HONG KONG (REUTERS) - Former Arsenal and Brentford midfielder Nico Yennaris has become the first overseas-born player to be called up for the China national team after he was included in Marcello Lippi's squad for upcoming friendlies against the Philippines and Tajikistan.
Yennaris, known as Li Ke in China, was born and grew up in England and is eligible to play for China through his mother, who was born in the country.
The 26-year-old signed for Chinese Super League side Beijing Guoan in January and has been granted Chinese citizenship, making him eligible for selection by Lippi as the Italian seeks to boost the fortunes of the country's struggling men's national team.
Yennaris' inclusion marks a significant shift in policy by the Chinese Football Association, which had previously resisted calls to include naturalised players in the national set-up despite it being common practice in many other countries.
However, Yennaris is one of a number of overseas-born players of Chinese descent to have joined a Chinese Super League club since the turn of the year, in a sign that the mood had changed.
The issue was also believed to be a factor in Lippi's decision to return to the helm of the team earlier this month, with the World Cup winner standing down when his contract ended following China's quarter-final Asian Cup exit in January.
Lippi's squad at the continental championship had the oldest average age of the 24 nations competing and is in desperate need of rejuvenation ahead of the country's attempt to secure a spot at the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
Â
China will start their campaign to qualify for the Finals for the first time since 2002 in September, with the games against the Philippines and Tajikistan in Guangzhou on June 7 and 11 respectively the only warm-ups planned ahead of their first qualifiers.
Ikhsan gets off mark in Norway. Singapore's Ikhsan Fandi celebrating with his Raufoss IL teammates after scoring the winner in the 3-2 win over Skeid on Sunday. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/ PARFAITBIZOZA.
Ikhsan gets off mark in Norway, Football News & Top Stories
Soccer: West Ham beat Fulham 2-0 to post fourth win in a row. 3 Min Read. Soccer Football - Premier League - Fulham v West Ham United - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - December 15, 2018 West Ham
West Ham beat Fulham 2-0 to post fourth win in a row
Gianluigi Buffon is Chief Executive Officer at Buffon & Co. SRL. View Gianluigi Buffon's professional profile on Buffon calls on PSG to show 'spirit of sacrifice'
PSG star Gianluigi Buffon warns team-mates ahead of
Hammers pack a punch: Klopp. Despite doubts over key West Ham players such as midfielder Samir Nasri, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is still expecting to face "a really good football team".
Hammers pack a punch: Klopp - theworldnews.net
Football: 2018 World Cup watched by record 3.5 billion people, says Fifa French President Emmanuel Macron reacts during the Russia 2018 World Cup final match between France and Croatia at the
More than 3.5 billion people watched 2018 World Cup, says
An operation against several footballers, ex-players including former Spain international Raul Bravo and club executives accused of fixing matches in the first and second divisions was underway in
Breaking: Several players arrested in match fixing probe in
Antoine Griezmann struck again as Atletico Madrid kept the pressure on Barcelona at the top of La Liga by beating in-form Getafe 2-0 on Saturday.
Griezmann on target again as Atletico edge closer to Barca
The Rockets guard probably felt his mission was successful after the two-time NBA MVP went scoreless in the first half. the playoffs with a 118-113 road win. Hottest Rim Protectors.
