The 2018 Gree China Cup International Football Championship (Chinese: 2018年格力中国杯国际足球锦标赛) was the second edition of the China Cup, an international football tournament held in China annually. It was played from 22 to 26 March 2018 in Nanning, Guangxi, China.

2018 China Cup
Tournament details
Host countryChina
CityNanning, Guangxi
Dates22–26 March
Teams4 (from 3 confederations)
Venue(s)1 (in 1 host city)
Final positions
Champions Uruguay (1st title)
Runners-up Wales
Third place Czech Republic
Fourth place China
Tournament statistics
Matches played4
Goals scored14 (3.5 per match)
Attendance116,201 (29,050 per match)
Top scorer(s)Wales Gareth Bale
(3 goals)
Best player(s)Uruguay Edinson Cavani
2017
2019

The winning team was Uruguay, who beat Wales 1–0 in the final.[1]

Participating teams edit

On 8 November 2017, it was announced that Czech Republic, Uruguay and Wales would participate in the 2018 China Cup.[2]

Team FIFA Ranking
(March 2018)[3]
  Wales
20
  Uruguay
22
  Czech Republic
43
  China (host)
65

Mascot edit

With 65,554 votes, Longbao[a] was elected as the official mascot for the 2018 Gree China Cup International Football Championship. Longbao’s design was drawn from a Chinese dragon (Long), an essential cultural symbol of strength, good luck and auspicious powers.[4]

Venue edit

Nanning
 
 
Guangxi Sports Center
Guangxi Sports Center
22°46′01″N 108°23′17″E / 22.767°N 108.388°E / 22.767; 108.388 (Guangxi Sports Center)
Capacity: 60,000

Match officials edit

The following referees were chosen for the 2018 China Cup.

Referees
Assistant referees
  •   George Lakrindis
  •   Mohammad bin Zainal
  •   Juma Al-Burshaid
  •   Mohammad Darman

Squads edit

  • Age, caps and goals as of the start of the tournament, 22 March 2018.

China edit

China

Coach:   Marcello Lippi

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Zeng Cheng (1987-01-08)8 January 1987 (aged 31) 41 0   Guangzhou Evergrande
2 2DF Liu Yiming (1995-02-28)28 February 1995 (aged 23) 3 0   Tianjin Quanjian
3 2DF Zheng Zheng (1989-07-11)11 July 1989 (aged 28) 14 2   Shandong Luneng
4 2DF Li Xuepeng (1988-09-18)18 September 1988 (aged 29) 27 0   Guangzhou Evergrande
6 2DF Feng Xiaoting (captain) (1985-10-22)22 October 1985 (aged 32) 64 0   Guangzhou Evergrande
7 4FW Wu Lei (1991-11-19)19 November 1991 (aged 26) 48 8   Shanghai SIPG
8 3MF Cai Huikang (1989-10-10)10 October 1989 (aged 28) 20 0   Shanghai SIPG
9 4FW Xiao Zhi (1985-05-28)28 May 1985 (aged 32) 8 2   Guangzhou R&F
11 3MF Hao Junmin (1987-03-24)24 March 1987 (aged 30) 66 12   Shandong Luneng
12 1GK Yan Junling (1991-01-28)28 January 1991 (aged 27) 7 0   Shanghai SIPG
13 3MF He Chao (1995-04-19)19 April 1995 (aged 22) 2 0   Changchun Yatai
14 2DF Jiang Zhipeng (1989-03-06)6 March 1989 (aged 29) 23 0   Hebei China Fortune
16 3MF Huang Bowen (1987-07-13)13 July 1987 (aged 30) 43 3   Guangzhou Evergrande
17 2DF Fan Xiaodong (1987-03-02)2 March 1987 (aged 31) 3 0   Changchun Yatai
18 4FW Gao Lin (1986-02-14)14 February 1986 (aged 32) 97 20   Guangzhou Evergrande
19 4FW Wei Shihao (1995-04-08)8 April 1995 (aged 22) 3 2   Beijing Guoan
20 3MF Yu Hanchao (1987-02-25)25 February 1987 (aged 31) 50 9   Guangzhou Evergrande
21 2DF Deng Hanwen (1995-01-08)8 January 1995 (aged 23) 7 2   Guangzhou Evergrande
22 4FW Yu Dabao (1988-04-18)18 April 1988 (aged 29) 45 17   Beijing Guoan
23 1GK Wang Dalei (1989-01-10)10 January 1989 (aged 29) 26 0   Shandong Luneng
24 3MF Zhao Xuri (vice-captain) (1985-12-03)3 December 1985 (aged 32) 73 2   Tianjin Quanjian
25 2DF He Guan (1993-01-25)25 January 1993 (aged 25) 3 0   Shanghai SIPG
28 2DF Wang Shenchao (1989-02-08)8 February 1989 (aged 29) 4 0   Shanghai SIPG
29 4FW Tan Long (1988-04-01)1 April 1988 (aged 29) 0 0   Changchun Yatai
30 3MF Peng Xinli (1991-07-22)22 July 1991 (aged 26) 0 0   Chongqing Lifan
3MF Wu Xi (1989-02-19)19 February 1989 (aged 29) 47 3   Jiangsu Suning

