Reading the latest squad of the national soccer team, the young players of the Asian Games are everywhere. The national youth team is a hidden talent, yet the shadow of injury looms over individual players, making the final roster a sight to behold when it is revealed. However, Coach Jankovic's persistent style seems to be blind to the individual status of his players. If the Asian Games fixtures are not delayed, Shenhua will have to use U17 players.
The goalkeeper position needs no introduction, with the choices converging. As for the backline, the controversy is undoubtedly there, but the choice seems inevitable.
Zhu Chenjie is not on the national team list due to his participation in the Asian Games. Wei Zhen was able to make the national team despite being a club substitute, which is certainly encouraging for the young defenders. There is not much of a problem with the other defenders, as Zhang Linpeng and Jiang Guangtai are undoubtedly the core of the team's backline.
While the warm-up opponents were mediocre, coach Jankovic seems to be trying to tweak the lineup and utilize players he knows well.
The midfield selection is quite precise
Xu Xin's inclusion in the team is controversial, as he is a fringe player in the club and does not have many chances to make his debut. However, many fans believe that even if Xu Xin doesn't play, his strength is still better than many domestic players, second only to Wu Xi. Zhang Jiaqi's selection was unexpected, as he is probably the best midfielder of his age group in China.
With Wang Qiuming's impressive performance in Tianjin, this midfielder pick is no surprise. If all goes well, the starting midfield could be a partnership between Xu Xin and Wang Shangyuan?
The forward line is relatively solid except for the center position, which is temporarily vacant, and the true center is on the mend.
Lim Liang Ming's inclusion in the national team was a surprise, but given his good connections in the national team, he is expected to play at his normal level. Ekerson could be the replacement, but the center forward position is still vacant. There may be changes to the roster after the Asian Games, with Barton and Tan Long expected to join and Zhang Yuning expected to return.
Overall, Coach Yankovic's philosophy of lineup construction does not need to be questioned much. As long as the lineup performs well, the possibility of newcomers joining the team is not high. Currently, the team is being centered on 1993-age players, which is a positive change, rather than relying on 35-year-olds, who are at least starting to become a core force in the 30s.
The team needs to strive for victory in the two warm-up matches. Although there are no high expectations for the World Qualifiers, the core problem of the team is that it lacks real core players and its core ability is not up to the mark. The road to the first stage of the World Qualifying Tournament is still full of challenges.
