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On a starry night, when most people were still asleep, the Chinese U23 Olympic team wrote an exciting history on the battlefield in West Asia far from home. Their 1-0 win over Jordan's Under-23s not only sealed their first three-game winning streak in 2024, but also gave them a shot in the arm for the upcoming Under-23 Asian Cup. This achievement is a collective victory of technology, strategy, physical fitness and willpower, and a ray of hope found in the predicament.
After the initial challenges and setbacks, the Chinese U23 National Olympic Team, under the leadership of head coach Cheng Yaodong, has undergone a series of harsh training and tempering. From technique to physical fitness, from tactics to psychology, the all-round improvement will make this young team more and more courageous in the next games. Especially at both ends of the pitch, the Olympic team has shown unprecedented maturity and consistency, with every attack full of threats and every defense being rock solid.
According to the plan, after the Chinese Olympic team arrived in Doha, Qatar, the venue of the Olympic preliminaries on March 21, it will play six warm-up matches with five teams of the same age during the next three weeks of training. Prior to this, the Chinese Olympic team had lost twice to the Saudi Olympic team, and then won the Qatar Olympic team and the Malaysian Olympic team respectively. At 9:30 p.m. local time on the 7th and 2:30 a.m. Beijing time on the 8th, the Chinese Olympic team ushered in the fifth warm-up match of this western expedition, and the opponent was the Jordan Olympic team, one of the teams participating in the preliminary round of this Olympic Games.
After two consecutive victories, the players of the Chinese Olympic team have significantly improved their self-confidence, and the coaching team with Cheng Yaodong as the head coach has also gained confidence. In this game, the Chinese Olympic team followed the usual 4-back tactics. After the opening, it seemed very proactive. It is reported that the Chinese Olympic team has been very active in both the offensive and defensive ends. Especially in attack, the team created a lot of good chances. After more than two weeks of training and warm-up matches in West Asia, the tacit understanding of the whole team has also been significantly improved.
In terms of personnel, goalkeeper Li Hao, who was recently recruited, and attackers Tao Qianglong and Xie Wenneng, who returned to the team, have all been given the opportunity to play in this game. Among them, Li Hao and Tao Qianglong both came off the bench and played for 30 minutes. Xie Wenneng, who only joined the team on the morning of the game, also came on in the last 15 minutes of the game, and all three performed well in their respective positions. In the 88th minute, the National Olympic team used an efficient counterattack by Zhu Yue to create a penalty, and Tao Qianglong achieved it overnight, helping the team break the deadlock on the field and also lock in the win.
Behind this victory, it is not only the hard work of the players on the field, but also the thoughtful tactical deployment of the coaching team. The temporary recall of goalkeeper Li Hao, attackers Tao Qianglong and Xie Wenneng, who have recently been recruited, is not only a timely reinforcement of the lineup, but also shows the head coach's accurate control of the team's shortcomings and keen prediction of the flow of the game. Li Hao's goalkeeping skills and the vitality of Tao Qianglong and Xie Wenneng in the front court have undoubtedly brought new tactical changes and richer offensive options to the National Olympic team. Especially in the crucial battle against Jordan, the outstanding performance of the three men proved the success of the coaching team's selection vision and tactical adjustments.
In the final moments of the game, it was this tactical flexibility and precise use of personnel that opened the door to victory for the national Olympic team. The penalty made by Zhu Yue in the 88th minute is not only a demonstration of individual skills, but also a concentrated embodiment of the tactical operation and mental outlook of the whole team. Tao Qianglong's calm penalty kick not only helped the team break the deadlock on the field, but also dealt a heavy blow to the opponent psychologically, and also greatly boosted the morale of the National Olympic team. This moment is not only a victory of technique and tactics, but also a victory of psychology and will.
Football is not only a physical and technical battle, but also a battle of psychology and will. In this game, the national Olympic team showed super psychological quality and team cohesion. Especially at the critical moments of the game, the young players were not intimidated by the pressure, but faced the challenges more bravely, showing the spirit of not being afraid of strong opponents. This kind of mental tenacity and tactical flexibility constitute the double guarantee of the victory of the National Olympic team in this game.
This victory is not only a victory in a game, but also an expectation for the future. The outstanding performance of the new team members has given the national Olympic team and all supporters infinite hope. In the face of more fierce competition and challenges in the future, this young team has already proven its strength and potential. Their performance is a commitment to the future, whether it is the upcoming U23 Asian Cup or the bigger stage, this team has the ability and confidence to write their own glory.
Despite the victory of the Olympic team, the road ahead is still full of challenges. In a tournament like the U23 Asian Cup, every game is a new test. For the national Olympic team, how to continue to maintain good form in the next games, how to further mature at the tactical and psychological level, will be an important topic for them to face. In addition, how to maintain the physical fitness and condition of the players in high-intensity games is also a question that the coaching team needs to think about.
Although the victory of the National Olympic team has injected strong impetus into the team, behind the success, there are inevitably controversies and doubts. Some may be concerned about the long-term performance of the new players and the future stability of the team. However, it is precisely these incentives and controversies that make up the fascination and uncertainty of the world of football. For the national Olympic team, every doubt is an opportunity to prove themselves and surpass themselves. Only by constantly facing challenges can we continue to grow and progress, and finally show a more dazzling light on the future stage.
After the game, coach Cheng Yaodong said: "Although there were a few mistakes in the defensive line, the team played well in general, especially in attack. We just want the players to fully show their abilities and characteristics, and then strengthen the tacit understanding of cooperation with each other and build confidence. Judging from the last few warm-up games, we have achieved the target we set. According to the plan, the Chinese Olympic team will play the last warm-up match before the start of the Olympic preliminaries with the Uzbekistan Olympic team in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on the 10th local time.
As the U23 Asian Cup gets closer and closer, the Chinese U23 Olympic team will face more difficult challenges. This is not only a contest of technique and physical fitness, but also a test of the team's will and unity. Faced with a group stage full of strong opponents, the national Olympic team aims not only to go further on the field, but more importantly, they are eager to earn a valuable ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Despite facing a difficult grouping situation, this team has proven that they have an indomitable spirit.
In the coming days, every step of the national Olympic team will be watched by countless expectant eyes. Not only do they need to continue to refine their skills and strategies, but they also need to reach new heights in spirit and teamwork. In the face of the upcoming challenges, the national Olympic team is ready to go, and their efforts and struggles will be the most commendable sight. In the face of adversity, the tenacity and perseverance shown by the national Olympic team are the best interpretation of the so-called "mourning soldiers will win" spirit.
However, there is still some controversy as to whether all these efforts and progress can help the Olympic team achieve the desired results in the upcoming Asian Cup. After all, they will face opponents with a wealth of international experience and technical ability. Especially in the same group with Asian football powerhouses such as Japan and South Korea, it undoubtedly increases the difficulty of qualifying for the national Olympic team. But no matter what the result is, the national Olympic team has won respect and expectation with their own efforts and persistence. It is this spirit of constantly challenging oneself and surpassing oneself in the face of adversity that makes people see the hope and future of Chinese football. In the days to come, let's look forward to this young team being able to continue to move forward and continue to create new brilliance.