The winter training of the Chinese national football team in Haikou has just ended, but domestic media has revealed a disheartening piece of news. The report suggests that in the upcoming two World Cup qualifiers in March, Serginho and Little Oscar are unlikely to represent the national team due to the pressing time constraints that make it difficult to complete the necessary procedures on time.
Currently, there is less than a month left until the closure of the Chinese Super League's (CSL) winter transfer window on February 18th. This date has become a critical juncture for whether Serginho and Little Oscar can successfully be naturalized and play for the national team. If the naturalization procedures are not completed by February 18th, the two players will have to participate in the next CSL season as foreign players. This situation poses a difficult decision for their respective clubs - Yunnan Yulong and Beijing Guoan. After all, the substantial costs of naturalizing players are borne by the clubs, and if the naturalized players can only be used as foreigners in the end, the clubs are unwilling to bear this "unfortunate burden" and may very likely choose to postpone the naturalization process.
If these two highly anticipated naturalized aces fail to catch up with the national team's World Cup qualifiers in March, it will undoubtedly bring immeasurable losses and risks to the national team.
In terms of offensive firepower, both Serginho and Little Oscar possess excellent individual abilities. Serginho has a variety of attacking methods on the field, with high efficiency in front of the goal, breaking shots, or cooperative attacks with teammates. He is akin to a midfield commander, and his presence can greatly enrich the national team's offensive tactics, creating more opportunities for the team in the attacking end.
Little Oscar, although playing as a forward, also possesses delicate footwork and outstanding passing vision. He can not only find scoring opportunities for himself but also deliver threatening passes to his teammates, making him a key component of the team's frontcourt offensive system. Once they are absent, the national team's attacking power will be significantly reduced.
In midfield organization and scheduling, Serginho's role is particularly prominent. He can effectively control the game's rhythm in midfield, bridging the team's offense and defense through precise passes. His presence allows the national team's midfield to operate more smoothly and better control the initiative of the game. Without his midfield organization, the national team's midfield may fall into chaos, unable to effectively deliver the ball to the front, leading to weak attacks. At the same time, during transitions from attack to defense, the lack of effective interception and control in midfield may leave opportunities for opponents to exploit.
The absence of Serginho and Little Oscar will not only affect the national team's performance on the field but may also have a negative impact on the team's morale. The players were originally looking forward to the addition of these two strong reinforcements, hoping to enhance the team's competitiveness with their strength. Now that they cannot participate, it may disappoint and discourage the players, affecting the entire team's spirit and fighting spirit in matches.
In summary, if Serginho and Little Oscar cannot represent the national team in the two World Cup qualifiers in March, the losses to the national team will be comprehensive. The prospects of qualifying are shrouded in a huge shadow. And if these two World Cup qualifiers result in defeats, then even if they successfully complete their naturalization in the future, it may be meaningless.