Among the highlights of the 23rd round of the Chinese Super League, the battle between Shandong Taishan and Tianjin Jinmen Tigers and the Beijing-Shanghai summit clash between Beijing Guoan and Shanghai Shenhua are notable. Guoan will showcase a stunning tifo show at the Gongtian Stadium, which is of a caliber that rivals the world's best. For both teams, victory in this battle is crucial: Shenhua is currently in second place with 38 points and fears dropping to third in the event of a loss, while Beijing Guoan could slip out of the top six in the event of a defeat, which would have far-reaching implications for the fight for the international berths.
Yankovic, the head coach of the national soccer team, was on hand to observe the Beijing-Shanghai match and seek to discover new international players. Both Guoan and Shenhua have a number of players with international credentials, and have even been recognized as international players. In September, the national team will announce its new roster, and Yankovic has already watched numerous Chinese Super League matches and expects a major reshuffle of the national team's roster. Two players from Guoan will receive special attention. Naturalized player Li Ke has been in solid form this season, starting 8 out of 14 matches, and has returned to the level of an international player.
Zhang Xizhe had fallen out of favor with the national team roster and has been in a slump in the league recently. Fortunately, coach Suarez has given him more opportunities in the last two rounds of matches, and Zhang Xizhe has regained his confidence and become the core of the team's offense. Other players such as Wang Ziming, Yang Liyu and Gao Tianyi are also on Yankovic's radar and have the potential to be selected for the national team. With Guoan playing at home, and with Yankovic's attention, the team's morale will be boosted, and their strength and fighting power will be enhanced. Shenhua's local lineup is also strong, but the focus of Yankovic's visit is not Shenhua. Players such as Zhu Chenjie and Jiang Shenglong also have international strength. However, in order to prepare for the Asian Games, most of Shenhua's new generation players are not involved in this national team selection. Wu Xi and Yu Hanchao are more competitive. If not for the license plate incident, Yu Hanchao's performance this year would have been enough to be selected for the national team. Yankovic may consider not sticking to one pattern when selecting talents. Shenhua's head coach Wu Jingui, who is in critical condition, arrived early for the Beijing-Shanghai match, despite the significance of the match. Since the derby loss, Wu Jingui has been under tremendous pressure, with some fans calling for his dismissal or retirement. But Shenhua management still trusts him. Leading Shenhua to the second place is not an easy task, and the requirements for Wu Jingui are becoming more and more demanding. If he can grab a point on the road at Guoan, he will usher in success. In this match, Guoan has attackers such as Abreu, Zhang Xunzhe and Yang Liyu, Shenhua's Malelai is in good shape, and Yu Hanchao is not yet old. In terms of strength and past performance, Guoan may face a passive situation, while Shenhua may also lose again for sticking to the 1-0 lead strategy. Despite the poor voice of Wu Jingui from outside, Shenhua has his full internal support. If he can win the Beijing-Shanghai battle, Wu Jingui's image will be changed and he will once again become the core figure of Shenhua.
