On May 14, 2023, the AFC officially notified that the Asian Cup tournament scheduled to be held in China would be relocated. This unexpected decision has undoubtedly had a major impact on the Chinese team's future training program. Although the Chinese team failed to qualify for the final round in the Qatar World Cup qualifiers, there are no major tournaments in the current year, and the performance of the Asian Cup is closely related to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, so the national team's preparations can still not be ignored.
The current head coach Li Xiaopeng's question of retention needs to be clarified, so that the team can quickly locate the direction of the new cycle of preparation. It is reported that since the end of March, the national football team ended the 12 strong journey, the team management did not make a public statement on the issue of the coaching team, which also makes Li Xiaopeng in an awkward situation.
With the 2023 Asian Cup change of address, although the Chinese team as one of the top 12 to advance to the final round of the Asian Cup, but due to the loss of the host status, the international rankings slipped to the 10th in Asia, can only be in the second or even the third tranche of the team's identity to participate in next year's Asian Cup.
According to the opening program reported by the CFA on May 16, the new season of the Chinese Super League will open on June 3rd. The FIFA and AFC calendars show that the latest cycle of international competitions will be from May 30 to June 14, which means that the national football team will not be able to organize training and matches during this period.
In accordance with the competition program, the CFA and CFF preparatory team are expected to organize five rounds of the FA Cup main competition or working league in September. As a result, the national football team may also not organize training and competitions in the international competition day cycle in that month. Taking into account the Qatar World Cup before the current year, the only remaining two international competition day cycle, coupled with the U23 national football team admitted to go to Japan to participate in the East Asian Cup, the national men's football team is likely to have no more tournament tasks in the current year.
It is not normal for a national team to go more than half a year without training or competition. Up to now, the AFC has not changed the program of the competition period, except for confirming the 2023 Asian Cup to be held in a different location. After the end of the Qatar World Qualification campaign, the Chinese team objectively needs to go through a renewal. Even if the team is affected by the epidemic in the short term can not carry out international warm-up matches, but still need to have the necessary preparatory planning, "group of dragons without a head" is obviously not appropriate. In this case, Li Xiaopeng team to stay or not, need to give a clear answer as soon as possible.
On May 16, a media report said that "the probability that the national football team will choose a new head coach". However, the CFA has not received such confirmation. It should be noted that the appointment of Li Xiaopeng's team is led by the sports management department of the national football "leading operation group" under the leadership of the implementation, so even if the confirmation of the change of command, but also need to be by the team management through a rigorous process to the specific implementation. From this perspective, the decision-making power around this matter is not in the CFA, or the CFA is also waiting.
On the question of Li Xiaopeng's retention, so far there is no clear answer. It is understood that when the team management selected Li Xiaopeng had made it clear that, under normal circumstances, the national football team will not be changed in the short term, which is similar to the national women's football team selected Shui Qingxia as the head coach of the situation.
However, up to now, the team management did not give a clear answer to the question of Li Xiaopeng's retention. Li Xiaopeng has not even received the notice of "reporting the last 4 rounds of the 12 rounds of the team work". In other words, Li Xiaopeng has not given a clear answer as to whether he will stay or leave his post. Strictly speaking, Li Xiaopeng is still the head coach of the national football team, so should he continue to prepare for the next stage of the team to start the preparatory work?
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Lok Kwok Fu gets his first start in his return to the Barclays Premier League
In the 6th round of the Brazilian Primera A soccer tournament, which ended in the early morning of May 16th, Minero Americas lost 0-1 to Coritiba on the road at the Cueto Pereira Stadium. Chinese naturalized player Luo Guofu, who plays for the visiting team, made his debut in the match and was substituted in the 62nd minute. This was the first time for Luo Guofu to make his debut for his new club after returning to Brazilian professional soccer.
In the 5th round of the Barclays Premier League on May 8, Beijing time, Minero Americano had defeated Atletico Mineiro 2-1 on the road. And respectively played in the two teams of Luo Guofu, Hulk two Chinese super old man in this competition to realize the special reunion. Unfortunately, both failed to score. In the match, Luo Guofu did not make his debut for Atlético Mineiro until the 57th minute.
After the recent hard training, Luo Guofu's physical and mental condition has reached the standard of debut. In the 6th round of the Barclays Premier League (BPL), which kicks off at 4:30 a.m. Beijing time on the 16th, Luo Guofu will make his debut for the Minero Americano team.
With Nascimento's goal just before the end of the half, Coritiba took the game 1-0. Luo Guofu was replaced by Nascimento in the 62nd minute. In the previous round, it was this gentleman who was replaced by Lok Kwok Fu.
Although he didn't score, Luo Guofu was more active and created some chances in the hour or so he was on the pitch. To be able to make his debut in his second game back in the Barclays Premier League, Lok Kwok Fu's form has indeed improved significantly, and he himself is looking forward to his "first goal" soon.
