Not long ago, the Chinese men's football team ushered in a change in head coaching, and Ivankovic became the new helm, replacing the previous Jankovic. This change has brought new expectations and attention to Chinese football fans. In the past coaching period, Jankovic's decision-making has caused widespread controversy, especially in the attitude towards naturalized players. The decision to make full use of naturalized players, and even prefer to bring multiple goalkeepers instead of Fernando, Exxon and others, has become a hot topic among fans. In this context, a naturalization object that has attracted much attention, Chinese player Wu Xiaohai, has become the focus of attention. In a recent MLS match, Wu Xiaohai's outstanding performance was remarkable, as he helped Vancouver Bailang draw with Charlotte and received the highest rating in the game. However, behind this light, there is the regret of failing to complete the procedures and missing the world preliminaries. This article will discuss Wu Xiaohai's football experience and the possibility that he may complete the naturalization procedures in the future and represent the national football team.
Prior to this, the Chinese Football Association had shown a keen interest in a naturalized national football player, a potentially outstanding full-back. However, due to complicated formalities, the process could not be completed at a crucial time, leaving the player destined to miss out on the upcoming World Cup Qualifiers in March. The mystery player eventually made his mark on the MLS field, drawing fan attention to him.
On March 3, 2024, Wu Xiaohai played for Vancouver Bailang, and the match against Charlotte became a memorable moment in his personal career. In the 31st minute of the game, Charlotte scored first, but in first-half stoppage time, Wu Xiaohai decided to grab a point in the penalty area to usher in an equalizer for the team. His goal showed his agility and attacking threat at right wing-back, which earned him a post-match 7With a high score of 7 points, he became the best player in the game.
During the Asian Cup, Jankovic, who coached the national team, has been putting Liu Binbin in the right wing-back position, however, this arrangement has exposed the current situation of the national football team in this position. In contrast, Wu Xiaohai performed well in the role of right wing-back, showing enough strength and adaptability. Although he has not reached the world-class level of Carlos or Ah Fang, he is a huge addition to the national team, at least compared to Liu Binbin, who has performed better in this position.
Wu Xiaohai is currently only 24 years old, 1.70 meters tall, worth 1.5 million euros, and can play the fullback position. He has played for Vancouver Whitewaves since 2020 and has made 109 appearances, scoring four goals and providing five assists. He is in the middle of his career, his technical level is in the upper middle of the range, and although he has not yet completed his naturalization, his performances on the field are impressive.
However, Wu Xiaohai's naturalization process was not all smooth sailing. It has been reported that Chinese Super League teams Shanghai Shenhua and Shanghai Port have tried to naturalize Wu Xiaohai, but for some reason they have not succeeded. Later, he chose not to land in the Chinese Super League, but returned to the American Professional League. This series of changes put his naturalization plan on hold, and he was temporarily unable to represent the Chinese national team in the two World Preliminary Tournaments in March.
Although Wu Xiaohai's naturalization has not yet been completed, there is still a possibility. As a player of Chinese descent, he does not need to wait for the five-year naturalization deadline and can operate directly. Although he was selected for the Canadian U23 team and participated in the Olympic qualifiers, he did not play for the senior national team, so he is still eligible to represent the Chinese national football team after completing his naturalization.
Overall, Wu Xiaohai's football career is full of twists and turns and expectations. His performances on the pitch were impressive, however, the incomplete naturalization of the national team left him out of the way to the upcoming tournament. In this waiting process, Wu Xiaohai may complete the naturalization procedures in the future and become a highly anticipated new face in the Chinese national team.
On the football stage, Wu Xiaohai's talent has become more and more prominent, and his performance has become the focus of heated discussions among fans. Although he was unable to represent the Chinese national team in the upcoming important tournaments, his record in the MLS has added a lot to his naturalization.
Vancouver Bai Lang is the team that Wu Xiaohai currently plays for, and his performance in this team has been eye-catching. So far, he has been with the Vancouver Waves for nearly four years, making 109 appearances, scoring four goals and providing five assists. This not only showcases his all-round ability on the pitch, but also highlights his positive contribution to the attacking side of the team. Despite being at wing-back, Wu Xiaohai showed excellent attacking awareness and point-grabbing skills, creating many scoring opportunities for the team.
This match against Charlotte was the icing on the cake for his football career. At the critical moment of the game, Wu Xiaohai stepped forward and scored with a decisive point in the penalty area, not only equalizing for the team, but also winning the highest score in the game. His performance was a testament to both his individual technical prowess and his calm response and excellent reflexes in a pinch. This goal became the highlight of his career and also added a bright chip to his future development in the national team.
Although the attitude of the national team towards naturalized players during the Jankovic era was controversial, Wu Xiaohai's outstanding performance in the MLS has made fans look forward to the future of his national team. Compared with Liu Binbin, who previously played a cameo at right back, Wu Xiaohai's strength in this position is undoubtedly more prominent. His flexibility, skilful skill and balanced performance at both the defensive and attacking ends have added a highly anticipated candidate for the right wing-back position for the national team.
However, Wu Xiaohai's road to naturalization was not all smooth sailing. Chinese Super League teams Shanghai Shenhua and Shanghai Port tried to include him in the naturalization program, but failed due to some force majeure. Subsequently, he chose to return to the MLS to continue his football dreams in this intense league. Although the naturalization process was not completed in time, this did not diminish the possibility of his future with the national team. Wu Xiaohai is still a young player with great potential, and may be able to bring more exciting moments to the national football team in the future.
In this waiting process, Wu Xiaohai may continue to work hard to complete the naturalization procedures as soon as possible and become a member of the Chinese national team. His football career has been full of twists and turns, and fans are looking forward to his future performances with the national team. His brilliance may continue to shine in future competitions and add luster to Chinese football.
In Wu Xiaohai's football journey full of twists and turns and expectations, his brilliant performance in the MLS has added a strong touch to his national team naturalization road. Although the naturalization process was not completed in time, his performance on the pitch undoubtedly provided a highly anticipated new star for the Chinese national team.
From eye-catching goals to excellent adaptation to the right wing-back position, Wu Xiaohai has shown that he has a quality to be reckoned with on the Asian football stage. His performance in Vancouver not only put him at the top of the MLS, but also provided a strong option for the Chinese national team to make up for the lack of right wing-back.
Despite the twists and turns on the road to naturalization, Wu Xiaohai's youth and strength mean that he still has more opportunities and may be a member of the national team in the future. The national team needs players like him who have strong technical skills and can step up when it matters to time and create opportunities for the team.
For fans, Wu Xiaohai's football journey has undoubtedly inspired infinite expectations. Although his naturalization has not materialized for the time being, his future on the international stage is still full of possibilities. Perhaps, he will become a new force in Chinese football and inject more vitality into the national team.
Overall, Wu Xiaohai is not only a player full of talent and vitality, but also represents the hope for the future of Chinese football. In this journey of naturalization full of expectations, we look forward to seeing his future glory and writing a new chapter for Chinese football.