Super Marshal

Since becoming the head coach of the Chinese national team, Gao Han's every move has attracted the attention of media and fans across the country and even the world. As soon as the 25-man national team roster was announced, it immediately aroused heated discussion.

Who will be the main force?

What kind of tactics will be used against South Korea and Iran?

How sure are you that you can escape from the away game?

Will the curse of Korean phobia continue on Gao Han?

…

Many questions were swirling in everyone's mind, but Gao Han himself had no answers to them.

Compared with what fans care about, Gao Han pays more attention to the team's running-in and the status of the players, especially the injured in the team.

Hengda's right back Zhang Linfan has just returned from injury. How is his recovery going?

In professional leagues, employing nepotism is not a bad thing, but after Gao Han coached the national team, he did not employ nepotism. He paid more attention to the status of the players and whether they can play in the game.

For example, this time he did not recruit Li Xuepeng, who was in poor condition, but instead recruited Mei Fang.

Among the international players who have studied abroad, Zhao Jun and Wang Lei have both performed well in the national team. They are still playing for the China Town Second Team this season. They have made their debut in the Spanish Second League and have many game opportunities. After Zhang Yuning switched to Ajax, he also played game.

It can be said that Gao Han's selection and employment did not attract too much attention.

The key is what kind of lineup will be adopted?

The media have been spying on the military situation. Some people are rumored that Zheng Zhi will withdraw to the central defender position and partner with Feng Xiaoting. Some people also say that Zhang Yuning will be the starter, replacing Gao Lin and becoming the main center of the national team.

But just when the domestic media were talking a lot, after the first round of the AFC Champions League quarter-finals, domestic public opinion was once again in an uproar because both teams representing the Super League were attacked by South Korean teams.

Shanggang drew 0-0 at home with Jeonbuk Hyundai, while Luneng lost 3-1 to Seoul on the road.

These two games were hailed by the media from both countries as warm-up matches for the next World Cup qualifiers. However, they did not expect that the Chinese club team failed to defeat their opponents in both games. Shanggang drew 0-0 at home. Jeonbuk Hyundai seemed to have a draw, but in fact it had lost the opportunity.

The setback in the AFC Champions League has made domestic public opinion mournful, and the cloud of Koreanophobia hanging over the heads of the Chinese people has once again gathered.

After the first round of the AFC Champions League, the Korean media interviewed Stielik, the German head coach of the Korean national team who was present to watch the game.

Stillik is 62 years old. He was a German international as a player. After retiring, he served as an assistant coach of the national team. He twice served as the head coach of the German National Youth Team. After that, he moved to national teams and club teams such as Cote d'Ivoire and Al Arabi. Coaching, he became the head coach of the Korean national team in 2014.

Just before the first round of the AFC Champions League quarter-finals, Stillik had just announced the national team's training roster, but this time they only recruited 20 international players, plus the influence of league and overseas international players. , the South Korean team will have to wait until August 29 to gather the national team, just three days after the first game.

Regarding this, Stillik said with confidence that it is not a problem at all.

"I think three days is enough. We have a clear style of play, and we are very familiar with and understand the opponent. The players have also played with each other for a long time. For us, whether it is three days or three months, it doesn't matter. no difference."

When the media asked about the Chinese team's temporary adjustment of the league schedule and preparations in advance in order to prepare for this game, Stillik said with a smile, "This may be because of their panic."

But he quickly said it was just a joke.

"Gao Han is undoubtedly the top head coach in the world. His tactical concepts are still very advanced even now, but his players may not be able to accept his concepts, so he needs more time to run into the team. I think this point I think it’s understandable, but we don’t have such ample time.”

Regarding the 2-0 defeat of the Chinese team in last year's East Asian Cup, Stillik said that it is in the past tense. The head coach at that time was not Gao Han, but now the Chinese team has obviously changed.

"In the past few years, Chinese leagues have continued to increase investment and introduce strong foreign players, but the level of Chinese players has not improved far, so this does not worry me. On the contrary, Gao Han, I think he has brought a lot to the team. He's a phenomenal head coach."

"However, what I want to say is that there are fixed rules for the growth and progress of a team. Gao Han took over midway. So far, he has only been training with the team for less than a month. I think it is difficult for him to give The team has undergone a transformation, so I am confident that we can beat our opponents in Seoul."

When the Korean media asked about Gao Han's glorious history of never being defeated, Stillik smiled and said that he knew, "But everyone will lose sometimes, and Gao Han is no exception, and his brilliant coaching achievements are a great encouragement to him." For us, it is the driving force for progress. Defeating Gao Han is an honor for us."

Regarding South Korea's recruitment of only 20 players this time, Stillik said it was enough.

"We can only arrange a maximum of fourteen players to play against the Chinese team, and the remaining six players will be rested. If injuries occur, we can temporarily recruit other players, so I think twenty players can already meet the needs of the game. , we will not make any further adjustments to the roster."

