At the end of this month, our U18 men's soccer team will set foot in Wakayama, Japan, to compete in the soccer events of the 31st China-Japan-Korea Youth Games. On this trip, many of the players who showed their talents in the U17 Asian Cup in Chonburi, Thailand in June will be dressed up again, and the coaching staff will also welcome the injection of fresh blood.
Currently, the team is in the midst of intense preparations, with members consisting of the previous U17 internationals (2006 age group) together with players of the right age from the 2005 age group. In view of this, the FA has decided that the former U17 international coaching team will take the first step to build the framework of the U18 team.
Unfortunately, the former head coach of the U17 national team, Yang Chen, had to bid farewell to the team due to a sudden family illness. Instead, Shao Jiayi, the current assistant coach of the national team, took over the coaching reins of the U18 national team, while at the same time, Chen Tao, another young assistant coach of the national team, joined the coaching team.
Shao's footprints in the soccer world are all over the country. In March, he assisted Spanish coach Antonio in taking the Chinese national youth team to the quarterfinals of the U20 Asian Cup as a leader and assistant coach. Antonio's tactical philosophy and deep understanding of Chinese players have laid a solid foundation for the growth of young players.
Antonio spent nearly five years in China. His departure has left many fans saddened. Shao Jiayi has been playing alongside him since 2019, when Antonio was the head coach of the 2004 age group international youth team and Shao Jiayi was his team leader at the Jinshan Cup International Youth Football Invitation Tournament.
Since July 24th, China U18 Men's Football Team has started a month-long closed training in Beijing Sport University. Although some players are absent due to club matches, such as Wang Yudong, all players have been devoted to the training with full enthusiasm.
During the training period, the coaching staff organized several warm-up matches. In the latest match against Beijing Guoan U21, the U18 national football team drew 2-2. The team also played two warm-up matches against Chinese Champions League team Langfang Glory City. In the first match, which ended yesterday, the U18s won 2-0, although Langfang Glory City was not at full strength due to the upcoming new season.
It is worth mentioning that the upcoming CJK Youth Games soccer matches will be played on artificial grass. Therefore, the warm-up match between the U18 national soccer team and Langfang Glory City team was also specially arranged to be played on the artificial turf at the Niu Camel Base in Langfang, Hebei Province, while the second warm-up match was played on the natural turf.
According to the established plan, China's U18 men's soccer team will depart for Wakayama, Japan on August 23 to participate in this youth soccer event.
