On July 7, Beijing Youth Daily revealed that Coach Ivan is plotting to inject fresh blood into three major positions: frontline, midfield and back. He is paying special attention to naturalized players Hou Yongyong and Wu Shaochong, who will soon move to the Polish league. At the same time, the young players who have made a name for themselves in the Chinese Super League have also caught his attention.
China's men's soccer team is expected to gather in Dalian on Aug. 18 to prepare for the upcoming 18-team tournament, which will feature two key away matches against Japan and a home game against Saudi Arabia, according to Beiqing News. Head coach Ivankovic is expected to depart for home from Croatia on Aug. 12 to prepare for the upcoming training.
Hou Yongyong's excellent performances in the Norwegian First Division have not made him give up his Chinese citizenship, and Ivan has shown great interest and continues to keep an eye on him. As for Wu Shaocong, he has been equally impressive in the Europa League. Ivan has a dilemma in choosing his frontline candidates. Zhang Yuning is recovering well, but attacker Fernando has missed two consecutive Super League matches due to injury, and Ivan is looking forward to his early return.
The foreign assistant coach of the national football team is expected to return to China on July 8, and the domestic coaching team has begun to assist the players in their visits. Upon Ivan's return, the coaching team will hold in-depth discussions to finalize the training roster. The CFA will also need to coordinate with Hou Yongyong's club to ensure his smooth return to the team before the August 18th assembly.
