In the fourth round of the World Preliminary 12 finals that ended early on the 13th, Beijing time, the national football team regrettably lost to Saudi Arabia 2:3.
Although this is an expected defeat, from the perspective of the process, it is really a pity.
It can only be said that the Saudi team, which has more than 50,000 home fans to cheer, has a high morale and state, occupying the right time, place, and people.
The national football team regretted losing to Saudi Arabia 2:3.
Image Source: Chinese Football Team
Under the epidemic, this is the first time that the national football team has played a real away game in more than two years. Before the match, the national football coach Li Tie once said that all players would be excited to play in this "devil's home court".
But from the opening stage, the Saudi players were more excited. Under the sound of the home court, the Saudi team became more and more courageous and launched wave after wave of offensive and siege.
More than 50,000 fans played round after round of "people waves". The fans turned on their mobile phone flashlights to create "stars"... How inspired the Saudi players are, and the pressure on the national football players will increase. This is the home field. Bonus from combat.
Unfortunately, among the 6 teams in Group B, the National Football Team is currently the only team that cannot play at home.
The internationals who have been training overseas for more than a month and a half have already reached their limits psychologically and physically.
Playing like this is already the result of going all out.
Rival Saudi Arabia is a regular visitor to the World Cup.
The picture shows the Saudi team playing against Egypt in the World Cup in Russia.
In fact, for the national football team, Saudi Arabia is no stranger to this opponent.
Even against this strong team in West Asia, there are still some good memories.
According to statistics, in the past 17 matches, the national football team scored 6 wins, 4 draws and 7 losses.
In the previous five world preliminaries, the national football team has an absolute advantage of 4 wins and 1 draw.
Especially in the 1997 Top Ten, the national football team, which played at the Dalian Golden State Stadium, beat Saudi Arabia 1-0 with a header from Zhang Enhua.
Even after more than two decades, many fans still have fresh memories of this scene.
But in the past two decades, great changes have taken place in the football of both countries.
The Saudi team currently ranks 56th in the world and is a frequent visitor to the World Cup. The national football team ranks 75th.
The national football team's starting lineup.
Image source: Chinese football team.
In this game, the national football team regained the defensive style of play against the Japanese team. Compared with the previous game, there were 5 adjustments in the 23-man roster. The 3 midfield defenders Gao Zhunyi, Xu Xin, Zhu Chenjie and Wang Qiuming and Wang Dalei were selected, replacing Wei Shihao, Wang Shangyuan, Wang Gang, Dong Chunyu and the injured Hao Junmin.
The national football coach Li Tie also adjusted the starting lineup in a targeted manner, changing to a 5-3-2 formation. Wu Lei and the excellent Zhang Yuning partnered with double forwards. Jin Jingdao, Wu Xi and Chi Zhongguo were three defensive players. In the midfield, the five defenders are Wang Shenchao, Li Ang, Jiang Guangtai, Zhu Chenjie and Zhang Linpeng, and the goalkeeper is Yan Junling.
In the opening stage, the Saudi team continued to control the ball and sought offensive opportunities, while the national football team sought counterattacks in defense.
In fact, the defensive formation of the national football team has been maintained at this stage, and several good offenses can be organized.
But as the game progressed, under the continuous pressure of the Saudi team, the national football team made a mistake in the backcourt. After the Saudi team made a steal, a series of cooperation was carried out at the front of the national football penalty area. In the end, Sammy scored with a strong shot.
For a long time after losing the ball, the national football team did not improve on both ends of the offense and defense. Instead, due to multiple mistakes of its own, it gave the opponents Saudi team a lot of offensive opportunities.
In the 33rd minute, the national football team played the only threatening attack opportunity in the first half. Zhang Yuning turned around and went straight to the forward Wu Lei. The latter faced the goalkeeper and was shot.
However, the national football team suffered a blow as soon as the offense improved, and Sammy nodded and scored twice.
One minute later, Li Ang made a mistake in the backcourt and Moirard missed the goal after stealing the ball. The national football team almost fell behind with 3 goals in the half.
Zhang Yuning, who played well against Vietnam, still played well in this field.
