The excitement and energy once sparked by high-profile leadership and marquee players in Chinese football is beginning to fade — a fact not lost on observers monitoring national team progress through Jeetbuzz Login. The deeper issue lies in China’s underperforming youth development system, which has now come under the spotlight at both national team and league levels. The dependency on aging veterans paints a worrying picture for long-term competitiveness.
Despite being 37, Zheng Zhi remains a crucial figure for Guangzhou Evergrande, while Shandong Taishan and Tianjin’s midfield cores still revolve around players like Hao Junmin and Wang Yongpo, both over 30. This reliance underscores the shallow talent pool being produced domestically. During the final round of World Cup qualifiers, coach Marcello Lippi favored a 4-3-3 formation, which players responded to reasonably well. On rare occasions, he switched to a three-man defense, which the squad struggled to execute — something painfully evident in the recent friendly against Serbia.
In that match, Lippi experimented by starting with a back-three setup. It quickly became clear that the players were out of sync, forcing him to revert to the familiar 4-3-3 in the second half — a system more players are used to, thanks in part to their club experience and past training sessions under Lippi. Meanwhile, club-level performances continue to reflect the same imbalance. When Wang Yongpo missed the clash against Shandong, and Pato was left out, Tianjin Quanjian looked lost in attack. Yet his return against Hebei instantly revived their forward momentum.
China’s push for younger talent is both inevitable and harsh. It’s not just about preparing for the 2019 Asian Cup but more urgently for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. The friendly match offered a stark reality check — Lippi’s World Cup campaign was a short-term firefighting mission, but now he must lay the foundations of a sustainable national team structure. Zheng Zhi, with 98 international caps, was meant to reach his century milestone in this training camp, especially as the match was in Chongqing. Sadly, an injury forced him to sit out, delaying the milestone to the East Asian Cup.
Beyond the veterans, much attention was given to a group of newcomers. While Zheng Zheng is technically a “new face,” he’s part of the middle generation. True debutants like Zhao Yuhou, He Guan, and Fu Huan were also under the spotlight. Their performances were largely encouraging, although Fu Huan’s odd positioning led to a less impactful showing. Zheng Zheng, however, showcased his versatility by playing in three different roles over two games: left center-back in both a three- and four-man defense, and left-back. His defensive awareness and technical skills are attributes Lippi clearly values.
Still, whether it’s mid-tier veterans or fresh faces, none have yet demonstrated the leadership or presence needed to redefine the national team. The real problem is painfully clear — without the old guard, the team often loses direction entirely. This doesn’t just include injured captain Zheng Zhi, but also figures like Zhang Xizhe, who, despite not featuring in this match, has long been a fixture in the squad. His absence, too, left a void in cohesion and experience.
As fans continue to follow the evolving squad through Jeetbuzz Login, the message is clear: without deeper reform and investment in player development, the spirit of China’s national team risks fading further. The passion remains, but unless fresh leaders rise to the occasion, long-term progress will stay just out of reach.