On November 17, Beijing time, the national team is currently actively preparing for the match against Japan in Xiamen. The training session was open to the media on that day. According to reports from domestic media outlet The Paper, Ivan focused on set-piece defense and overall defensive strategies during the training.
It is reported that in the first leg of the match, the national team lost 0-7 to their opponent. This time, playing at home, although they are at a disadvantage in terms of strength and personnel, the players hope to use the home advantage to at least avoid another “disaster.”
In terms of player configuration, the national team won 1-0 against Bahrain away on the 14th, securing two consecutive victories. However, the team also suffered injuries to Li Lei and Zhang Yuning, who were both wheeled out of the plane upon their return, making it highly unlikely for them to participate in this match. As a result, the national team has urgently called up Wang Zhenao, a defender from Shanghai Port.
In response, Ivan may continue to focus on set-piece defense and overall defensive tactics. In the last match against Japan, the national team suffered a 0-7 defeat and was scored against by a set-piece early in the game. For this second match against Japan, the national team hopes to learn from past mistakes and delay the time it takes for the opponent to break the deadlock as much as possible.
