafter, the national football team training turned to technical and tactical drills, i.e. the posing session.
