The Chinese Football Association (CFA) announced the national team list for the first two matches of the 36-team world qualifying tournament yesterday, according to Tianjin media outlet Daily News. And just because the players were not selected does not mean the door to the national team is closed to them. Coach Yang Shuai has a big list of about 50 players in his hands for the three phases of the 36-team tournament, which will last until June next year, a rather long process. Yang will dynamically adjust the squad at any time depending on the players' form and injuries.
Here is the list of 24 players: goalkeepers Yan Junling, Wang Dalei, Liu Dangzheng; defenders Zhang Linpeng, Jiang Guangtai, Liu Yang, Li Lei, Zhu Chenjie, Jiang Shenglong, and Wu Shaochong from Turkey Youth United Club; midfielders Wang Shangyuan, Wu Xi, Dai Weijun, Li Ke, Gao Tianyi, Liu Binbin, Chen Pu, Lin Liangming, Wei Shihao, Xie Pengfei; and strikers Wu Lei, Tan Long, Zhang Yuning, and Xie Weijun. These players are required to report to the base camp in Shenzhen by 17:00 on the 9th. Naturalized player Eckerson failed to meet the selection criteria of head coach Jankovic, while injured player Xie Weijun showed strong determination to fight for his country, and after confirming that there is no major impact, Jankovic called him into the national team. Zhang Yuning, who has not played for almost a season, will also return. It is reported that Jankovic has fully confirmed the players' physical and mental conditions before submitting the list.
However, some fans don't fully agree with Yang Shuai's personnel choices. They believe that it is unexplainable that Yang did not select the players who are currently in the best form, while those who have not participated in the national team training and warm-ups this year have been selected. Others believe that Yang Shuai is too insistent on using some veterans, which is not a good practice. Some even said that they can prepare for the 2030 World Cup qualifiers. Overall, the outside world is not very satisfied with the Chinese team's upcoming World Qualification trip list. For the two matches in November, most people think it would be good to get a draw on the road.
China's national soccer team will have two important matches in the 36-team phase of the world qualifying tournament on Nov. 16 and 21, away to Thailand and at home to South Korea.
