Chapter 956: The Strongest National Squad in History_2

Chapter 956 -1: The Strongest National Squad in History_2

Last season, he had already become a regular starter for Manchester City.

Now he is also the national team’s main full-back, depending entirely on the opponent where he plays.

One is the goalkeeper Wang Xiaolei who played for Bayern Munich. When he first started, he was considered the next Wang Dalei. When he was in good form, he was invincible in front of the goal, but when he was off, he often made low-level mistakes. However, later he was called the “new gatekeeper” and became Neuer’s successor.

This season, he was loaned to Tottenham, where he gained many opportunities to perform. He is now the main goalkeeper of the national team, and during his time at Tottenham, his long pass has proven to be surprisingly effective when the team launches swift counterattacks.

Another is Rooney, who plays for Manchester United and shares a similar name with the legendary Wayne Rooney, but he is only 170 cm tall and extremely fast. He plays on the flanks. Unlike the legendary Rooney, his playing style is “swift as the wind,” skilled at using rhythm changes to dribble past opponents down the wing and very daring to try.

When he first appeared, people considered him the next “Wei,” but quickly realized he was younger, faster, and bolder.

Now he occupies the main position on both wings for the team, capable of playing on either side.

In a match against Indonesia, he boldly attempted on the opponent’s wing multiple times, delivering numerous assists, helping the team take the lead. He is a player with very strong assist capabilities.

Finally, there is the center forward Hao Chen, who plays for Milan. He is a typical tall center forward, standing at 196 cm, with outstanding confrontation abilities. During his time in Milan, he is an important substitute player, often brought on during a stalemate or when the game can’t be opened up, helping the team break the deadlock and wreak havoc!

In the match against Indonesia, Hao Chen scored two goals through a corner and open-play.

In Europe, he may not be a godly striker, but in the national team, he is the most reliable fulcrum.

…

Besides these, there are the national team’s four key players.

These four are Chen Zhong’s reliable teammates in the national team and the cornerstone of the national team.

First, there’s Zhao Mingzhe – Shadow Striker/Attacking Midfielder (formerly played for the club: Shen Hua/now plays in Europe: Dortmund)

Age 19, hailed as the “Chinese Messi” or “Spirit Fox.”

He almost ended his football path due to his short stature (about 163 cm) but later emerged in the provincial super league with Chen Zhong as his idol.

His center of gravity is extremely low, his footwork is so delicate it’s astonishing, possessing unparalleled dribbling skills and the ability to maneuver in tight spaces.

He has a broad vision, with passing abilities that are penetrating and creative, often delivering passes as sharp as a surgical knife.

He has a keen sense in front of the goal, with precise shooting, especially adept at long-range shots and scoring from arcs near the top of the box.

He has exceptional football intelligence, with game-reading skills far surpassing those of his peers.

His rise to fame: a treasure from the Shanghai Shen Hua youth academy (a direct beneficiary of the provincial super league reform). Debuted and amazed the world as a substitute in the top tier at the age of 15. Became the absolute core of Shen Hua at 17 and also shone at the Asian Champions League stage.

After joining the national team, he learned and shared the organizational pressure alongside Chen Zhong.

His presence provides another sharp weapon for breaking dense defenses in the national team’s front line.

He’s also a “phenomenal genius” and holds the national team’s youngest appearance/goal record.

He’s shy and quiet, but on the field, he is full of spirituality.

Although short in stature, he was once seen as Chen Zhong’s true successor in the middle and front.

His appearance has fans exclaiming, “We also have our own Xavi/Iniesta-type genius!”

Li Ji – Defensive Midfielder (formerly played for the club: Shandong Taishan/now plays for Chelsea)

Age 25, nicknamed “Great Wall” or “Iron Shield.” Strong build (188 cm), with massive coverage and impressive running ability.

His defensive positioning is precise, tackles fierce but clean, serving as an impenetrable wall in front of the team’s defense.

He possesses excellent anticipation and interception abilities and is adept at disrupting the opponent’s attacking rhythm.

Though not technically glamorous, his long passes are precise, with a certain ability to distribute the ball.

