China has called up Serginho for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Saudi Arabia and Australia, marking his first inclusion after gaining citizenship. The team, currently last in their group, is hopeful to improve their standings in these crucial matches. This squad also includes Tyias Browning, while other notable players have been left out. China’s historical performance in World Cup qualifications remains concerning.

China has officially included Brazil-born midfielder Serginho in its squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers. This call comes shortly after he secured Chinese citizenship, which he obtained on March 12. Notably, China’s national team has opted for naturalized players in recent years, a strategy reflecting similar actions by other nations, although it has not yet produced significant success in enhancing the team’s performance.

Branko Ivankovic, the Croatian head coach, has named a total of 27 players for these critical matches. Among them is Tyias Browning, a former England youth international, now known as Jiang Guangtai. Serginho, also referred to as Sai Erjiniao in China, debuted for the national team during a closed-door friendly against Kuwait, which was recently reported by state broadcaster CCTV.

China is set to face Saudi Arabia away on Thursday, followed by a home match against Australia on Tuesday. With only six points from their group matches, the team is currently last but trails close behind Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain based on goal difference. Japan leads the group with 16 points, and the top two teams in the group are guaranteed automatic qualification for the World Cup.

The 30-year-old midfielder has a history in the sport, having initiated his career with Brazilian club Santos. He made a significant career move to Japan’s Kashima Antlers in 2018 before relocating to China in 2020. He has since played for Changchun Yatai and, more recently, Beijing Guoan, scoring 30 goals in 100 appearances.

This squad also features promising teenagers Wang Yudong and Liu Chengyu. However, notable Brazil-born players such as Elkeson, Alan, and Fernandinho, who had previously contributed to the national team, were not selected for this current roster. China’s current world ranking is 90th, and the nation has only qualified for the World Cup once in 2002, where it failed to earn any points or score a goal.

In summary, China’s national team has included Serginho and Tyias Browning in their squad as they prepare for vital World Cup qualifiers against Saudi Arabia and Australia. The team’s strategy to integrate naturalized players aims to improve results, although historical performance has yet to reflect this change positively. With critical matches approaching, a successful outcome is essential for China’s aspirations to qualify for the World Cup.

Original Source: sportstar.thehindu.com

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