China's men's soccer team announced its 24-man roster yesterday in preparation for the 36-team World Qualifying Tournament, with Zhang Yuning recovering from injury and Ackerson's loss causing great concern. According to Guangzhou Daily, Jankovic's 24-man roster favors attacking players due to the necessity of getting three points in the first round of the 36 away to Thailand.
Up front, the national soccer team chose nine attackers in Wu Lei, Zhang Yuning, Wei Shihao, Xie Pengfei, Liu Binbin, Chen Pu, Xie Weijun, Lin Liangming and Tan Long. The list covers almost all of China's best strikers, including Tan Long, who was an overage player at the Hangzhou Asian Games. The media noted that Tan Long is the best player in the center forward position, and his replacements are Zhang Yuning and Xie Weijun.
Wu Lei and Wei Shihao should be the first choice for left and right wingers. Wu Lei was outstanding in La Liga last season, becoming the first Chinese player to score in La Liga. Wei Shihao has been in hot form in recent warm-up matches, contributing several key goals. In addition, Liu Binbin and Chen Pu can also retreat to play wingback, further enriching the attack means of the national football team.
It is worth noting that Tan Long has scored 10 goals in the Chinese Super League this season and is ranked 10th in the top scorers list. With his excellent form and rich experience, the 35-year-old has become the main center forward of the national football team led by Jankovic for the world qualifiers. However, Zhang Yuning's form is still uncertain after his return from injury and he will have to stay on the bench of the national soccer team.
The national soccer team's first-round opponent in the 36-team world qualifying tournament was Thailand. At the 2019 Asian Cup, the national soccer team came out victorious by defeating Thailand 2-1. The national soccer team will once again say that they will do their best to beat their opponents once again and set the stage for the World Cup.
According to media reports, Tan Long has emerged as the main center forward for Jankovic and the country's soccer world preseason with his outstanding performances in the Hangzhou Asian Games and the Chinese Super League. Wu Lei, Wei Shihao and other attackers will also provide strong support to the team's offensive line. We will see what happens when we face the upcoming World Qualifier 36!
