In the Doha sunset, the evening of September 5, 5:30 pm, the Chinese team does not follow the routine, grab the eve of the game will step into the green of the Khalifa Stadium, began the pre-match acclimatization training. The closely-contested Asian Round of 12 World Cup qualifying match between China and Japan is set to kick off at 6 p.m. on Sept. 7, and despite the fact that the match is being played in a foreign country, it is supposed to be China's home turf based on its geographic location. Although fans will not be able to attend the match in person, the stands at the Khalifa Stadium have already been decorated with brightly colored five-star red flags, creating a strong local atmosphere.
According to AFC regulations, each team has only one opportunity to step on the field, so the Chinese team's training on the 6th will be transferred to the University of Qatar. However, before the training session, head coach Li Tie will join hands with a player to attend the pre-match press conference, which has been locked in Doha at 5:40 p.m. local time.
Considering the interests of the host team, the air conditioning was deliberately turned on at the Khalifa Stadium even though the training time was brought forward to provide a comfortable environment for the national football players. However, according to reports from reporters on the ground, the temperature at the stadium did not seem as pleasant as it was during the last official match, with the temperature at the venue around 30 degrees Celsius.
During the 15-minute open training session, the national soccer team only performed easy body stretching and did not conduct tactical drills. The players looked in good shape, and Alan and Luo Guofu were even smiling and actively waving to the camera during the interview.
After the open training, tactical drills will be the focus of today's national football training. It is reported that Coach Li Tie will take advantage of the early adaptation to the field, focusing on practicing positioning ball tactics. In the lineup and tactical arrangements, the national football team is not expected to have major adjustments. However, from the recent training situation analysis, Li Tie coach may be in the midfield to arrange a blocking type center forward to replace Zhang Xizhe, in order to reduce the pressure of Wu Xi's defense.
