COACH: Alain PERRIN (FRA)
CAPTAIN: ZHENG Zhi (Guangzhou Evergrande)
NICKNAME: N/A
ASIAN CUP APPEARANCES: 10 (1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2007, 2011)
BEST FINISH: Runners-Up (1984, 2004)
FIFA RANKING: 96
AFC RANKING: 9
HOW IT QUALIFIED: Highly fortunate to qualify, sneaking through in the dying stages of the final matchday thanks to a late goal conceded by Lebanon, which finished equal on points for the best third-placed nation but just a single goal on differential worse off.
RECENT FORM: Currently on an eight-match unbeaten run although the calibre of the opposition has been questionable and all bar one of those was at home. The lone match it played in Australia saw a second-half blitz as its brushed aside Oman 4-1.
MAIN MAN: ZHANG Linpeng (Guangzhou Evergrande)
With the controversial omission of Feng Xiaoting much has been hoisted on the shoulders of Zhang who will likely partner the inexperienced Mei Feng in the centre of the Chinese defence.
A real physical presence and equally capable of operating as a right-back, the 25 year old is prone to occasional lapses while in possession but will be an imposing force when breaking up play.
ONE TO WATCH: WU Lei (Shanghai East Asia)
The great hope of Chinese football, Wu reportedly turned down a move to Bundesliga club Hannover to re-sign with Shanghai East Asia.
An attacking midfielder who is likely to line up as one the pair of No. 8's under Alain Perrin's 4-1-2-3, Wu is both a creator and finisher, comfortable on the ball and able to dictate the flow of play.
OVERVIEW:
A perennial qualifier yet constant underperformer, China qualified for the Asian Cup by the barest of margins but hopes are high that it may be able to navigate what is a very open group.
I spoke with coach Perrin during its preparation in Sydney and he defended the decision to pick a host of players with limited international experience, saying he must think only about the immediate tasks at hand – this tournament and the imminent World Cup qualifiers.
The side arrived earlier than most into Australia and has been completing two sessions a day for much of that time to prepare the players physically as the Chinese domestic league – where the entire squad is drawn from – finished in November.
Such was the secrecy surrounding the build-up that – in a closed door match with Oman - the squad wore alternate shirt numbers just to confuse any 'spies' who may have made their way into the match.
In terms of the starting XI, Perrin is likely to opt for three relatively inexperienced defenders – Jiang Zhipeng, Mei Feng and Ji Xiang to go with the combustible Zhang Linpeng while Zheng Zhi will anchor the midfield as the No. 6.
Wu Xi and the supremely talented Wu Lei will be in more advanced roles while the front three is shaping as Yu Hanchao, Yang Xu and Sun Ke, although the experienced Gao Lin may also get a run.
Often described as the 'sleeping giant' of Asian football, China has been making positive steps over the past few years in reorganizing its approach to youth development, bringing in foreign experts and initiating a nationwide program where football will be introduced as a school subject.
Guangzhou has shown promising signs at club level and there are a host of European clubs establishing academies throughout the country but while that's all positive for the future it's the here-and-now that most concerns Perrin.
China has the ability to progress from this group but the run may end at the knockout stage – despite players such as Wu and Sun who have the ability to determine the outcome of any match if they perform at their best.
PREDICITION: QUARTER-FINALS
PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: 4-1-2-3
FULL SQUAD:
GOALKEEPERS: 1. ZENG Cheng (Guangzhou Evergrande); 12. YAN Junling (Shanghai East Asia); 23. WANG Dalei (Shandong Luneng)
DEFENDERS: 2. REN Hang (Jiangsu); 3. MEI Feng (Guangzhou Evergrande); 4. JIANG Zhipeng (Guangzhou R&F); 5. ZHANG Linpeng (Guangzhou Evergrande); 6. LI Ang (Jiangsu); 13. LIU Jianye (Jiangsu); 14. JI Xiang (Jiangsu); 15. WU Xi (Jiangsu)
MIDFIELDERS: 7. WU Lei (Shanghai East Asia); 8. CAI Huikang (Shanghai East Asia); 10. ZHENG Zhi (Guangzhou Evergrande); 11. HAO Junmin (Shandong Luneng); 16. SUN Ke (Jiangsu); 17. ZHANG Chendong (Beijing Guoan); 19. LIU Binbin (Shandong); 20. YU Hanchao (Guangzhou Evergrande); 21. YU Hai (Guizhou Renhe); 22. Liao LISHENG (Guangzhou Evergrande)
FORWARDS: 9. YANG Xu (Changchun Yatai); 18. GAO Lin (Guangzhou Evergrande)
GROUP B FIXTURES:
Saturday 10 January 2015
Saudi Arabia v China, Brisbane
Wednesday 14 January 2015
China v Uzbekistan, Brisbane
Sunday 18 January 2015
China v DPR Korea, Canberra
