The players of Shanghai Port were very happy after winning this season's local league Chinese Super League title. Some of the players who grew up training at the Genbao base also returned to the place where they succeeded in making a name for themselves and visited their teacher Xu Genbao. In an interview, Zhang Linpeng, Harbour's starting center back who is also a starting center back for the national team, said that although the team has managed to achieve their goal of winning this season, the season is far from over for them. It is far from a time to rest. After all, the next national team matches, especially the World Cup qualifiers, are the most crucial issue.
Zhang Linpeng said they will do their best to take the national soccer team one step further by having the national team appear on the 2026 World Cup stage in the United States, Canada and Mexico. It's a goal that's thought to be shared by many active international players. After all, after years of chastisement, the 2026 expansion gives the national soccer team some hope. Under new coach Jankovic, the national soccer team is also getting its feet wet and is able to recognize its place (although the results are still unsatisfactory). Depending on the relatively appropriate tactical adjustments, it faces different opponents.
If we can be pragmatic about each game, we could still have an impact on our dreams. After all, with 8.5 places to qualify and as many as four rounds of the qualifying system, the chances of qualifying are relatively favorable and a lot more chances for the national football team compared to the 4.5 places in the past. Zhang Linpeng's brother is also his partner. In Wang Shenchao's interview, everyone said they would work hard. However, we should know that these two players are relatively old. Although they are likely to participate in the last World Qualifier, many green fans still do not want to give them "face".
After all, Zhang Linpeng's cheap mistakes in the last World Qualifier indirectly buried his team's chances of advancing. As a result, more accusations were leveled against him, and a similar situation happened with Wang Shenchao. It's hard to predict what will play out in this tournament, and that's a very worrying thing.
Should we utilize the experience of these veterans or the energy of the young? This has caused a lot of controversy in the market.
However, coach Xu Genbao had faith in his disciples. Not only did he praise his disciples in the meeting, but he also pointed out that he should try to win glory for his country so that he can also touch the glory of his disciples. While jokes like this sound easy, I still hope that many nations will actually fulfill the coach's demands and expectations and perform well enough to repay the trust of their supporters.
I guess they won't trust themselves if there is still no chance of advancing with 8.5 spots.
