This Thursday, at 8:30 p.m., our soccer team is about to embark on the opening match of the 2026 World Cup qualifying tournament, away to Thailand. The official statement from the Football Association did not mention the name of naturalized player Aixon, which made many fans suspicious. Meanwhile, Guoan striker Zhang Yuning has sparked widespread discussion among fans for not playing in the Chinese Super League this season. Despite the decline in Ackerson's form, he is still far ahead of his domestic counterparts on an individual technical level, and Zhang Yuning's absence is undoubtedly a great pity. Many fans and media have speculated that coach Jankovic's lineup adjustments may lead to a decline in the team's performance.
Before traveling to Thailand, Jankovic personally told the reason for dropping Ackerson and starting Zhang Yuning in an interview. He confessed that Zhang Yuning is the best striker in the current national team and is crucial to the team's future. As a typical No.9 striker, he possesses excellent ball control ability, which will be an asset for the team against the short stature of the Thai team. Once Zhang Yuning gains possession of the ball in front of the field or in the penalty area, the national football team can use him as a pivot point, with speedy strikers such as Wu Lei leaning in quickly to put pressure on the opponent's defense.
It's worth noting that Ackerson's performance in the warm-up matches was unsatisfactory, while Jankovic has made a new attempt at the center forward position, with players such as Tan Long and Xie Weijun in the spotlight. Although Zhang Yuning was included in the big list, veteran Tan Long is likely to be the starting center forward against Thailand. Attacking players such as Zhang Yuning and Wei Shihao are likely to be substitutes, and will be key to the team's attack in the second half when the opponents are losing stamina. Zhang Yuning has played in European clubs for a long time, and his physical quality and awareness are top-notch among domestic strikers. As a fan, I sincerely hope Zhang Yuning can find his form in the game and contribute to the victory for the national soccer team, living up to the expectations of the coach and fans.
Compared to the forward line, the problem of our backline is even more serious. Jiang Guangtai's injury has added to the team's defense, and the performance of Yan Junling, the main goalkeeper, has been good and bad. Once there is a loophole in the defense and Thailand seizes the opportunity to break through, the national football team will face a huge challenge on their road trip. Nevertheless, we still have to cheer for the national soccer team and hope that they can achieve the desired results in this World Cup qualifier.
