As December draws near, the national soccer team's preparations for the Asian Cup have entered an intense countdown. Yankovic's coaching team is about to start a new round of player assembly, facing unprecedented challenges. On the one hand, although the 36-team World Qualifying Tournament in November has barely ended, but whether we can successfully advance is still up in the air, we must not have the slightest relaxation, we must do our best. On the other hand, Coach Jankovic is tasked with replacing the old with the new in the team and must select more young players to fill out the squad. While preparing for the 2026 tournament, he also needs to make sure that the existing veterans can still play a key role even if they are close to retirement age, which requires the coaching staff to plan ahead and do a good job of stockpiling players.
Since Yankovic took office, the national football team has always adhered to the principle of replacing the old with the new, constantly absorbing fresh blood and promoting the renewal of the team's cycle.In December, the team will have an overseas training, which is even more demanding on the physical requirements of the players. Young players will have the opportunity to emerge. According to internal sources, Jankovic is interested in bringing in a 22-year-old star from Chengdu Rongcheng, the fourth-ranked team in the 2023 Chinese Super League. The young defender, who has only made 11 appearances in the 2023 Chinese Super League season, mostly as a substitute, has been selected for the national team, which is a surprise to outsiders and a pleasant surprise for Jankovic.
As far as the goalkeeper position is concerned, the national soccer team currently has three veterans, Yan Junling, Liu Tingzai, and Wang Dalei, who are at the age of 33, 34, and 35 respectively. Although goalkeepers have a long career life, their best form is usually between the ages of 28 and 33, and a few well-maintained players can even continue to the age of 35. Therefore, from the perspective of age structure, it is necessary for the national soccer team to reserve young goalkeepers. Although this adjustment needs to carry four goalkeepers, but for the long-term development of the team, such an adjustment is necessary, especially for young players Towers.
However, it is uncertain if Witao will get a chance to play due to the fierce competition for the goalkeeper position. The coaching staff plans to schedule four warm-up matches to give more players a feel for the atmosphere of the tournament. Jankovic has made an early list of around 50 players, including many U-team players. Guangzhou captain Eiffel is undoubtedly among them, and he is expected to be part of the national soccer team.
The December training roster is expected to be announced next week. Jiang Guangtai, Wang Qiuming and Li Shuai, who missed the last period, will return, and the central core of the midfield, Zhang Yuning and Dai Weijun, will also be selected. The National Football League lineup is becoming more complete by the day. Next, the team will start intense training to get ready for the challenge of the Asian Cup.
