On September 4, according to multiple media reports, Bao Yaxiong, Xie Pengfei, Cheng Jin, and Huang Zhengyu are likely to be excluded from the final 23-man squad. In response, media figure Xu Zexin updated his social media with his thoughts on this 23-man squad.
Xu Zexin wrote: “Bao Yaxiong, Xie Pengfei, Cheng Jin, and Huang Zhengyu are likely to miss out on the match against Japan. Xie Pengfei’s omission is somewhat surprising, while instead, two newcomers who have been selected for the first time, Wang Haijian and Wei Zhen, have made it into the squad. From a technical perspective, Ivan’s choices are understandable. The national team will play Japan by giving up possession, focusing on physicality, toughness, and impact to strengthen defense and counterattacks. Personally, I predict that the national team will lose by no more than two goals, and if all players are at their best, they might even manage to secure a draw.”