The road to victory seemed thorny in the face of the national soccer team's back-to-back matchups with New Zealand. They traveled across the mountains and seas to New Zealand for intensive training, only to end with a draw and a loss against a slightly lower-ranked New Zealand. Fans were disappointed with the progress of the match, and even with a new head coach, the Chinese men's soccer team's formation and style remained the same.
However, a change in the national team lineup seems to be imminent. In the two warm-up matches, numerous players had their form and strength tested, and perhaps bid farewell to the national team. Meanwhile, the dynamics of naturalized players brought a touch of joy.
According to reports, two naturalized players in the domestic selection list, Jiang Guangtai and Ackerson, were not able to travel with the team to New Zealand due to health issues, but if they regain their health, they are expected to return to the national team. In addition, the destination of naturalized players such as Luo Guofu and Fernando is also in the spotlight. It is reported that Fernando may join Shandong Taishan, if this news is true, he is only one step away from returning to the national football team.
The FA's strategy of using naturalized players has shifted after the detention of Li Tie and Chen Xuyuan. Naturalized players have returned to the Chinese Super League, showing that the FA still supports this policy. It also indirectly exposes the lies that Chen Xuyuan and Li Tie had. The treatment of naturalized players in the Top 12 was questionable, and some players even suffered deception.
For the national soccer team, this year's tournament is a heavy one, especially with the 2026 World Cup qualifiers approaching. In order to prepare for this long journey, the FA needs to plan strategically in advance. The timely return of naturalized players, as well as the early determination of tactics and playing style, will provide strong support for the national football team's road to the World Cup qualifiers.
