According to the established plan, China's national soccer team will start a high-profile international warm-up match against Syria in Sharjah, UAE on September 30th. The Syrian national team, on the other hand, arrived in Dubai at dawn on September 27th, local time. By prior agreement, the warm-up match will be played in a strictly closed environment.
The Syrian national team departed Damascus for Dubai on the evening of September 26 and arrived at their destination early the following morning. On the evening of the 27th local time, the team had their first outdoor training session since their arrival.
It is reported that only 10 players from the Syrian national team have arrived in the UAE, due to the more serious injury problems the team has suffered recently. In addition, 11 players from the Syrian Tishreen Sharon team were diagnosed with the new coronavirus, which has resulted in their inability to play in the upcoming Round of 12 matches against South Korea and Lebanon next month. Faced with this challenge, head coach Mahrous called up two new players on an emergency basis before the trip.
Syrian national team players playing for Bahraini salons are currently traveling to Dubai to join the team. As of September 27, four players from overseas salons have arrived in Dubai.
According to head coach Mahrous, only 16 players will be involved in this warm-up match against China. Players who play for European salons will undoubtedly miss the Sino-Syrian warm-up as they will be playing in their own salons' league matches over the weekend. Leading scorers Soma and Kalbin, who will be playing in the league on Saturday and Sunday respectively, will also miss out on the China-Syria clash. Mahrous has decided to call up some of its players from the Saudi and Kuwaiti salons.
The two sides agreed that the Sino-Syrian warm-up match will be played in a fully enclosed environment. The match is scheduled to be played on the infield of the Sharjah Stadium on Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. local time.
According to Li Tie, the head coach of the national football team, he hopes that through this warm-up match, the international players will quickly adapt to the rhythm of the upcoming Top 12 tournament.
Mahrous said he hoped to achieve three goals through the warm-up matches. Firstly, it is to further integrate the lineup and strengthen the tacit understanding with the players. So far, after taking over the team, Mahrous has only led the team to participate in three matches.
Secondly, considering the impact of the epidemic and injuries, the Syrian team will face lineup adjustments in the third round of the Round of 12, and Mahrous hopes to find a suitable "replacement" for the injuries through this warm-up match.
Thirdly, Mahrous hopes that the success of this warm-up game will instill more confidence in the whole team.
