In the current Chinese national soccer team, the problem of replacing the old with the new needs to be solved. In fact, it would be wise to introduce more young players to the national team squad rather than relying on veterans over 30 years old. Take Wang Ziming and Barton for example, who have been eye-catching in the Chinese Super League this season. Lin Liangming, Yan Dinghao and other 97-year-olds have also shown strong attacking power in the forward positions. If these young players are given more opportunities to train and warm up for the national team, the strength of the team will be improved.
Looking back at the international warm-up matches in June, the Chinese men's soccer team relied on some of their veterans to help them out, although they put young players such as 97-year-old Lin Liangming on the pitch against Myanmar and Palestine. In truth, the team could consider players under the age of 95 as the mainstay of the starting lineup. Players such as Barton, Yang Liyu and Wang Ziming have all achieved remarkable results in the league.
Facing the preparation for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, the 99-age players are in the right age, but the 97-age players will be 29 years old, and the 95-age players will be 31 years old. Therefore, for the national football team, the 95 age group players have belonged to the ranks of veterans. Numerous players after 00 in the young ladder in the excellent performance, and study abroad return players are not a few, the national football team is necessary to enhance the proportion of players after 00.
Yankovic has emphasized building a national team with a diverse age structure since he took over as head coach of the national team. This requires players of different age groups for each position. As a matter of fact, the national team should arrange the 95-age players as veterans. Players in the 97 age group, such as Yan Dinghao, Hu Jinghang and Duan Liuyu, should play a key role in the midfield position of the national team. The national football team should arrange as many young players as possible to control the midfield in the process of rejuvenation.
Post-00 players such as Abraham Khaliq, Bugra Khan, Tao Qianglong, etc. are very strong and are fully capable of entering the national team. 99-year-old players such as Zhu Chenjie, Dai Weijun, Wu Shaochong, etc. are also playing key roles in the national team. 03 and 2004 age group players such as Efirdin, Hu Huhetao, Mutalipu, He Xiaoke, Wang Shilong, Li Changyi, etc. play for FC Huesca of the Liga B. By 2026, the 04 age group players will be 22 years old. Observing the age distribution of players from various countries in the World Cup, young players under the age of 23 will occupy the majority.
Currently, players in the 95 age group have become the mainstay of domestic leagues, especially the Chinese Super League. The national football team is fully capable of rejuvenating its squad. However, under the leadership of Jankovic, we still need to play more high-quality matches to work on tactics, such as playing against domestic club teams to enhance tacit cooperation, as well as increasing the opportunities to exchange and learn from foreign teams, so as to gradually improve the strength of the team. The future of the national soccer team is full of hope.
