World Cup qualifiers are a fight to the death for every team. In this competition, every game can decide the future and fate of the team. For the Chinese national men's football team, this harsh reality is everywhere.
In recent years, the Chinese men's football team has been hovering in the middle of Asia, but there is still a long way to go to reach the World Cup finals. In this 2026 World Cup qualifiers, the Chinese team is also in an extremely difficult situation. As seeded teams, they were supposed to start the group stage, but after the opening two rounds, there was little left of their narrow lead in points.
The big picture has been decided, and a crucial battle of life and death is just around the corner – on June 6, the Chinese team will play a strong Thai team at home in Shenyang. This is undoubtedly another hurdle that the Chinese team cannot avoid. In their last game away to Singapore, they missed a great opportunity and picked up just one point. Now there is no room for any mistakes, and only by taking all three points can we bring a ray of life to the road to qualifying.
To defeat Thailand, a team in the middle and upper reaches of Asia, it can be said that it is a crucial battle for the Chinese team. The Thai team has a number of strong players who play in the Japanese league, with good technical and tactical skills and full of offensive firepower. In contrast, the disadvantages of the Chinese team in these two aspects are self-evident.
To make matters worse, China's top scorer Wu Lei is suspended for accumulating yellow cards and will miss this key battle. As the main source of goals for the national football team in recent years, Wu Lei's absence is undoubtedly a heavy blow. How to find a replacement has become the biggest problem in front of Coach Li Tie.
Among domestic players, there are not many outstanding candidates among the active goalscorers. The camp of naturalized players is the main attraction of the Chinese team at present. Just recently, Luo Guofu, the "bison" who has made great contributions to the national football team, publicly stated that if the Chinese team is called, he is willing to return and gallop on the field.
The 35-year-old "veteran" this year, although he is no longer in his prime, is one of the classic scorers of the Chinese men's football team. His incisive dribbling skills and tenacious fighting spirit are still remembered by many fans today. The picture of him flying in the national team and blocking the gun's hole with his body has become a classic portrayal of "Desperate Saburo" on the football field.
Although he has now left the professional stage, he has not given up training. Since the idea of becoming a naturalized Chinese citizen, Luo Guofu has maintained a high intensity of training to maintain his best condition. For the Chinese team, which is eager to reach the World Cup, this veteran who once held the banner of center forward is undoubtedly the best choice.
Of course, in addition to Luo Guofu, other naturalized players of the Chinese team are also good choices. For example, Delgado of Shandong Taishan team has been in excellent form recently and has a sharp attack. It's a pity that due to his earlier play in overseas leagues, he will not be able to make his official debut for the national football team until September.
Then there's Liaoning Shenyang City FC's Alan who has been on fire in the recent MLS league and has repeatedly broken through opponents. However, Alan is only an attacker, his defensive ability is flawed, and he is not at his best, so it is difficult for him to take on this responsibility alone.
In addition to the troubles of front-line scorers, the biggest weakness of the Chinese team at present is probably the on-the-spot performance of the defensive line. In recent years, the national football defense line has frequently been scratched by the opponent's embarrassing scenes, and it is not uncommon for the big score to fall behind. This is undoubtedly a serious flaw in the midfield and backfield set-up.
How to strengthen the defensive line and improve the overall ability to resist pressure will be the most important problem for Li Tie's coaching staff to solve. In addition to playing on the defensive against strong teams, bringing in more experienced defenders may make a difference. Taking a step back, the combination of local and foreign tactics is also an alternative that can be considered.
Another focus of attention is what kind of combat concept and tactical approach Li Tie's coaching staff will adopt. Previously, the Chinese team has long been criticized for being too conservative and lacking the initiative to attack and the desire to win. A lot of fans want to see the team play more aggressive football at home.
Old problems and new solutions, these will determine the success or failure of the Chinese team in the battle with Thailand, and even the entire road to qualifying. If everything can go according to plan, the Chinese men's football team will be one step closer to qualifying from the group. However, on this thorny road, I believe there is still a long way to go.
When will the Chinese men's football team re-emerge in world football? At a time when a football power is far away, the Sino-Thai war on June 6 will also become a touchstone for the revitalization of the Chinese men's football team. We wait and see, looking forward to the rebirth of the brave division of the national football team, and re-cause trouble on the Asian continent!