With the announcement of the latest national football team roster, the football community has erupted in excitement as fans eagerly dissect the list to discern the future tactical layout and direction of the national team. This roster features 32 players, with numerous highlights, but it is the selection of players from Shanghai Port that has sparked significant controversy and discussion.
The inclusion of naturalized player Hou Yongyong is undoubtedly a highlight of this national team training session, adding more possibilities to the national team lineup. The infusion of young talent is also encouraging, with 20-year-olds Maiwulang and Wumiti Jiang donning the national team jersey for the first time, carrying the hopes for the future of the national team. Their youthful energy is expected to spark new sparks during the training sessions. Looking at the number of players selected from each club, Beijing Guoan stands out with 7 players, becoming the biggest winner, which undoubtedly demonstrates Beijing Guoan's advantage in terms of talent reserves and the current state of their players.
In contrast, last season's Chinese Super League "double champion" Shanghai Port finds themselves in an awkward position within the national team. In this national team training session, they have only two players selected, Yan Junling and Wei Zhen, which is in stark contrast to their glorious season achievements, leaving many Shanghai Port fans feeling uneasy and questioning Ivan's selection process.
Looking back on last season, Shanghai Port's road to the championship was nothing short of brilliant. Foreign players like Oscar and Bargas wreaked havoc, using their superior individual abilities and默契配合默契配合 to capture cities and fortresses, control the midfield rhythm, and were key forces in the team's championship victory. Similarly, domestic players such as Wu Lei, Yan Junling, Jiang Guangtai, Li Ang, and Li Shuai played indispensable roles. Wu Lei's keen sense in front of the goal led to numerous crucial goals; Yan Junling made spectacular saves multiple times in front of the goal, guarding the team's door; Jiang Guangtai anchored the defense with his strong physique and excellent defensive awareness, making opposing forwards think twice; Li Ang's critical clearances in key matches directly contributed to the team's championship victory; Li Shuai's stable defense on the flank built a barrier for the team, making it difficult for opponents to find breakthrough opportunities.
However, what was unexpected is that on the national team training list, Shanghai Port players have become the chicken ribs under Ivan's command, with many national-level tough players being overlooked and discarded. Wu Lei and Jiang Guangtai were both left out, which can be explained by their ongoing recovery from injuries. However, what is perplexing is that apart from Wei Zhen, none of the proud domestic defenders of Shanghai Port were selected. Wei Zhen's performance throughout the season was unstable, with frequent mistakes, and he was even dropped from the starting lineup by Muscat at the end of the season. In contrast, the 31-year-old Li Ang repeatedly stepped up in critical moments, with his incredible goal-line clearance against Qingdao West Coast being a stroke of genius on the road to the championship. Yet, Ivan chose to use the much-criticized Wei Zhen over the defensively solid Li Ang, leaving many puzzled.
Looking at the full-back position, Li Shuai, recognized as the most stable full-back in the Chinese Super League, had a zero-error performance throughout the season, yet he has never been called up by Ivan, naturally causing many Chinese fans to feel indignant on his behalf. Wang Zhenao also performed well, quickly regaining his form after recovering from injury. He came off the bench in the FA Cup final and scored a crucial goal within minutes, helping the team secure victory, and was even included in the squad for the match against Japan in November's national team game day. However, he too is now absent from the 32-man training roster for the national team.
This series of situations inevitably makes one ponder: What exactly are the standards for selecting players for the national team? Is it simply based on their current form, or does it take into account a comprehensive evaluation of their long-term performance, experience in major competitions, and potential among other factors? For these Shanghai Port players who excelled in the league but were left out, what adjustments do they need to make to once again knock on the door of the national team? Should the national team coaching staff re-examine the selection mechanism to ensure that no "pearls" are overlooked, striving to create a truly formidable national team with the strongest fighting power?