Li Tie, head coach of the national soccer team, waved his hand on the tactical board during the fierce battle against Japan. Photo/Xinhua News Agency
After the takeover of the second half of the Top 40, Li Tie, the godfather of the national football team, had his first taste of coaching. However, in the final 12, the face of Australia and Japan powerhouse, Li Tie under the banner of the "Iron Family Army" first to 0-3, 0-1 score of hate, but fortunately in Vietnam before the battle, the national football team has a valuable preparation period. Li Tie revealed in the post-war conference, the team will use this time to step up sharpening, and strive to break through.
Results and Reflections
Tactical shifts, players in high spirits
In the second round of the 12-team tournament against Japan, the national football team adjusted its tactics after the half-time change of sides, from a 5-3-2 defensive formation to a 4-2-3-1 offensive formation. Despite the eventual loss, Li Tie recognized the execution of the players: "The players executed in place, the fighting spirit is high, on behalf of the coaching team, I thank you for the hard work."
Concerns about the use of naturalized players have been focused, especially in the last 30 minutes of the match against Japan, when the national football team had four naturalized players on the same pitch for the first time. Will Alan and Luo Guofu get more chances to play in the future? Li Tie kept silent on this: "Come to the national team are playing for our country, all players are treated equally, there is no main vice, I will be based on the player's state and tactical needs to select the right players to participate."
Goalkeeper Yan Junling (L) consoles teammate Zhang Linpeng during the game. Photo/Xinhua
Zhang Linpeng retired early due to injury, becoming a major variable in the national football team. Li Tie revealed, "His injury is serious and he will be sent to the hospital tomorrow for examination." The injury to the main center back has left the question of whether the national football team will be able to make a comeback in the October 7 match against Vietnam in doubt.
The Road to Preparedness
"Will meet the Devil's training to improve their form."
Despite the unfavorable start of the 12-team tournament, Li Tie did not get discouraged: "Playing against the strongest teams in Asia, we saw the gap and clarified our positioning. But we also harvested confidence, through a month of adjustment, I believe the team will show a better state in the third round of the game."
On October 7, the national football team will face Vietnam in Sharjah, UAE. The team will depart from Doha on the evening of September 8 local time to the UAE for a month-long preparation. Li Tie previewed, "The players will face tough training this month, and I hope to improve the team's physical fitness through hard work." Meanwhile, the national football team also hopes to warm up with high-level teams during this preparation period to make up for the unfavorable impact of the lack of high-level warm-up matches before the Top 40 and Top 12 matches.
Faced with the media about the question of China and Japan's local coaches as the national team's head coach, Li Tie said: "I do not want to evaluate other countries. For my country, I have been determined to play for my country since I was a child. China's national team coach should be Chinese people, only Chinese people can do this job. We sincerely hope that the national team will become stronger and stronger, which requires our joint efforts."
