Soccer Newspaper: Strong Competitors Launch Preparations; Bahrain in Training Camp, Indonesia’s Naturalization Process Proceeding Smoothly

July 21st, the Soccer Newspaper reported that China’s national football team’s competitors in the top 18 qualifying round have started taking action, with Bahrain already conducting a training camp in Slovenia.

The Soccer Newspaper wrote: “After Japan’s head coach Hajime Moriyasu personally observed matches in the European Championship in Germany, he will again travel to Europe to evaluate players from the Olympic team and other overseas-based national team members. Australia’s head coach Graham Arnold has also sent assistant coach Rene Meulensteen to Europe to gather information on overseas players and has confirmed the venue for their first home game of the top 18 against the Chinese national team. Saudi Arabia’s head coach Roberto Mancini is sketching out a squad list for Saudi Arabia, including six national team players who defied him at the Asian Cup, such as goalkeeper Al-Owais, who was included in the preliminary squad right after his suspension ended. The Bahrain national team even began a two-week training camp in Slovenia yesterday, with head coach Ivan Todorović hoping to assess the players’ conditions through the camp. Indonesia’s head coach Shin Tae-yong rushed to complete his pleurisy surgery to recover as soon as possible and return to Indonesia by mid-August.”

As the first opponent in the top 18, Japan’s team is full of stars. Not only will Japan’s head coach Hajime Moriyasu evaluate players from the Olympic team, but he will also assess the status of overseas-based key players. It is expected that Moriyasu will announce the first squad list for the top 18 at the end of August. The performances of overseas-based national team players in pre-season games and the start of the league season will be the main basis for selection.

Bahrain has already traveled to Slovenia for a two-week training camp, and the team is coached by former Henan Jianye’s Croatian head coach Ivan Todorović. A total of 30 players were selected for this training camp, and they will play friendly matches with top-flight clubs, including Lokomotiva Zagreb.

Saudi Arabia will begin their training camp on September 2nd to prepare for their first match against Indonesia, then fly directly to Dalian by chartered flight. By then, two rounds of the Saudi league will have been played, giving Mancini enough time to evaluate the players. The match between Australia and China’s national team will take place at Adelaide United’s home stadium. Members of Australia’s head coach Graham Arnold and his coaching staff will also travel to Europe to evaluate players, with particular focus on Ilaix Moriba, who officially joined Bayern Munich.

Indonesia’s head coach Shin Tae-yong underwent meningitis surgery and is expected to return to the team in early August. However, Indonesia’s naturalization process continues. Defender Fierro van den Kerkhof, who plays in the Dutch Eredivisie for NEC Nijmegen, completed his naturalization in June. Indonesia hopes to complete the naturalization of 2-3 more players before the top 18, making them a formidable team with a ‘naturalized corps’.