Reporter: National Team Never Practiced Five Defenders During Two-Week Training; Ivan’s Mysterious Moves Continue Since Taking Office

According to reporter Gu Ying from the Tianjin Daily, the national team never practiced a five-defender formation during their two weeks of training. In the second half against Japan, Ivan suddenly changed the formation, which ultimately led to a disaster. Since Ivan took over, there have been countless mysterious moves.

The first half of the match between the national team and the Japanese team saw Ivan deploying a 4-4-2 formation, with Wu Lei and Zhang Yuning as the double forwards. This was considered one of the reasons for the national team being overwhelmed after the game. Against a strong team like Japan, the defensively-oriented national team actually used double forwards instead of just one, thus diverting more focus away from defense.

In the second half, Ivan adjusted the formation to a 5-3-2, especially after Minamino Takumi helped Japan take a 4-0 lead, this adjustment by Ivan led to the national team being overwhelmed.

Reporter Gu Ying from the Tianjin Daily revealed that during the entire training period, Ivan never practiced a five-defender formation, this was a sudden change during the game, “Yesterday, we specifically inquired about the national team before and after the game. During these training days, they never practiced a five-defender formation. How should we understand playing with five defenders against Japan? Was it the coach changing his mind on the spot? Or did he not prepare specifically?”

In addition, the reporter added, “Apart from the mysterious formation adjustments against Japan, since taking office, Ivan has made countless mysterious moves. The 4-4-2 diamond midfield only had a single defensive midfielder, and as the game progressed, it made Ivan realize that the national team lacked the level, ability, and personnel configuration. And in the away game against Singapore, the mysterious substitutions when leading 2-0 caused the national team to lose 2 points away, almost failing to enter the top 18 qualifiers.”