Ge Aiping: The Chinese national football team lacks depth in talent, and the middle generation is not performing well.

According to Ge Aiping's analysis in the Oriental Sports Daily, the latest training roster for the Chinese men's national football team is noticeably younger. The inclusion of players from the 2007, 2008, and even 2009 age groups in the senior national team initially appears to signal a "youth storm" in Chinese football. However, comparing this roster to the structure of the senior national teams of Japan and South Korea reveals that the issue is not simply about "getting younger."

In this 30-man roster for the Chinese national team, players born in the 2000s make up more than one-third. While this proportion wouldn't be low for past national teams, it's not particularly unusual compared to their East Asian neighbors. The proportion of players born in the 2000s in the senior national teams of Japan and South Korea is also close to or even exceeds this level. Therefore, the rejuvenation of the Chinese team cannot be judged solely by the proportion of players; it's also crucial to consider whether a smooth transition has been established between different age groups.

For many years, national team players in their late twenties were often referred to as "youngsters," while Japan and South Korea had long been accustomed to bringing outstanding young players into the adult football system at an earlier age. The increasing proportion of players born in the 2000s in the Chinese team now seems more like an age structure that is beginning to align with that of strong East Asian teams, rather than a sudden emergence of a generation of super-talented newcomers.

It's noteworthy that the roster includes several players aged 17 to 19. This is uncommon in the senior national teams of Japan and South Korea. Does this mean that these 17- and 18-year-old players on the Chinese team are already stronger than their Japanese and South Korean counterparts?

The answer is probably no. Japan and South Korea have no shortage of good players in their age group; some are already playing in the J-League and K-League, and some have even entered European club systems. Their failure to immediately join the senior national team isn't necessarily due to a lack of skill, but more likely because the entry requirements for the senior national team are higher.

Japan and South Korea have a deep pool of players aged 23 to 29, considered the prime age for football, with many having played in European leagues for extended periods. In Japan's World Cup squad, players based in Europe make up the vast majority. Even the most talented 18-year-olds face competition from a group of more experienced players.

One of the real problems with the current Chinese national team is the lack of depth in its middle age group. Players aged 23 to 28 should be the backbone of the national team, but China hasn't developed a group of mature players in many positions who are clearly a level above the younger players. Therefore, it's natural for coaches to include a 17- or 18-year-old who performs as well as a 24- or 25-year-old in the national team. This, to some extent, also indicates a lack of depth in the senior national team's talent pool.

This is not the first time a similar situation has occurred. When Ari Haan coached the national team in 2003, he also brought players born in 1985, such as Zhou Haibin, Zhao Xuri, and Feng Xiaoting, into the senior national team. At that time, most of them were only around 18 years old.

More than 20 years later, the Chinese team has once again put several 17- or 18-year-old players on the doorstep of the senior national team. Whether these young players can achieve great things ultimately depends on whether they can truly establish themselves on the professional stage.

Let's not shout "youth storm" yet, let's wait and see!