In the ever-changing soccer field, on the afternoon of November 3, the Chinese soccer team will usher in a unique challenge. They will play two teaching matches against Shenzhen, a Chinese Super League (CSL) powerhouse, and Zhejiang, a newcomer in the Chinese First Division (CFA). The whistle for this first match will blow at 3:30 p.m., and how the coaching staff will orchestrate the 31-player lineup has become the focus of fans' attention.
According to insiders, before the team departs for the third place in Sharjah, UAE, the coaching team may carry out some "streamlining" of the lineup, and some players may temporarily bid farewell to the team. From the strength comparison between Shenzhen and Zhejiang, Shenzhen is undoubtedly more powerful, with Wang Yongpei, Zhang Lu, Gao Lin and other former internationals, but also a strong foreign aid such as Archie Mbeng, so the Chinese team's starting lineup for this teaching match is highly anticipated, and they are likely to be the starting lineups for the two matches in November. If the Chinese team's list to make subtractions, which players left the problem, the coaching team may have a fixed mind, 3 days of the two teaching games may be difficult to bring substantial changes. The players who failed to make the 23-man list in the first four games of the 12-team tournament, as well as those who have not been able to get a chance to play, have no chance to play in the next game of the greatest possibility.
Meanwhile, Oman kicked off their preparations on Nov. 1 in Muscat. Croatian head coach Ivankovic announced a 25-man squad, with three of them playing for clubs in Iran and Qatar and the remaining 22 from their home clubs. Oman's first captain Mohammed Al-Musallami and star striker Mohsen Saleh Al-Ghassani are out of action due to injuries. However, Ivankovic, who has coached in the Chinese Super League and knows the national soccer team well, and the Chinese team seems to be standing in an unfavorable situation again.
In addition, Japan has confirmed that its home game against China in next year's Round of 12 will be played on January 27, 2022 at the Saitama Stadium.
