Beware of Teenage Player Surprises and Chinese Naturalization

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The Chinese national team is preparing a surprise for the do-or-die match against Indonesia. The team, coached by Branko Ivankovic, arrives with one teenage striker and two naturalized midfielders who did not appear during the first meeting.

The China squad has arrived in Jakarta on Monday (2/6/2025) evening WIB. They brought 23 players who are ready to compete against the host Indonesia in the continuation of Group C of the third round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium, Jakarta, on Thursday at 20:45 WIB.

Ivankovic, under significant pressure to secure a victory, is confident in his ability to seize three points. "I respect Indonesia because their performance is currently good with players who have experience in (competitions) in Europe, but we also arrive in good condition," he stated after arriving at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Tangerang, Banten.

China, which has collected six points from eight matches, must win if it wants to maintain its chances of qualifying for the World Cup. They remain at the bottom, in sixth place, trailing Indonesia, which is in fourth place (nine points). The third round has only two matches remaining.

In order to realize this mission, China has prepared a surprise for the host. They brought in teenage striker Wang Yudong (18), along with two naturalized midfielders, Serginho and Yang Mingyang. The three were absent during the first meeting with the "Garuda" team in Qingdao, October 2024.

Wang and Serginho have only represented the national team once, during a match against Australia last March. Serginho, of Brazilian descent, officially became a citizen of China at the beginning of the year. Yang, born in Switzerland, has not yet appeared as he was only approved to change his nationality by FIFA last May.

The player nicknamed "Diamond from China" should be watched closely. After being given the opportunity to debut by Ivankovic, the teenager has been experiencing the best trend in his career with Zhejiang FC in the Chinese Super League. Wang has scored 8 goals in the last 11 matches since the end of March.

Interestingly, Wang is capable of playing in multiple positions. He is often deployed on the left wing but is also able to function as an attacking midfielder or central striker. Wang is very comfortable dribbling the ball in tight spaces and possesses quick sprinting ability. The teenager's physique and playing style are reminiscent of Tottenham Hotspur star, Son Heung-min.

For Ivankovic, young players certainly carry more risks. Nevertheless, they need someone who is willing to take risks to win. Wang can replace the role of striker Berham Abduweli, who is not included in the squad this time. Abduweli was the scorer of the opening goal when China won 2-1 against Indonesia in the first match.

Serginho, 30 years old, offers creativity as well as goal production akin to an attacking midfielder "number 10". He is not a player who can run fast, but he possesses vision, technical ability, and top-notch goal-scoring instincts. The former player of the Brazilian club Santos also has equally proficient right and left foot skills.

Serginho's influence in the attacking line has been evident during his time playing for local clubs, Changchun Yatai and Beijing Guoan. He has contributed 27 goals and 19 assists over the last four seasons in the Chinese League. A player type like Serginho was not present for China in the first encounter.

Yang, the newly naturalized player, can provide energy in the midfield. He is the type of player who is agile, tenacious, and energetic. The former Wolverhampton Wanderers U-23 player often intercepts the opponent's ball and then triggers his team's counter-attack transitions. He is very well-suited to the system employed by Ivankovic, which relies on transitions.

According to Tianjin Daily, Ivankovic did a lot of experiments in preparation before leaving for Jakarta. Wang was tried playing in a more central position, not his usual left side. Meanwhile, Yang was tried shifting more to the right side, not according to his original position as a central midfielder.

Thanks to the presence of these three players, the coach has more options to implement his favored formation, which is the 4-4-2 diamond. In the front line, for instance, Wang and Serginho can serve as emergency strikers to accompany veteran player Zhang Yuning.

Zhang, who scored a goal against Indonesia in the first meeting, will find it easier to face Mees Hilgers and his friends. According to him, China's attack line will be the difference in the match later. "We have no choice but to attack," he said, as quoted by Sohu.

The last time Indonesia faced China, the team was still coached by Shin Tae-yong. Now, the "Garuda" team is led by former legendary Dutch striker Patrick Kluivert. Indonesia also has several new players who were not present in the first meeting, such as striker Ole Romeny and goalkeeper Emil Audero.