Recently, the Chinese men's national football team has been conducting their winter training in Haikou. According to the schedule of the World Cup qualifiers, China will have two crucial matches in late March against Saudi Arabia and Australia. To prepare for these matches, the national team is currently undergoing targeted training under Ivan, including tactical drills and set-piece attack and defense.
However, while the national team is training in Haikou, they have received a disheartening piece of news. According to the latest report from Oriental Sports Daily, China's top domestic forward, Wu Lei, has had ineffective conservative treatment for his meniscus injury and has now confirmed that he will undergo surgery, with an expected recovery period of at least two months. Previously, affected by the meniscus injury, Wu Lei missed the final stages of the 2024 season for both his club and the national team. If surgery is performed now, it is certain that he will miss the two vital World Cup qualifiers for the national team in late March.
Receiving such news at this time is undoubtedly a disheartening blow for the Chinese national team, who are determined to qualify for the World Cup. South Korean media has shown great concern over Wu Lei's absence, stating that it is a fatal blow to the Chinese national team. This means that if Wu Lei misses these two World Cup qualifiers, the prospects for qualification will be very bleak.
We know that Wu Lei, as a top-level forward in Chinese football, possesses many outstanding technical characteristics. His speed and explosive power are exceptional, allowing him to quickly start and sprint in tight spaces, making him extremely threatening in counterattacks and individual breakthroughs, often able to instantly tear through the opponent's defense. His shooting skills are also not to be underestimated, especially in quick counterattacks where he has a high level of skill, capable of accurately seizing opportunities and scoring goals. In addition, Wu Lei's positioning is very intelligent; he is adept at finding gaps in the opponent's defense, creating excellent offensive opportunities through flexible movements, winning space for himself and his teammates, which is also one of the main reasons why he can frequently get shooting opportunities.
In club competitions, Wu Lei's tactical value has been fully demonstrated. He is one of the core figures in the team's offense, with his excellent positioning and keen ability to seize points, creating huge threats within the opponent's penalty area. Wu Lei can form tacit cooperation with midfield players and other frontline partners, enriching the team's offensive methods. For example, in Shanghai Port FC, his connection with midfielders like Oscar often creates threatening offensive opportunities, bringing goals to the team. His presence also draws the attention of opposing defensive players, thereby creating space for his teammates, allowing other players to get more offensive opportunities, improving the overall offensive efficiency of the team.
Despite some opinions suggesting that Wu Lei's tactical value in the national team is lower than in his club, in reality, he remains an indispensable key member of the national team. In the national team, Wu Lei can also create offensive opportunities for the team with his speed and positioning advantages, especially in counterattack tactics, where his quick sprints and forward runs can effectively impact the opponent's defense. Although the national team's midfield support is relatively weak, Wu Lei's off-ball movement can to some extent make up for this deficiency, actively positioning to pull the opponent's defense and create passing lines and offensive space for his teammates. Moreover, Wu Lei's experience and major tournament experience in the national team are also valuable assets; he can stabilize the team's morale in critical moments, set an example for young players, and enhance the morale and confidence of the entire team.
Although Wu Lei is likely to be able to participate in the two World Cup qualifiers in June for the national team, if the two matches in March do not go well, even if Wu Lei can return in time in June, it will be meaningless. Because by then, the national team may have already been eliminated.