With the drums beating for the World Cup, China's men's soccer team was first hit by an accident, with star defender Jiang Guangtai confirmed out of the match against Thailand due to a knee injury. The national team emergency reinforcement, Shenzhen defender Xu Haofeng into the list, this initiative is like throwing a stone into the water, stirring up layers of ripples. Xu Haofeng has a long history with the famous coach Jankovic, but rumors of gambling have also been heard, making this choice doubtful.
This season in the Chinese Super League, Xu Haofeng is the main force of the Shenzhen team, but the performance is not eye-catching. There are a number of players who have performed better at both center back and right back positions. But Xu Haofeng's relationship with Jankovic is a unique advantage. Xu Haofeng was favored by Jankovic to be part of the Chinese national youth and Olympic teams when he coached them.
Last year, Xu Haofeng was also included in Jankovic's list for the East Asian Cup, and although he was not a centerpiece, he was clearly a "backup" candidate. When Jiang Guangtai was injured, Jankovic brought back his old team, and this behavior seems to be reasonable, after all, many coaches prefer familiar people.
But Xu Haofeng's career is not all smooth sailing. Last year, he was exposed for alleged internet gambling and his addiction to gambling was shocking. This behavior is a great warning to professional players.
Against this backdrop, controversy ensued when Jankovic chose Xu Haofeng to replace Jiang Guangtai in preparation for the crucial world qualifiers. It makes us wonder if Jankovic trusts his players unreservedly or just hires someone close to him.
