The countdown to the Asian World Qualifiers has begun, and people are full of anticipation and trepidation. The expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams means that for the first time in Asia, it is possible to send up to nine teams to the event. This alluring former has ignited hopes in soccer nations such as China, Vietnam, Oman and Uzbekistan, all eager to turn their dreams into reality.
To increase opportunities, the Chinese Football Association has gone the extra mile to pay for international friendly matches against Malaysia, Syria and Vietnam. But contrary to expectations, the results of these warm-up games shocked the football world. The home stadium of the national football team in Chengdu Phoenix Mountain was first forced to draw by Malaysia, and then suffered a tragic loss to Syria. Afterwards, names such as Zheng Zhi, Li Ke, Li Lei, and Xu Xin were associated with dismal performances, which was an unbearable embarrassment for the team.
As head coach, Jankovic could not escape. There are rumours that he lost control, causing the entire national football team to fall into chaos. With only 60 days left before the preliminary round, the Chinese Football Association is urgently seeking a solution to the coach's shortcomings. Jankovic's position has been weakened, and the association quietly hopes that he will step down gracefully and save them a huge $5 million in liquidated damages. Jankovic has no significant achievements, has limited emotional intelligence and has lost the trust of players and the association. His tense international relations further complicate matters.
However, the challenge remains, finding a suitable replacement in such a short period of time. History shows that to earn the respect of this established team and instill order in the game, only a famous international coach or an experienced domestic coach is enough. Against this backdrop, the recently ousted German coach Frick and former women's coach Jia Xiuquan are the main candidates.
While attracting Frick to coach the Chinese team may be a daunting task, given his European roots, the prospect of coaching a team in the midst of football turmoil may not appeal. In addition, the financial resources at the FA's disposal are unlikely to meet the high salary requirements of well-known coaches. In recent years, the attractiveness of national teams has gradually diminished, and it has become difficult to attract top coaching talent.
Therefore, the football association may prefer homegrown candidates like Jia Xiuquan, who has extensive experience in leading national teams and managing players. But the upper limit remains uncertain and will be determined by time and tests. The ideas expressed in the article do not represent the official, and specific events need to pay attention to the official release. While the world football world is holding its breath, the fate of China's national football team is also undecided. The World Cup journey is fraught with uncertainty, but hope for a revival remains.
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