China News Service, Beijing, April 7 (Reporter Bian Liqun) The Chinese Football Association announced on the 7th that the World Cup qualifying home match between the national football team and the Thai team will be held in Shenyang, and the game time will be 20:00 on June 6.

　　For the national football team, this game will be an out-and-out life and death battle, and victory will ensure promotion to the top 18. If they lose, they will basically miss the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

  Image source: Chinese Football Team

Return to the "Blessed Land"

　　Speaking of Shenyang, the best memories of Chinese football are written here. On October 7, 2001, the national football team defeated Oman 1:0 at Wulihe Stadium in Shenyang and won the World Cup finals ticket for the first time in history.

　　The last time the national football team played in the "Blessed Land" Shenyang was back in the top 12 of the Asian preliminaries in 2016, when the national football team drew 0:0 with the powerful Iranian team.

　　This time the national football team returns to Shenyang, it is not only the blessing of the "blessed land" factor. According to the schedule, after the national football team plays the Thai team at home, they will also go to the away game to play the South Korean team. Geographically, Shenyang is relatively close.

　　It is understood that in addition to Shenyang, Dalian and Qingdao were also candidate home cities for this crucial battle. Whether it is climate conditions, hardware facilities and experience in hosting games, Dalian is undoubtedly the most advantageous. However, since Dalian will hold consecutive large-scale events in May and June, there will be a certain degree of collision with the national football competition, so the home court was finally settled in Shenyang.

  Data map: Shenyang Olympic Sports Center Stadium. Image source: Osports All Sports Photo Agency

life and death battle

　　There are still nearly two months left before the life-or-death battle with the Thai team, and the preparations for the national football team will also race against time.

　　Since the away game against Singapore in March only resulted in a draw, and the Thai team drew with South Korea in an away game, the only way for the national football team to advance to the top 18 is Huashan.

　　If the national football team defeats the Thai team at home, they will advance to the top 18. If the national football team draws with its opponent, it will have to hope to draw the strong South Korean team away from home. Although the opponent will most likely qualify early by then, the competition is still quite difficult.

　　And if the national football team loses to the Thai team at home, they will basically be declared out. After all, the Thai team's opponent in the last round is the Singapore team, the weakest team in the group. In short, the national football team must win this game at home.

  The national football team defeated the Singaporean team 4:1 at home. Image source: Visual China

　　In the first round in November last year, the national football team defeated Thailand 2:1 away from home. However, the opponent rebounded significantly after the coaching change. In the Asian Cup group stage, they had one win, two draws and zero goals conceded, including a 0:0 draw with the powerful Saudi Arabian team and a 0:0 draw with the then-led Ivankovic team. The Oman team defeated its opponents and qualified from the group.

　　In the World Cup preliminaries in March, the Thai team drew with the South Korean team 1:1 away from home. Whether it is the scoring ability on the offensive end or the stability on the defensive end, the Thai team is completely different from the first round.

　　Judging from the two games against the Singaporean team, the national football team is still in the running-in stage after the coaching change, especially the instability in the midfield is further highlighted. Coupled with the suspensions of Wu Lei and Li Yuanyi, the life-and-death battle between the national football team and the Thai team is indeed full of challenges.

　　In any case, I hope the national football team can overcome the difficulties in the "blessed land" Shenyang and win this key victory. (over)