After Li Xiaopeng stepped down as head coach of the national soccer team, Yankovic took over as the new foreign coach after Lippi. Unlike local coaches, foreign coaches tend to be more objective and less personal. Local coaches tend to be obsessed with networking and are more conservative in their use of naturalized players, making it difficult to improve results. In contrast, foreign coaches place more emphasis on results and rational analysis. If we talk about Lippi, Li Tie, Li Xiaopeng three people who contribute the most to the national football, undoubtedly Lippi. Fans were excited when Yankovic took over, after all, it was not easy to find a suitable coach after the Li Tie fiasco. However, with the tournament approaching, Li Xiaopeng's ability seems to be difficult to support.
Despite the expectations, this is a good start for Jankovic. Now that the coaching search is finalized, the team has to start preparing for the upcoming tournaments. The next key battles include the World Cup Qualifying Round of 36 and the Asian Cup. According to reliable sources, Jankovic will officially join the national team on March 1 and travel to New Zealand for a warm-up match. This will be his first match after taking over and fans are full of expectations.
Of course, Jankovic's tenure is still short and it will take time to gain experience as a player. According to Beijing Youth Daily, around 30 men will gather in Haikou for training in early March, but Sportsweek's Ma Dexing revealed that the number will be kept to around 24. While the list has not yet been announced, sources say five international players could be marginalized. First up is Wu Xinghan, whose current social problems could affect his performance on the field, and Jankovic may be cautious. Secondly, Artemisia Junmin has been linked to the Li Tie incident, and although it has not been confirmed, the age factor is an issue that cannot be ignored. Zheng Zheng, Yu Dabao, and Wang Shenchao are also likely to be eliminated due to their age. Naturalized players Ackerson and Jiang Guangtai may be the replacements.
In fact, Yankovic's arrival heralded a change in the team's lineup. Every coach has his own tactical preferences, Li Tie had preferred connections, while Jankovic favors young players full of passion and energy. Therefore, the national football team may tend to be younger, and naturalized players may also be reused. After all, at this stage, performance is the foundation of the team.
