China told to boost home-grown talent
CHINA is enjoying a “football boom” at club level but it needs to do more to nurture talent for the struggling national team, according to Asian Football Confederation General Secretary Windsor John.
The Chinese Super League has become a major player in the global transfer market in recent years but the national side has stagnated and is on the brink of failing to qualify for a fourth successive World Cup.
“China’s football boom is good news for the AFC... because it is a very important partner for us,” Windsor John said in comments published by Xinhua news agency.
“On one hand, we need to improve the performance of the national team, so you need more home-grown players, more Chinese players who play in top clubs regularly and they can be prepared for the national team. On the other hand, the clubs want to do well in the league and become the champion, not only domestically but also champion in Asia. So it’s a difficult situation.”
China qualified for its only World Cup in 2002, when it lost all of its matches and failed to score a goal at the South Korea-Japan hosted event.
China, ranked world No. 77, must beat Uzbekistan at home and Qatar away in the final two rounds of Asian qualifying to have any hope of grabbing third place in Group A and a chance to reach Russia through the playoffs.
Its best chance of qualifying may have to wait until 2026 when the World Cup expands to 48 teams, however, when Asia will be allotted 8.5 berths.
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