Source:[5][6][7][8][9]

Czech Republic edit

Czech Republic

Coach:   Karel Jarolím

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Tomáš Vaclík (1989-03-29)29 March 1989 (aged 28) 18 0   Basel
2 2DF Pavel Kadeřábek (1992-04-25)25 April 1992 (aged 25) 30 2   1899 Hoffenheim
3 2DF Tomáš Kalas (1993-05-22)22 May 1993 (aged 24) 11 0   Fulham
4 2DF Theodor Gebre Selassie (1986-12-24)24 December 1986 (aged 31) 45 3   Werder Bremen
5 3MF Lukáš Masopust (1993-02-12)12 February 1993 (aged 25) 0 0   Jablonec
6 2DF Michael Lüftner (1994-03-14)14 March 1994 (aged 24) 1 0   Copenhagen
7 3MF Antonín Barák (1994-12-03)3 December 1994 (aged 23) 7 5   Udinese
8 3MF Vladimír Darida (1990-08-08)8 August 1990 (aged 27) 49 4   Hertha BSC
9 3MF Martin Frýdek (1992-03-24)24 March 1992 (aged 25) 5 0   Sparta Prague
11 4FW Michael Krmenčík (1993-03-15)15 March 1993 (aged 25) 11 6   Viktoria Plzeň
13 3MF Jan Kopic (1990-06-04)4 June 1990 (aged 27) 9 3   Viktoria Plzeň
15 3MF Tomáš Souček (1995-02-27)27 February 1995 (aged 23) 8 1   Slavia Prague
16 1GK Tomáš Koubek (1992-08-26)26 August 1992 (aged 25) 6 0   Rennes
17 2DF Marek Suchý (captain) (1988-03-29)29 March 1988 (aged 29) 36 1   Basel
18 2DF Jan Bořil (1991-01-11)11 January 1991 (aged 27) 4 0   Slavia Prague
19 4FW Patrik Schick (1996-01-24)24 January 1996 (aged 22) 5 1   Roma
20 3MF Michal Trávník (1994-05-17)17 May 1994 (aged 23) 0 0   Jablonec
21 4FW Stanislav Tecl (1990-09-01)1 September 1990 (aged 27) 1 0   Jablonec
22 2DF Filip Novák (1990-06-26)26 June 1990 (aged 27) 12 1   Trabzonspor
23 1GK Jiří Pavlenka (1992-04-14)14 April 1992 (aged 25) 4 0   Werder Bremen
26 2DF Jakub Jugas (1992-05-05)5 May 1992 (aged 25) 0 0   Slavia Prague

Source:[9][10][11]

