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The final round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in th Asia region kicks off with a "fight between rivals" that is sure to capture the interest of South Korean football fans. On September 5th at 7:35 PM, the first round of Group C will see Japan take on China at Saitama Stadium. The Japan-China match, or "Sino-Japanese clash," is one of the most notable rivalries representing East Asia. However, in terms of objective strength, Japan is currently considered to be far superior to China.
Branko Ivanković, the Croatian coach of the Chinese national football team, has already announced his squad for the upcoming matches against Japan and Saudi Arabia in Group C's second round, which will be held on September 11th at the Dalian Suoyuan Football Stadium. The team has already begun preparations for these two crucial fixtures.
Wu Lei, who became a target of mockery from Korean fans after a lackluster performance against South Korea in June, expressed his fighting spirit against Japan in an interview with Chinese media on the 24th. Wu Lei, who has scored 24 goals in 28 matches in the 2024 Chinese Super League season —showcasing a goal-scoring prowess comparable to that of Cristiano Ronaldo, at least in his domestic league— admitted to the gap between Japan and China.
"In terms of strength, Japan is currently a world-class team. There is certainly a gap between us and them. However, this does not mean we will give up. Having advanced to the final qualifiers, we highly value this opportunity. We want to learn more by facing strong teams in Asian and world football. We will give our best and never give up. This is my last chance to qualify for a World Cup, given my age in the team. Naturally, I want to achieve good results." - Wu Lei mentioned, 24th August 2024
Wu Lei is currently 32 years old. While he is playing at the highest level in the Chinese Super League, he will inevitably face the aging curve. As he himself mentioned, this may indeed be his last chance to challenge for a World Cup berth while still at the peak of his abilities.
Meanwhile, Wu Lei shared the current atmosphere within the Chinese national team. Focusing on recovery training, Wu Lei explained, "Many players have been selected for the national team for the first time, but they are not young when considering their age. Being 24 or 25 years old is considered prime time in Europe. In the national team, there is no distinction between young and old players. Everyone must give their all," demonstrating his veteran leadership from his European experience.
This has been Football Bohemian.
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