The China national team has been taking advantage of the indefinite suspension of the Chinese Super League by taking part in a training camp in Shanghai.
China are approaching the end of a two-week camp and will play CSL side Shanghai Shenhua behind closed doors on Tuesday. The national team also played CSL team Shanghai SIPG, winning 4-1.
The return of group training and behind-closed-doors friendlies are positive signs for Chinese sport which has been in lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic, the source of which was the Chinese city of Wuhan.
And the additional time the China national team has spent together during the suspension has brought the team closer together, said goalkeeper Yan Junling.
"I think actually for our team, because of the epidemic, we've had a longer time to train together and become more familiar with each other," said Shanghai SIPG stopper Yan.
"We can also get to fully understand what the coach wants and in fact the team has become more united."
China sit second in their 2022 World Cup qualifying group, eight points behind leaders Syria, although having played one game less. China's next qualifying match against the Maldives was suspended due to the pandemic and is set to be rescheduled for some time in the autumn.