Uruguay edit

Uruguay

Coach:   Óscar Tabárez

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Fernando Muslera (1986-06-16)16 June 1986 (aged 31) 94 0   Galatasaray
2 2DF José Giménez (1995-01-20)20 January 1995 (aged 23) 39 4   Atlético Madrid
3 2DF Diego Godín (captain) (1986-02-16)16 February 1986 (aged 32) 113 8   Atlético Madrid
4 2DF Guillermo Varela (1993-03-24)24 March 1993 (aged 24) 1 0   Peñarol
5 3MF Carlos Sánchez (1984-12-02)2 December 1984 (aged 33) 33 1   Monterrey
6 3MF Rodrigo Bentancur (1997-06-05)5 June 1997 (aged 20) 4 0   Juventus
7 3MF Cristian Rodríguez (1985-09-30)30 September 1985 (aged 32) 102 11   Peñarol
8 3MF Nahitan Nández (1995-12-28)28 December 1995 (aged 22) 9 0   Boca Juniors
9 4FW Luis Suárez (1987-01-24)24 January 1987 (aged 31) 95 49   Barcelona
10 3MF Giorgian De Arrascaeta (1994-05-01)1 May 1994 (aged 23) 12 1   Cruzeiro
11 4FW Cristhian Stuani (1986-12-10)10 December 1986 (aged 31) 38 5   Girona
12 1GK Martín Campaña (1989-05-29)29 May 1989 (aged 28) 1 0   Independiente
13 2DF Gastón Silva (1994-03-05)5 March 1994 (aged 24) 16 0   Independiente
14 3MF Lucas Torreira (1996-02-11)11 February 1996 (aged 22) 0 0   Sampdoria
15 3MF Matías Vecino (1991-08-24)24 August 1991 (aged 26) 19 1   Internazionale
16 2DF Maxi Pereira (1984-06-08)8 June 1984 (aged 33) 124 3   Porto
17 3MF Diego Laxalt (1993-02-07)7 February 1993 (aged 25) 3 0   Genoa
18 4FW Maxi Gómez (1996-08-14)14 August 1996 (aged 21) 2 0   Celta Vigo
19 2DF Sebastián Coates (1990-10-07)7 October 1990 (aged 27) 29 1   Sporting CP
20 3MF Gastón Ramírez (1990-12-02)2 December 1990 (aged 27) 42 0   Sampdoria
21 4FW Edinson Cavani (1987-02-14)14 February 1987 (aged 31) 98 40   Paris Saint-Germain
23 1GK Martín Silva (1983-03-23)23 March 1983 (aged 34) 11 0   Vasco da Gama

Source:[11][12][13]

Wales edit

Wales

Coach:   Ryan Giggs

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Wayne Hennessey (1987-01-24)24 January 1987 (aged 31) 73 0   Crystal Palace
2 2DF Chris Gunter (1989-07-21)21 July 1989 (aged 28) 85 0   Reading
3 2DF Adam Matthews (1992-01-13)13 January 1992 (aged 26) 13 0   Sunderland
4 2DF Ben Davies (1993-04-24)24 April 1993 (aged 24) 36 0   Tottenham Hotspur
5 2DF James Chester (1989-01-23)23 January 1989 (aged 29) 29 0   Aston Villa
6 2DF Ashley Williams (captain) (1984-08-23)23 August 1984 (aged 33) 76 2   Everton
7 3MF Joe Allen (1990-03-14)14 March 1990 (aged 28) 40 2   Stoke City
8 3MF Andy King (1988-10-29)29 October 1988 (aged 29) 44 2   Swansea City
9 4FW Sam Vokes (1989-10-21)21 October 1989 (aged 28) 56 8   Burnley
10 4FW Tom Bradshaw (1992-07-27)27 July 1992 (aged 25) 2 0   Barnsley
11 4FW Gareth Bale (1989-07-16)16 July 1989 (aged 28) 68 26   Real Madrid
12 1GK Chris Maxwell (1990-07-30)30 July 1990 (aged 27) 0 0   Preston North End
13 4FW Billy Bodin (1992-03-24)24 March 1992 (aged 25) 0 0   Preston North End
14 2DF Declan John (1995-06-30)30 June 1995 (aged 22) 2 0   Rangers
15 3MF Lee Evans (1994-07-24)24 July 1994 (aged 23) 1 0   Sheffield United
16 4FW Harry Wilson (1997-03-22)22 March 1997 (aged 21) 1 0   Hull City
17 3MF Marley Watkins (1990-10-17)17 October 1990 (aged 27) 1 0   Norwich City
18 2DF Chris Mepham (1997-11-05)5 November 1997 (aged 20) 0 0   Brentford
19 2DF Connor Roberts (1995-09-23)23 September 1995 (aged 22) 0 0   Swansea City
20 3MF Ryan Hedges (1995-07-08)8 July 1995 (aged 22) 1 0   Barnsley
21 1GK Michael Crowe (1995-11-13)13 November 1995 (aged 22) 0 0   Ipswich Town
22 4FW Ben Woodburn (1999-10-15)15 October 1999 (aged 18) 6 1   Liverpool
23 2DF Tom Lockyer (1994-12-03)3 December 1994 (aged 23) 1 0   Bristol Rovers

