I believe that many fans will understand where the biggest gap between the national football team and the asian first-class level is after watching the Chinese team's trip to the top 12. The answer is obvious, and that is in midfield. In the first match of the Round of 12 we faced Australia, who was all over Europe, and our midfield back position was almost completely exploded, and the opponent could easily face the center-back defense through the midfield, and then we lost 0-3 to the opponent. That is to say, our midfield defence is useless and incapacitated against asian first-class teams.
Since then, our national football team has tried several combinations, patting on the defensive back, but it is a pity that the defensive back of the Chinese Super League has performed well, and at the level of the top 12 matches, it has been bullied by the opponent, especially the very capable iron man Chi Zhongguo, who has almost become the object of bullying by the opponent, and his confrontation and height can be easily made by the opponent. Finally, in the game against Oman, Xu Xin, who had good defensive ability, was better defensively in the national football team, and also played 2 beautiful hard battles. But Xu Xin's play is not stable enough, in addition, although the hardness and area of the defense have improved, but the problem of attacking and taking the ball forward has not been solved, so it has led to the Chinese team attacking can not play, for a long time can not attack, the pressure of defense will increase, so we also see that after the change of coach, the national football team lost to Japan and Vietnam 0-2 and 1-3 respectively, and returned to the pre-liberation overnight.
At present, it seems that our problems in the midfield back position cannot be perfectly solved in a short period of time. Because we are now missing a midfield core that can both defend fiercely and carry the ball forward. And this person we have had before, he is Zheng Zhi. It can be said that in the past ten years, Zheng Zhi is definitely the first back of Chinese football. In this position, he has the hardness of the defense and the area of the defense, as well as the ability to take the ball and push forward. Therefore, over the years, zheng zhi has also been supporting the midfield of the national football team, so that the midfield of the national football team still has a certain degree of control.
Although Zheng Zhi later because of his age, his conversion speed and rhythm are relatively slow, but he is still irreplaceable. And Zheng Zhi kicked to the age of 41, our young people still have no way to replace his role, which is a thing that shocks many people and is helpless. Sometimes our fans will wonder, how long is this Zheng Zhi's professional life span?
In the past 2021 season, Zheng Zhi has been a player and coach in Guangzhou. And he led the young Guangzhou team to a good result in the second stage of the Chinese Super League, which made fans look forward to his coaching career. After the end of the league, Zheng Zhi was also successfully called up to the national team, and also had two identities, player and assistant coach. However, in the next two matches of the round of 12, Zheng Zhi did not enter the big list as a player. That is to say, Zheng Zhi's playing career has not continued in the national team.
And in the national team did not play, in the club is also difficult. One is that most of the teams this year are facing serious financial difficulties and have owed wages. The second is that Zheng Zhi's parent team, Guangzhou, has implemented a policy of 600,000 maximum salaries, and mainly plays in the league with young football players. Therefore, Zheng Zhi has been unable to return to Guangzhou to play in the Chinese Super League, and he has already determined that he will not coach Guangzhou again. Therefore, Zheng Zhi's career in Guangzhou is also equivalent to the end.
So where will Zheng Zhi's next step be? Do you continue as a player or start as a coach? Recently, there is still a lot of news about Zheng Zhi, such as media analysis, his mentor Lee Zhangsu coached the Shenzhen team, Zheng Zhi is likely to go to the Shenzhen team to help the teacher, and as an assistant coach. Some media also suggested that at present, dalian team is recruiting head coaches for the society, and Zheng Zhi can completely try it. However, at present, Zheng Zhi does not seem to think about this. Judging from the training photos disclosed by the national team, Zheng Zhi is still in the national team, and he is still seriously helping our players train, and even a smile can be displayed on his face. It can be seen that he likes to work in the national team, and perhaps in the future, Zheng Zhi will stay in the national team as an assistant coach, which is also a good choice.
How do you think Zheng Zhi should choose? Do you think it would be a pity if Zheng Zhi retired now? Friends are welcome to discuss together in the comment area!