Regarding the AFC Champions League quarter-finals knockout match held in Seoul, Stillik said he gave the South Korean national team confidence.

"There is no doubt that this victory is exciting and will make us more confident."

In addition to the confidence expressed by South Korean team coach Stillik, South Korean media have also used the AFC Champions League games to build momentum for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, saying that the Chinese team will suffer another defeat in Seoul, South Korea, and Koreanphobia will continue.

"Three to one, this should be a very reasonable score."

According to the questionnaire survey conducted on Korean media websites, Korean fans basically believe that there is basically no big problem in winning the Chinese team, because South Korea has a natural psychological advantage over China. The key to the problem is, how many goals can it win?

As a result, the majority of fans believed that the game could be won by two goals, followed closely by those who thought it would be possible to win by three goals, and then by one goal.

As for those who think that the two sides can tie, it is very slim, let alone being defeated by the Chinese team.

When the news from the Korean media reached China, it immediately caused an uproar in the country.

On the one hand, domestic fans complained that Shang Gang and Lu Neng failed to live up to their expectations and even embarrassed the national team at critical moments.

But on the other hand, everyone has no idea. South Korea is too powerful.

South Korea and Japan are like two big mountains pressing on China. In the past few decades, they have brought countless pain and tears to Chinese fans, as well as deep fear and even powerlessness.

When it comes to Korea, no one is sure.

It can be said that Gao Han is the strongest weapon of the current national team, but even so, everyone is still worried.

The reason why Gao Han has been able to create legends repeatedly is that although the team he coaches is inferior in skill, the gap is far not as big or obvious as between China and South Korea.

This time, can he really maintain his winning record on the road?

Oh, even if he just needs to escape intact.

Not only have domestic media and fans lowered their expectations for the national team, but even Deputy Director Cai, chairman of the Football Association, said that the Football Association will not impose any performance requirements for this game. The only requirement is that the team can play well mentally. .

The country's authoritative party journals have also published articles calling on domestic fans to be more tolerant towards the national football team. They hope that the national team can play easily and work hard to improve their mental outlook. Even if they lose, it is acceptable.

But at the same time, domestic fans are extremely enthusiastic about this game.

This is the first time in the past ten years that the national team has reached the final group stage of the World Cup qualifiers. The game is held in neighboring South Korea. How can the fans not support it?

The match venue is arranged at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, which can accommodate 66,000 fans. According to data released by the Korean Football Association, 45,000 tickets have been sold, of which 15,000 were from China. fans bought it.

Officials of the Korean Football Association predict that, together with tourists and Chinese living in South Korea, this highlight game is expected to attract more than 30,000 fans to the scene to watch the game, which will occupy half of the game stands.

In addition to the fans, there are also 5,000 fans of the Dragons, the official cheering group, who will come to the away game wearing the same jersey.

This is not only a competition on the court, but also a competition in the stands, and it is an all-round competition.

After South Korean head coach Stillik accepted an interview with the media, Gao Han and the national team declined all interviews and concentrated on preparing for the game. However, as the game time approached, news continued to come out.

First of all, it is the arrangement of the Football Association that all away games in the top 12 will be chartered to away games. This is the request of head coach Gao Han. He must try to provide the best service to the players and reduce the fatigue and accidental injuries caused by the fatigue of the journey.

In terms of food and accommodation, the Football Association has booked two floors of the Seoul Hilton Hotel, specially arranged independent access channels, and arranged security personnel to guard them 24 hours a day. At the same time, the team will bring its own chefs and ingredients to ensure the players' diet. Be able to continue the domestic recipes and avoid being unaccustomed.

Finally, there is the lineup for the expedition. There are only 18 players in the game roster, but Gao Han decided that all 25 training players will go to the away game. His intention is very clear, which is to tell all the international players whether they are starting the game, entering the squad, or Sitting in the stands, the national team is an indivisible whole.

Gao Han's move was supported by the Football Association, and domestic media and fans responded one after another.

On the evening of August 29, after the last training session in the afternoon, the national team took a special flight from Shenyang to Seoul and arrived on time at 10:30.

At the same time, the international players of the Korean national team also gathered on the 29th, including well-known international players such as Son Heung-min and Ki Sung-yong who play in Europe.

South Korea’s top star Son Heung-min, who plays for Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League, said confidently in an interview with Korean media at Seoul Airport, “We only need three days to get along well. This is our home court and we are in the top 12.” In the first match, we will definitely defeat the Chinese team!”

Regarding Gao Han, the head coach of the Chinese team, Sun Xingmin said that he had heard the legend of Gao Han, but that was in Europe.

"There is no savior in the football world. Gao Han alone cannot bring many changes to the Chinese team in a short period of time. Therefore, I am not worried. Instead, I can't wait for the game to come as soon as possible."