As the dust settles on the draw for the 12-team tournament, Chinese men's soccer leader Li Tie and captain Wu Xi each gave their insights.
Affected by the new crown epidemic, the World Cup Asian Zone 12 draw ceremony did not invite representatives of the participating football associations and national football managers personally attended, Li Tie is also through the video witnessed the whole process of the draw.
Regarding the results of the draw, Li Tie said bluntly, "The grouping situation is quite ideal, and the Chinese team will go all out and try to win every game."
Li Tie's views coincide with the circle. Currently the Chinese team is in the group of five teams, in addition to the Australian team, the rest of the technical flow style of play, not the national football team is most afraid of the physical confrontation of Korea and Iraq and other teams. In addition, the Chinese team only need to face Saudi Arabia, Oman and other West Asian teams, do not need to fall into the "West Asian encirclement" like the South Korean team in Group A. The Chinese team will have to face the West Asian teams, such as Saudi Arabia, Oman and so on.
Japan, as the current top-ranked team in Asia, is naturally above the national soccer team. However, since the 2004 Asian Cup finals, the national football team has rarely had the opportunity to face off with the first line of the main lineup of the Japanese team. The showdown in the Top 12 will undoubtedly inspire the national football team to compete with the opponent's strong desire.
Saudi Arabia, Australia two teams, the national football team in the World Cup and the Asian Cup have played, and maintain a winning record, psychological fear. The Omani team goes back to the 2001 Top 10, when the national football team under the leadership of Milo "double kill" rivals. Vietnam's youth training results are remarkable, the team has improved significantly, but in the important tournaments in Asia, the national football team and Vietnam have not yet met, no need to worry too much.
At present, the national football team's 12 strong preparation plan has not yet been announced, the troops may be from late August to the end of November full closed preparation and competition. In Li Tie's view, the biggest problem facing the national football team is the difficulty of organizing high-level warm-up opponents. "Affected by the epidemic, we have not played quality friendly matches abroad in the past two years, which is the biggest problem. Therefore, it is hoped that a few warm-up matches can be organized to train the team before the Top 12 and during the training phase."
In the AFC interview, Li Tie added: "The Chinese team has a large number of fans who give us great support, which is a strong motivation for us to play in the national team."
Wu Xi, the captain of the national football team, said in an interview that each of the next 12 matches will be a final, "Each of the matches is very important, but I think we still need to keep a good mentality, go back to the soccer itself, don't think too much, and play well with the technical and tactical skills, and team spirit. If we can face the next matches with this attitude, I think we have a fifty percent chance to enter the World Cup final round."
Wu Xi also talked about the group's opponents, "and Japan's overseas players have not played much, I'm looking forward to this game. 2015 Asian Cup, we played with Australia, and now there are some changes in their overall situation. We haven't played much against Saudi Arabia, but I know they are one of the best in West Asia, and we need to do a better job of limiting their characteristics. As for Oman and Vietnam, their strength won't be as weak as outsiders think, and in a game like this, we need to go all out even more and not take it lightly."
Wu Xi said, "This is my third time to impact the World Cup, experience more, experience must be richer, the understanding of the game will be different. 12 strong match, we must first of all have no fear of the opponent, show self determination."
He added: "In fact, it does not matter with whom we are divided in a group, we have to fight, and play the game as if it were a final, there is no weak team that can enter the final 12, we will give our best. Previously in the game in Sharjah, the team in the unity and willpower performance is very good, this is our team better style, I hope to be able to continue."
