Winter Training Begins: Two Newcomers to the National Football Team Become Ivan's Key Promotion Targets, One Capable of Replacing Fernandinho
The winter training for the national football team is in full swing, with two newcomers, Wu Shaocong and Hou Yongyong, becoming the focus of attention.
One is a promising new star on the defensive line, and the other is a hope for naturalization on the front line.
Coach Ivan Kozlovic's intentions are clear: to use young talent to leverage a new future for the national team.
However, this selection also makes people wonder if the "youth storm" of the national team can truly take on the responsibility of impacting the World Cup?
On January 10, 2025, the national team's winter training kicked off in Haikou, with the entire team embarking on a new round of preparation under the leadership of head coach Ivan Kozlovic.
The biggest highlight of this winter training is undoubtedly the appearance of two newcomers, Wu Shaocong and Hou Yongyong.
Their arrival not only brought fresh blood to the training ground but also filled the fans with expectations for the future lineup of the national team.
Wu Shaocong, 24 years old and 1.92 meters tall, has experience playing in the Polish league and is about to join Beijing Guoan after returning to China.
As a left-footed central defender, his physical conditions and technical characteristics make him a key target for Ivan's observation.
In the national team's lineup, left-footed players are rare, and Wu Shaocong's emergence may be able to make up for this shortcoming.
Judging from his performance in training, he shows remarkable stability in defense prediction and footwork, especially in controlling high balls, which is eye-catching.
Another focal figure is the naturalized player Hou Yongyong.
Born in Norway, he previously played for Ranheim in the Norwegian First Division as an attacking midfielder.
Although he is a "new face" in the national team, on the training ground, his familiarity with his teammates is indistinguishable. On the afternoon of the 9th, he traveled from Oslo to Haikou through arduous journeys and still attended the first training session on time.
His proactive attitude and flexibility on the field quickly won the recognition of the coaching staff.
In terms of tactics, Ivan seems to be interested in trying Hou Yongyong in the forward position.
Due to Wu Lei's injury absence and Fernandinho's unresolved attitude issues, the forward line appears to be in a tight spot.
Hou Yongyong's sense of smell in the frontcourt and scoring ability have become a breakthrough for the coaching staff to try new combinations.
Judging from several simulated confrontations in training, his positional awareness and ability to handle the ball in front of the goal indeed show great potential.
This winter training is not just a routine gathering, but also a test about the "future."
Ivan's goal is very clear: at the critical stage of the World Cup qualifiers, the national team needs to quickly find the optimal solution.
And Wu Shaocong and Hou Yongyong are the two major variables in this "answer."
The value of Wu Shaocong's left foot
Left-footed central defenders have always been a scarce resource for the national team, and Wu Shaocong's appearance has brought more possibilities for technical improvement in this position.
Judging from his training performance, his long-range passing and the threat shown in corner kicks are exactly what the national team has lacked in recent years.
Ivan may try to pair him with Jiang Guangtai in the upcoming friendly matches to form a new defensive partnership.
The versatility of Hou Yongyong
As a technically delicate attacking midfielder, there is no doubt about Hou Yongyong's organizational ability in midfield, but his performance on the front line is equally promising.
In several shooting drills during training, his shooting accuracy and calmness in front of the goal were evident.
If Ivan can help him find his rhythm on the front line, he might become a new explosive point for the national team's attack.
The integration of naturalized players and local potential
Hou Yongyong's status as a naturalized player remains a focus of external attention, while Wu Shaocong represents the rise of local players.
How these two different backgrounds can find balance within the national team lineup is a problem that Ivan needs to solve.
During training, the two frequently participated in cooperation exercises, which may be a signal of adjustments to the national team's future playing style.
Although the winter training has not yet entered the formal competition stage, judging from the arrangements of the training group, Ivan obviously already has a preliminary tactical plan.
Here are the current key player configurations:
Defensive line: Jiang Guangtai, Wu Shaocong (key observation target), Wang Shenchao
Midfield core: Zhang Xizhe (experienced), Wei Shihao (technically comprehensive), Cao Yongjing
Frontline attempts: Hou Yongyong, Ai Kesen (if he returns), Zhang Yuning
Training highlights:
Wu Shaocong completed several key interceptions in the confrontation, demonstrating strong defensive awareness.
Hou Yongyong stood out in the shooting环节 with a hit rate as high as 70%, especially showing extreme calmness in choosing shots within the penalty area.
Cao Yongjing and Wei Shihao's midfield cooperation was默契, delivering a large number of threatening balls to the frontline.
Data comparison (simulated confrontation data):
Wu Shaocong: successfully intercepted 8 times, header success rate of 90%
Hou Yongyong: 4 shots with 3 hits, 2 assists
Some say, "Fernandinho's attitude doesn't match the fighting spirit Hou Yongyong showed after his long journey." Others ask, "Can Wu Shaocong's left-footed technique bring a qualitative change to the national team's defense?" However, the bigger question is: Can these "new faces" of the national team really change our inherent weaknesses on the international stage? Will the halo of naturalized players and the rise of local stars become new weapons for the national team to impact the World Cup qualifiers?
All the answers will be revealed in the upcoming games.
For Chinese football, this is not only an opportunity to start anew but also a profound questioning of the future.
We hope these two newcomers can seize the opportunity and bring real surprises to the fans.