On May 14, the AFC announced that the 2023 Asian Cup tournament, originally scheduled to be held in China, will be relocated. This decision will undoubtedly have a profound impact on the Chinese team's preparation program. Although the Chinese team is temporarily without a major tournament assignment this year after exiting the final stage of the World Cup in Qatar, the national team's preparation task remains daunting given that the results of the Asian Cup are closely linked to the competition for the 2026 World Qualifying Tournament.
The current head coach Li Xiaopeng's problem needs to be clarified, so that the team can quickly determine the direction, into the new cycle of preparation. It is reported that from the end of March, the national football team ended the 12 strong journey so far, the team management did not give a clear answer to the question of the retention of the coaching team, which also makes Li Xiaopeng personal situation is slightly embarrassing.
Host status gone, international ranking slips
After the 2023 Asian Cup was announced to be held in a different location, the Chinese team, although as one of the 12 teams that advanced to the second stage of the Qatar World Preliminary 12 and the Asian Cup Qualifying Tournament, successfully entered the final stage of the Asian Cup, but due to the status of the host is no longer, by the international rankings slipped to the 10th place in Asia, can only be the second or even the third tranche of the team identity to participate in the following year's Asian Cup regular season.
According to the opening program (final draft) reported by the Football Association to the higher sports management department on May 16, the new season of the Chinese Super League will open on June 3rd. And FIFA, AFC calendar shows that the latest section of the international competition cycle will be arranged from May 30 to June 14, which means that the national football team will not be able to organize training and games in this cycle.
According to the competition program, the Football Association is expected to organize five rounds of the AFC Cup in September or the work of the league, affected by this, the national football team may also not be organized in the month of the international competition day cycle training and matches. Due to the Qatar World Cup before the start of the year, only the two remaining international competition day cycle, therefore, in the U23 national football team admitted to go to Japan to participate in the East Asia Cup, the national men's football team is likely to have no tournament tasks this year.
Preparation plans to be finalized, coaching staff's retention undecided
For a national team, it is not really normal to have no training or competition for more than half a year. Up to now, the AFC has not changed the program of the competition period, except for announcing the 2023 Asian Cup to be held in a different location. After the end of the Qatar World Qualification campaign, the Chinese team objectively needs to go through a renewal. Even if the team is affected by the epidemic and other objective factors in the short term can not perform international warm-up matches, but still need the necessary preparatory planning, "no head of the dragon" is obviously not appropriate. In this case, Li Xiaopeng team is to stay or retreat, need to come up with a clear statement as soon as possible.
On May 16, a media report said that "there is a high probability that the national football team will pick a new head coach". However, as of now, the Football Association has not received such confirmation information. It should be noted that the appointment of Li Xiaopeng's team is led by the sports management department of the national football "leading working group" under the leadership of the implementation, so even if the confirmation of the change of command, but also by the management of the team through a rigorous process to implement specific. From this point of view, the decision-making power on this matter is not in the Football Association, or the Association is also waiting.
Li Xiaopeng's stay and departure undecided, preparation work to be continued
It is understood that when the team management selection of Li Xiaopeng had a clear point, that is, under normal circumstances, the national football team will not change in the short term, its situation and the national women's football team selection of water Qingxia as the commander-in-chief of the situation is consistent.
However, up to now, the team management did not give a clear answer to the question of Li Xiaopeng's stay. Li Xiaopeng has not even received a notice to "report on the final 4 rounds of the 12 rounds of the team work". In other words, Li Xiaopeng himself has no clear answer as to whether he will stay or leave his post. Strictly speaking, Li Xiaopeng is still the head coach of the national football team, so should he continue to prepare for the next stage of the team to start the preparatory work?
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Lok Kwok Fu gets his first start in his return to the Barclays Premier League
In the 6th round of the Brazilian Primera A soccer tournament that ended in the early hours of May 16th, Minero Americas visited the Couto Pereira Stadium and lost 0-1 to Coritiba. Chinese naturalized player Luo Guofu, who plays for the visiting team, made his debut in the match and was substituted in the 62nd minute. This was the first time that Luo Guofu made his debut for his new club after returning to Brazilian professional soccer.
In the 5th round of the Barclays Premier League match on May 8, Beijing time, Minero Americas had defeated Atletico Mineiro 2-1 on the road. Two Chinese Super League veterans, Luo Guofu and Hulk, who played for the two teams respectively, had a special reunion in this game. Unfortunately, both failed to score. In the match, Luo Guofu did not make his debut for Atlético Mineiro until the 57th minute.
After the recent hard training, Luo Guofu's physical and mental condition has reached the standard of debut. In the 6th round of the Barclays Premier League (BPL), which kicks off at 4:30 a.m. Beijing time on the 16th, Luo Guofu will make his debut for the Minero Americano team.
With Nascimento's goal at the end of the half, Coritiba won the match 1-0. Lok Kok Fu was replaced by Nascimento in the 62nd minute. It was the same man who was replaced by Lok Guofu in the previous round.
Although he didn't score a goal, Luo Guofu was more active and created some chances in the hour or so of playing time. Being able to get a start in his second game back in the Barclays Premier League, Lok Kwok Fu's form has indeed improved significantly, and he himself is looking forward to his "first goal" soon.
