The national football team's policy of naturalizing players has been likened to "heaven or hell." Fernandinho is absent from the new training session due to "personal reasons" and "contract disputes," while another naturalized player, Hou Yongyong, has made his first appearance in the national team with confidence, ready for the upcoming matches. This stark contrast is like two sides of a coin, one revealing issues with the naturalization policy, while the other seems to open up new possibilities for the national team. On one side, there is endless glory, and on the other, unresolved problems. It's hard not to ask: Do naturalized players really help the national team, or do they hold it back?
First, let's talk about Fernandinho. It must be admitted that when he was naturalized, great hopes were pinned on him. He is not lacking in talent and has abundant physical fitness, making him a sharp weapon in the offensive end. However, since completing his naturalization and joining the national team, his performance has been lackluster. It is reported that this time he could not participate in the new training session not simply because of physical reasons but due to contract disputes with domestic clubs. He is still on vacation in Brazil, unable to return for the time being.
At first glance, this seems like a personal choice, but looking at it from another angle, isn't this also a legacy of the management problems of naturalized players? The naturalization policy is ostensibly intended to make up for the shortcomings in the strength of domestic players, but after its implementation, it has exposed a series of detailed issues: such as the entanglement of interests between players and clubs, the lack of a sense of belonging, and the insufficient enthusiasm of players for training or events.
Fernandinho's situation makes people wonder if naturalized players see the national team as just an "opportunity that comes with the wind." After all, the past few years of practice have shown that a player's ability is one thing, but whether they can integrate is even more important. On the field, attitude often matters more than talent. Moreover, compared to the halo surrounding the selection of "Fernandinhos," the current national team's naturalization strategy seems more realistic, and Hou Yongyong's addition is an example—choosing those who are willing to work hard and genuinely want to serve the national team.
Compared to Fernandinho's "no-show," Hou Yongyong's first selection is a highlight. This naturalized player of Chinese descent, born in 1998 and raised in Norway, has solid skills and joined the Chinese league halfway through his career. Many people may not be familiar with him, but all doubts about him can be dispelled by the numbers: last season, he scored 19 goals and provided 8 assists. Given his form, these figures are far from inflated.
More importantly, Hou Yongyong is the first player in the history of the national team to be selected under the "Chinese descent naturalization" identity. His example, in a sense, represents the direction adjustment of the Chinese Football Association in the naturalization policy. Instead of blindly pursuing top-level foreign players, they are more willing to give opportunities to potential players who can integrate well. This "pragmatism" seems more grounded and more in line with current needs than the "ambitious" approach of the past.
Looking ahead to the upcoming away match against Saudi Arabia, Ivan Kozlovic has placed Hou Yongyong in the forward line based on his ability to run, fight, and be flexible. Without Fernandinho, his presence undoubtedly gives the national team more options. This is an experiment, but it may also be a breakthrough for the national team to solve its offensive difficulties.
Regarding Fernandinho's absence, coach Ivan Kozlovic's attitude appears decisive, without excessive entanglement or unnecessary explanations. He simply described it as an "adjustment." He quickly added Hou Yongyong to the lineup and stated, "This is a new attempt with the lineup."
Ivan Kozlovic's coaching style has always been pragmatic, and he rarely insists pointlessly in non-essential situations. The outside world generally evaluates him as adept at tapping into the team's potential. This proactive use of Hou Yongyong is not just a choice forced by Fernandinho's absence. Ultimately, it is also based on the actual state of the players. He wants to see a player who "speaks with their performance" rather than one who "boasts only with their resume."
This decisiveness is particularly crucial in the context of needing to seize every second to prepare for the top 18 qualifiers. In competitive sports, "time is money," and especially when facing a strong opponent like Saudi Arabia, Ivan Kozlovic's quick adjustments also demonstrate his practicality in terms of game requirements.
Speaking of the Saudi team, we must mention their recent "failure to deliver" in Asian football. This former Asian powerhouse has become increasingly unpredictable in major competitions in recent years. Especially in last year's World Cup qualifiers and Asian Cup matches, their defensive collapse was like an "unguarded bucket," clearly exposing their weaknesses.
Some analysts believe that this is related to the prolonged internal coaching changes, with no fixed tactical style and a loose lineup. For such a Saudi team, encountering the national team provides us with an opportunity. Although saying "others' failures are our opportunities" sounds a bit like gloating, in such an important event, the national team must seize the chance.
Of course, any opportunity requires strength to realize. The national team cannot rely solely on Saudi Arabia's mistakes to score points but must demonstrate their own strength from both the offensive and defensive ends. This requires that while new additions like Hou Yongyong perform outstandingly, Ivan Kozlovic's tactical arrangements must also maintain stability.
In the review of the national team's previous matches, there has always been a question that haunts them: Can the team consistently perform well? This is actually more intriguing than the outcome of a single game. If the team collapses at the sight of a strong opponent and takes weak opponents lightly, then no matter how many Hou Yongyongs or Fernandinhos there are in the future, it will be difficult to go further.
This also particularly tests the team's psychological construction. Strong teams should win calmly, and weak teams should not be underestimated. Stability and patience are not only a test of the effectiveness of a naturalization policy but also about accumulating team fighting power over the long term.
Whether it's Fernandinho's absence, Hou Yongyong's debut, or the weaknesses in Saudi Arabia's lineup, these all lay out new propositions for the national team's future. As for what the final result will be, it ultimately depends on whether we can speak with our hard strength. The path has been laid, and whether we can move forward steadily is up to the national team itself.