Following the conclusion of all matches in the FA Cup quarter-finals last night, the Chinese national men’s soccer team will reconvene today (August 23rd) in Dalian and conduct their first training session of this assembly at 7 PM at the Squid Bay Stadium training ground.
According to the Beijing Youth Daily, by the morning of the 23rd, no player had submitted a leave request to the national team, suggesting that all 27 players are expected to report to the team on the 23rd. However, due to weather conditions, flights for some players may experience delays or other unexpected issues, which could result in them arriving slightly later.
Given that most of the national team players participated in the FA Cup quarter-final matches over the past two days, they are physically fatigued. However, considering the urgency of preparing for the World Cup qualifiers, the coaching staff has decided to start outdoor training from the day of assembly. According to the training schedule, the outdoor training sessions in Dalian will commence daily at 7 PM, with the focus of the 23rd’s training session being on ‘physical awakening’, meaning the intensity will not be high.
During this assembly, the national team will also undergo necessary physical examinations and learn about the latest officiating rules and adjustments made by FIFA. With Wu Lei returning to full strength, he will continue to serve as the first captain of the national team, while the second vice-captain is likely to be goalkeeper Wang Dalei.