Many people compare football to a wonderful drama, and in 2023, the preparation of the Chinese national football team and the national Olympic team is the most gripping chapter of this drama. Like master directors, they put all their heart and soul into this preparation journey, and every victory, every challenge, constitutes an important plot of this play.
The national football team won a magnificent victory on the road to the Asian Cup, and they won comfortably 5-1 against the team in the UAE's first league. The victory was not just a numerical advantage, it was a rebuilding of confidence and a solid foundation for the upcoming Asian Cup tournament. But, just like every drama has to face climaxes and twists and turns, in the process of preparing for the game, the players' fitness problems have become a major challenge, as if it were an ordeal in this play.
And the national Olympic team also plays an indispensable role in the plot of this preparation. They have worked hard to prepare for the Under-23 Asian Cup and Paris 2024, with an up-and-down warm-up game. Despite saving some face with a 2-1 win over Malaysia, the team was exposed to problems in both defensive and offensive efficiency. This is not only a challenge for the physical condition of the players, but also a real dilemma for the whole team in the preparation process.
This drama also outlines a complete picture of the preparation of the Chinese men's football team throughout 2023. In this year, Chinese football faced many difficulties, stagnation and turmoil were intertwined, like a trough plot in a drama. However, under the leadership of Serbian coach Jankovic, the team slowly came out of the woods. Despite being questioned in the warm-up matches, the crucial victory in the round of 36 of the World Preliminary Tournament ignited the passion of the fans. At the same time, the new leadership of the Chinese Football Association has also made greater efforts in youth training, laying a solid foundation for future development.
Overall, the drama features the Chinese national football team and the national Olympic team, which have experienced trials and challenges in their preparations, showing key milestones such as physical fitness, lineup and leadership changes. Like every great drama, this chapter is a true portrayal of team fighting, challenge, and growth.