According to Xiao Nan, a reporter for the Beijing Youth Daily, under the leadership of Ivankovic, the Chinese men’s national football team will further utilize more young players in the upcoming 18-team World Cup qualifiers starting in September this year. Recently, Hu Hetao, a U21 player from Chengdu Rongcheng, has become a key target for observation.
The report states that with the training plan and the venue for the first home match of the 18-team qualifiers now determined, the selection of new players has become a priority for the national team coaching staff in recent times.
Since last weekend, several members of the Chinese coaching staff, including Zheng Zhi and Shao Jiayi, have returned to various Chinese Super League venues to observe national team candidates. National team head coach Ivankovic is also expected to continue relying on young players. Players who performed well previously, such as Bai Helamu and Xie Wennon, are expected to be included in the new training roster.
Recently, Hu Hetao, a U21 full-back from Chengdu Rongcheng, has shown outstanding performance in the league, leading to high expectations for his inclusion in the national team. According to reports, Ivankovic has been paying close attention to the Chinese Super League during his vacation, and Hu Hetao’s performance has caught his eye.
Considering the significant importance and lengthy duration of the 18-team qualifiers, the national team coaching staff will further expand the pool of reserve national team players. Previously, the Chinese Football Association had processed visa procedures for over 50 players for away matches in the 36-team qualifiers. During the 18-team qualifiers, the number of initial nominations is expected to only increase.
In addition, an internal source within the national team clarified the criteria for selecting players: “We won’t hastily choose a player based solely on a single good goal or impressive performance in one or two matches. High-level competitions demand higher abilities in terms of player mobility and instant judgment. Players in the national team must meet the standards required for major Asian football tournaments.”
The report concludes by stating that the new national team roster is expected to call up around 28 players, including 4 or 5 alternate players. Some players who were part of the previous training squad but proved to be “below standard” through practical experience will be excluded from the 18-team qualifier squad.