A few days ago, the national football team announced the 26-man squad for the Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates. In this list, there are three attackers on the forward line: Wu Lei, Zhang Yuning, and Tan Long, and there are unexpectedly four goalkeepers in the goalkeeper position: Yan Junling, Wang Dalei, Liu Dianzuo and Jian Tao. Just after the list was announced, the official social media platform of the Asian Cup commented that "three forwards and four goalkeepers, the defense is solid to keep the win", a comment that quickly sparked discussion and controversy among the fan base.
The official comments of the Asian Cup were meant to affirm and encourage the choice of the Chinese team, but many fans thought that this statement was somewhat ironic and had ulterior motives. In particular, the arrangement of four people selected for the goalkeeper position made many people feel incredible. Because in a round-robin group match like the Asian Cup, most teams will only have two goalkeepers, and the third and fourth goalkeepers are unlikely to play at all, so such a configuration is considered a waste. In some important games in the past, it was the lack of strikers and offensive play of the Chinese team that caused Waterloo, and at this moment, the decision to bring fewer strikers and more goalkeepers naturally raised questions.
In response to the official comments of the Asian Cup, some media people analyzed that it is indeed rare to have four goalkeepers in the 26-man squad, and only 10% to 20% of the national teams around the world will do so. There are several reasons for this configuration: first, the 26-man roster itself is already relatively inflated, and even if one or two more substitute players are brought in, it may be difficult for them to get the opportunity to play; the second is to let some young newcomers experience the atmosphere of the competition in advance and cultivate talents for the future; Third, there is a need for enough goalkeepers to cooperate in the process of training and preparation.
In addition to the number of goalkeepers, there is another thing in the national football team's squad that has caused fans to discuss, that is, there are not too many naturalized players and local newcomers who are expected by fans or predicted by the media. In the past two years, the national football team has introduced a number of naturalized and talented players, including Ackerson, Frank, Zhang Yuning, Hao Junmin, etc. Many fans and experts expect that these new blood can inject vitality into the national football team and change the status quo of the national football team's single style of play and lack of offensive strength in the past. However, in the actual list announced, there are very few faces of naturalized and local rookies, which is a big surprise. This has caused fans to question the selection criteria and employment concept of the national football team, believing that the national football team has wasted a great opportunity to improve its strength. Of course, there are also comments jokingly called "it's a round of travel anyway", expressing a pessimistic attitude towards the national football team's trip to the Asian Cup.
To sum up, after the national football team announced the 26-man squad for the Asian Cup, the official compliments of the Asian Cup caused a lot of controversy. Whether it is the number of four goalkeepers, or the lack of local rookies and naturalized players, it makes people feel that the national football team is conservative and misemployed. Of course, the announcement of the list is only the first step, and the final result will speak for itself. Let's wait and see if the national football team can make a difference in the upcoming Asian Cup, proving that these doubts are unnecessary.