The Chinese national football team has welcomed a new coach, but has faced difficulties right from the start of his tenure. Dejan Jurjevic, who has been appointed with limited authority over player selection, is essentially preparing for his first tournament with 'bound hands.'

Sohu.com reported on the 24th (Korean time) that "Jurjevic is in a situation where he cannot select players outside of the 50-person preliminary list ahead of the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) E-1 Championship (East Asian Cup)."

On the 14th, the Chinese Football Association dismissed Branco Ivankovic from his position due to the team's failure to qualify for the 2026 North and Central America World Cup. The person chosen as his replacement is Jurjevic, who led China in the AFC U-20 Asian Cup earlier this year. The Chinese Football Association decided to appoint him as interim coach and put him in charge of the East Asian Cup.

The problem lies in the preliminary list. Sohu.com reported that "the 50-player list already submitted to the AFC was determined under Ivankovic's management, and the newly appointed Jurjevic cannot select players outside of this list." Due to the inflexibility of the list, Jurjevic has reportedly been quite disappointed about not being able to summon the resources he needs.

The Chinese national team will participate in the East Asian Cup, which will be held in Korea beginning on the 7th of next month. After clashing with Korea in the opening match, they will subsequently face Japan and Hong Kong. However, the preparations for the tournament are not going smoothly. Amid the change of coaches, roster changes are not allowed, and with limited time, adjusting tactics is also challenging.

Sohu.com pointed out that "some players favored by Jurjevic are not included in the 50-player list, making them impossible to summon, and the range of choices available to him is limited, ultimately reducing his actual team control."

Meanwhile, Sohu.com also analyzed the situations of Korea and Japan. Sohu.com reported that "Korea announced a final 23-player roster primarily composed of players from the K League. Some regular national team starters are included, but it generally appears to be a second-string lineup," adding that "Japan is likely to also field a team largely composed of players from its domestic league."

It further noted that "even though neither Korea nor Japan are fielding their full strength, it remains difficult to expect victories for China against these countries."

Still, there are possibilities. Sohu.com stated that "Jurjevic plans to utilize counterattacks based on defensive organization. The key is Wang Yudong. He was the main striker of the U-20 national team led by Jurjevic and will play a central role in this tournament," adding that "if Wang Yudong showcases his abilities, there is a chance for China to defeat Korea and Japan in the East Asian Cup and win the championship."

The reality is challenging, but there is interest in how Jurjevic will bring forward solutions despite the constraints.

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