Picture source: IC photo
Entering the second half, the national football team returned to the four-back formation, Luo Guofu and Alan came off the bench, replacing Li Ang and Jin Jingdao.
As soon as they played, the two were successfully connected. Alan transferred to Luo Guofu on the left, who played a world wave to help the national football team regain a goal.
The national football team 1:2 Saudi Arabia.
But in the 71st minute, the Saudi team made a cross from the right and Brykan scored in front of the goal to help Saudi Arabia expand the score.
Since then, the national football team did not give up. In the 86th minute, Wu Xi scored a long shot to get a goal back. The national football team fell behind 2:3.
In stoppage time, the national football team had a chance to equalize. Exxon and Luo Guofu cooperated in the frontcourt. The latter faced the goalkeeper and was confiscated.
After the game, Luo Guofu apologized to the fans for missing this equalizer, saying that he had made a mistake.
For the harvest goals, Luo Guofu even bluntly said that this is the happiest goal of his career and the happiest moment in life.
In the previous game with the Japanese team, Luo Guofu, who came off the bench, played a role.
Image source: Osports All Sports Photo Agency
After the battle with Saudi Arabia, the top 12 of the National Football World Preliminary Tournament has been nearly halfway, and the situation within the group has become clearer.
The national football team scored 1 win, 3 losses and 3 points in 4 games, ranking 5th in the group and 3 points away from the third Japanese team in the group.
After the last round of 3:2 victory over Vietnam to "continue life", this time, the national football team has reached the edge of the cliff again.
Next, the national football team will play at home against Oman, the fifth-tier team, and Australia, which is currently ranked first in the group. To continue to maintain the hope of impacting the World Cup, the national football team must at least win over Australia on the basis of defeating Oman. point.
Of course, scoring 3 points is ideal.
If the points come from 7 to 9 points, the national football team still has a chance to continue to fight for the impact of the World Cup.
But as of now, whether these two games can be played at home has yet to be determined.
Long-lost home fans in the second round of the World Preliminary 40 national football match against Guam.
Image source: Visual China
For the national football team, the home game is probably the last "bargaining chip" in the hand. In the face of the comparable strength of Oman and the obviously stronger Australian team, the home game will help the result to a certain extent.
Saudi Arabia, which has won four consecutive victories, had as many as three home games in the first four rounds, especially the 1-0 victory over the Japanese team. More than 50,000 fans also poured into the scene, which greatly boosted the morale of the Saudi team and for Japan. The team is also under invisible pressure.
In this critical battle with Australia, the Japanese team also beat their opponents at home and scored a "life-saving" three-pointer.
Of course, the decisive factor for the victory of the game is not the home and away games, but the cheering of the home fans is indeed helpful for the results. At least it occupies the two major conditions of the game in the time and location. This is also the common home performance of national teams and clubs. Reasons better than away games.
Football has always been full of uncertainty, especially in the top 12 matches where the situation is very stalemate, the gap between the teams is not big.
In addition to the small loss to Saudi Arabia in the national football game, in the previous games, Australia, the first in this group, only won the bottom of the Vietnamese team by 1 goal.
Most of the top 12 games are within 1 goal, which is enough to explain the problem.
In previous interviews, Li Tie has repeatedly expressed the hope that the national football team can return to the home game. This is indeed the straw that the team desperately needs and the final "bargaining chip."
National football coach Li Tie at the pre-match press conference.
Image Source: Chinese Football Team
Fortunately, after the battle with Saudi Arabia, the national football soldiers will set off on the evening of the 13th local time to return to China, and the one and a half months of overseas closed training can finally come to an end.
Before the crucial battle with Oman, the internationals who have been released from isolation can also meet with their families for a short time, which is the best adjustment to the mental state of the players.
Data map: The national football team is in the flag-raising ceremony before the game.
Image source: Osports All Sports Photo Agency
I sincerely hope that in the next two games, the national football team can play at home in the true sense of the country as they wish.
Chinese football needs fans to fight side by side, and those loyal Chinese fans are also eagerly looking forward to contributing to the national football.
In the rest of the game, there is almost no opportunity for the national football team to make mistakes. The next game with Oman is another life and death.
(Author Bian Liqun)