Expected starting lineup for the national team: Striving to win, back to the 4-3-3 formation with U23 players still playing key roles

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　　On December 16, the Chinese national men’s football team will play its final match in the East Asian Cup, against the North Korean team. This is also the first time the two teams have met again since the 2015 Asian Cup. In the first two rounds, North Korea lost to Japan and South Korea by scores of 0-1 respectively, but the North Korean team showed great resilience, and there were some accidental factors behind those two losses. Therefore, for this match, the Chinese team certainly cannot afford to underestimate their opponents. 　　In the first two matches, the Chinese team adopted a 4-3-3 formation and playing style in the opening game; however, due to the large number of newcomers in the team, they were overwhelmed by South Korea’s offensive pressure. As a result, Lippi immediately switched to a 3-4-3 formation, and this change proved effective – in the second half, the team not only failed to concede any goals but also managed to equalize the score. In the second match, against the host team Japan, which was determined to win, Lippi continued to adopt a cautious playing style, sticking to the 3-4-3 formation. It was only because Gao Zhunyi and Xiao Zhi were injured unexpectedly that the team was forced to make substitutions in midfield, resulting in two goals conceded in just 80 minutes. 　　Regarding the Chinese team’s tactics, Lippi said that it mainly involves 433 and 343 formations; as for when to use which formation, it depends entirely on the opponent and the circumstances on the field. Judging from the third match, Lippi still hopes that the Chinese team can secure a victory in this cup competition. Furthermore, based on observations from the first two rounds of competition, although the North Korean team shows great determination, its overall strength is still inferior to that of South Korea and Japan; therefore, the Chinese team should have the confidence and courage to secure a victory against them. Under these circumstances, **the team will also adopt a 433 starting formation. 　　However, **there are not many players available within the team, as quite a few of them are injured. Lippi can only rotate the squad as much as possible; compared to the second match, the U23 player Deng Hanwen can return to the team, while Zhao Xuri, who is the oldest player, is also likely to start again after some adjustments. Following Gao Zhunyi’s injury, He Guanze is likely to make it into the starting lineup. For the Chinese team, the goal of this match is to defeat North Korea and use this victory to bring an end to 2017 for Chinese football. 　　Expected starting lineup: Goalkeeper: Yan Junling; Defenders: Deng Hanwen, He Guan, Liu Yiming, Zheng Zheng; Midfielders: Zhao Xuri, He Chao, Zhao Yuhao; Forwards: Wei Shihao, Yu Dabao, Zhang Wenzhao