His spiritual attributes are off the charts; he is a warrior and leader on the field, greatly boosting morale. His motto is, “I will become the next Chen Zhong,” but he only possesses Chen Zhong’s defensive abilities.

He is a pure workhorse.

Rise to fame: a product of Shandong Taishan (a strong provincial super team) youth academy, quickly establishing a starting position thanks to tireless running and robust defense in the youth team and first team.

Ancelotti views him as the cornerstone of midfield defense, an indispensable force against the impact of European and American strong teams.

In the Asian Cup qualifiers against Australia, he successfully neutralized the opponent’s core midfielder, earning great acclaim in one match.

He is also called a “tough guy leader,” a new spiritual icon by fans.

He trains hard, with a strong style, and is deeply loved by teammates and fans. His presence elevates the hardness of the national team’s midfield a notch, serving as the first initiator of transitioning from defense to attack. He is considered to have the potential to become the future national team captain.

Sun Fei – Winger/Wide Midfielder (formerly played for the club: Guangzhou team/now plays for Bayer Leverkusen)

Age 26, nicknamed “Lightning” or “Flying Wing.”

He possesses astounding absolute speed (possibly the fastest in the Chinese team) and explosiveness, with a very fast first step.

He is sharp in breaking through on the wing, good at using speed to overwhelm the opponent for crosses, and also capable of cutting inside to create threats.

His crosses have good placement and speed. He is active in tracking back defensively, covering a lot of ground.

Though not as skillful as Zhao Mingzhe, his ball control at high speed is excellent.

Rise to fame: a speed machine trained by the Guangzhou team (a representative of Guangdong’s “provincial super” league) youth academy.

In the provincial super league, he became a lethal weapon on the wing with his lightning speed.

Under Ancelotti’s guidance, his off-the-ball running and tactical discipline have dramatically improved.

In the national team, he is a strong competitor to Rooney on the flanks; the two complement each other in style (Rooney with technical rhythm, Sun Fei purely about speed impact).

His speed is the most terrifying weapon for the national team during counterattacks.

He is a “speed monster,” a dagger in counterattacks.

Cheerful and lively, he is the locker room entertainer. His presence provides the national team’s wing attack with absolute speed assurance and vertical impact force, making opponents’ defense lines dare not press too high.

His speed advantage is particularly evident against Japan and South Korea.

At the club level, his coach is Ten Hag, and fortunately, this Dutch coach highly values Sun Fei.

Zhang Wenxuan – Central Midfielder/All-Powerful Midfielder (currently plays for the club: Wolves/ a mid-table Premier League team’s main rotation)

Age 28, nicknamed “Perpetual Motion Machine” or “Octagonal Warrior.”

The epitome of a Chinese national team’s B2B (Box-to-Box) midfielder.

With extremely abundant stamina, he covers huge areas at both ends of the field.

He is all-rounded, able to pass, control, tackle, and shoot. Although he does not have outstanding individual skills, he is balanced in all areas and above average in all abilities. His running and reception awareness are excellent, acting as the lubricant and “handyman” connecting the backfield and frontline.

With strong tactical execution, he can perfectly understand and implement Ancelotti’s various midfield deployments.

Early in his career, he went abroad to the lower leagues of Portugal, catching the eye of Premier League Wolves scouts with his relentless effort and all-around capabilities.

After being tempered through loans at Wolves, his diligent attitude and stable performance gradually earned him playtime with the first team, becoming an important rotation player.

Ancelotti appreciates his high-intensity confrontation adaptation abilities and tactical awareness honed in the European leagues, viewing him as an essential tactical piece in midfield.

He is also called the “Low-Key Cornerstone” and the “Coach’s Favorite Type” by fans.

He works diligently and without complaint, acting as the unsung hero in the team’s midfield.

His versatility and running ability provide perfect support and complement to Zhao Mingzhe’s technical skills and Li Tie-zhu’s hardness, making the national team’s midfield more flexible and robust.

In cases where Chen Zhong rests or needs formation changes, he is Ancelotti’s most reliable utility player.

And all of this has upheld the reputation of the strongest national team in history.