Talking Points from the Bruins' 7-2 Game 3 win over the Blues
Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino said the club will activate a one-year extension in defender Toby Alderweireld's contract to keep him at the club until 2020. Spurs to trigger
Tottenham to trigger Alderweireld contract extension
Real Madrid coach praises Bale, calls for patience with Isco - Madrid, Nov 10 : Real Madrids interim coach, Santiago Solari, on Saturday praised Welsh forward Gareth Bale while calling for
Real Madrid coach praises Bale, calls for patience with Isco
As his Newport team-mates were celebrating a stunning FA Cup win over Championship side Middlesbrough on Tuesday, goalkeeper Joe Day was sprinting down the tunnel after hearing his wife had gone
Rescuers try to recover body from Sala's plane, Football News
watch soccer online free streaming live reddit
watch soccer live streaming qatar
watch coppa america live streaming india vs england
super soccer tv live streaming garuda select
watch barclays premier league online live streaming
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch champions league live streaming putlockers
watch coppa america live streaming mexico
watch live streaming of premier league football
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo 7
watch soccer live stream links
watch coppa america live streaming mobile
watch premier league live streaming online
watch soccer online free streaming live india
watch coppa america live streaming nz
watch coppa america live streaming juventus
watch soccer am live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live bbc
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming free
watch barclays premier league live streaming online free
watch soccer live streaming zee tv
watch live streaming soccer online espn3
watch coppa america live streaming live free
watch karnataka premier league live streaming
watch tamil nadu premier league live streaming
watch champions league live streaming live
watch champions league live streaming video
watch hd soccer live streaming free
where to watch premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming indosiar
watch afghanistan premier league live stream
watch champions league final live streaming online
watch soccer online free streaming live batman
watch live premier league football streaming online for free
watch soccer live streaming kenya vs ethiopia
watch coppa america live streaming online free
watch english premier league live streaming hd
watch coppa america live streaming canada
watch live premier league football streaming online for free iraqgoals
watch soccer live stream hunter
watch coppa america live streaming indonesia
watch coppa america live streaming quality
watch soccer games online free streaming live
www.watch premier league live stream.com
watch soccer saturday live stream
watch arsenal southampton premier league live stream
watch soccer online free live streaming livetv ru
watch coppa america live streaming total sportek
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming
watch champions league live streaming jamaica
watch live soccer streaming on iphone
watch live soccer game barcelona vs real madrid
watch soccer aid live stream online
free watch soccer live streaming
watch uefa champions league live streaming youtube
watch soccer online free streaming live app
watch uefa champions league quarter final draw live streaming
watch champions league live streaming bein sport
watch champions league live streaming ptv sports
watch soccer online free streaming live arabic
watch soccer online free streaming live south africa
watch coppa america live streaming online
watch the champions league live stream
watch coppa america live streaming cricfree
watch champions league live streaming xbox one
watch soccer am online live streaming
watch soccer live streaming xbox one
watch soccer live streaming qatar vs philippines
watch coppa america live streaming putlockers
watch soccer live streaming zimbabwe
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch premier league live streaming qatar
watch soccer online free streaming live in english
watch coppa america live streaming xfinity
watch uefa champions league live streaming sportek
watch champions league draw live streaming free
watch soccer online free streaming live youtube
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming free online
watch sky sports premier league live stream
watch english premier league live streaming free
watch live streaming soccer world cup
watch coppa america live streaming direct
watch champions league draw live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming sub eng
watch champions league live streaming vk
#bundesliga #liverpool #liverpool #sunderlandafc #nikesoccer #chocolate #ronaldo #ignoranza #oasisandbeatles #comico #24x7 #commento #oasisofficial #bestshishacafedubai #mane #firmino #watchlive #footballdubai #lovefootball #freekickerz #fut #bayervshoffenheim #salah #football #league1 #arsenal #Barcelona #liverpoolfans #liverpoolcity #footballstreaming #footballfans #myfootballuniverse #chocolatecoffee #oasis #knuckleball #manchestercity #league2 #Liverpool #championship #conference #elcasico #commentimemorabili #mancityvsliverpool #livesports #nationsleague #soccerbible #livestreams #frasitrap #afcnews #zidane #beatifulgame #villarealcf #roadtrip #mancity #Barca #trollfootball #MyDubai #soccer #oudmehta #goal #londoncity #copaamerica #transfernews #championsleague #ucl #arsenalnews #sumbertv #coys #premierleague #football #kickoff #tokyo #crossfit #pagani #cristiano #footballschedule #visubal #Suarez #coffeebreak #livestreaming #freekick #winner #gooners #serieatim #thomasmeunier #zinedinezidane #calciatoribrutti #golazo #klopp #thebeatles #hotcoffee #golf
0 Comments