Source:[8][13][14]

Matches edit

The official draw was announced on 5 December 2017.[15] The schedule was announced on 17 December 2017.[16] All times are local, CST (UTC+8).

Bracket edit

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
22 March – Nanning
 
 
  China0
 
26 March – Nanning
 
  Wales6
 
  Wales0
 
23 March – Nanning
 
  Uruguay1
 
  Uruguay2
 
 
  Czech Republic0
 
Third-place playoff
 
 
26 March – Nanning
 
 
  China1
 
 
  Czech Republic4

Semi-finals edit

China  0–6  Wales
Report
  • Bale   2', 21', 62'
  • Vokes   38', 58'
  • Wilson   45'
Uruguay  2–0  Czech Republic
Report

Third-place playoff edit

China  1–4  Czech Republic
Report
Attendance: 15,815

Final edit

Wales  0–1  Uruguay
Report

Goalscorers edit

There were 14 goals scored in 4 matches, for an average of 3.5 goals per match.

3 goals

2 goals

1 goal

Notes edit

  1. ^ simplified Chinese: ; traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: Lóng Bǎo; Mandarin pronunciation: [lʊ̌ŋ pàʊ], in quick speech, [lʊ̌m-]

References edit

  1. ^ "Wales 0 Uruguay 1". BBC Sport. 26 March 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  2. ^ 中国杯明年3月开打,乌拉圭、威尔士和捷克受邀参赛. Hupu Sports (in Chinese). 8 November 2017. Archived from the original on 19 March 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  3. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking - Ranking Table". FIFA.com. 15 March 2018. Archived from the original on 16 March 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  4. ^ 2018“中国杯”国际足球锦标赛吉祥物出炉. Wanda.cn (in Chinese). 29 January 2018. Archived from the original on 19 March 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  5. ^ China football team (4 March 2018). "List of 27 players for China team at 2018 China Cup". Sina Weibo (in Chinese). Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  6. ^ 中国足球协会关于国家男子足球队集训的通知. FA.rog.cn (in Chinese). CFA. 4 March 2018. Archived from the original on 15 March 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  7. ^ 张琳芃因伤退出中国杯 邓涵文或顶上里皮不招新人. NetEase Sports (in Chinese). 20 March 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  8. ^ a b 2018 China Cup (22 March 2018). "Start list of China VS Wales". Sina Weibo (in Chinese and English). Retrieved 26 March 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ a b 2018 China Cup (26 March 2018). "Start list of China VS Czech". Sina Weibo (in Chinese and English). Retrieved 26 March 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ "China Cup 2018: Uruguay - Česká republika 2:0 | Reprezentace". Repre.Fotbal.cz (in Czech). FAČR. 23 March 2018. Archived from the original on 6 May 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  11. ^ a b 2018 China Cup (23 March 2018). "Start list of Uruguay VS Czech". Sina Weibo (in Chinese and English). Retrieved 26 March 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ "23 convocados para la China Cup". AUF.org.uy (in Spanish). UFA. 14 March 2018. Archived from the original on 24 March 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  13. ^ a b 2018 China Cup (26 March 2018). "Start list of Wales VS Uruguay". Sina Weibo (in Chinese and English). Retrieved 26 March 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ "Squad changes ahead of China Cup". FAW.cymru. FA Wales. 18 March 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  15. ^ "2018 China Cup Schedule Confirmed". FAW.cymru. FA Wales. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
  16. ^ 中国杯赛程:3月份打响 国足首战对阵威尔士. LeSports (in Chinese). 17 December 2017. Archived from the original on 19 March 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2017.

External links edit