When the national football team was sweating on the training ground in Qatar, the absence of captain Wu Xi became the focus of attention of fans and the media. Why is this key player unable to train with the team, and how does his absence affect China's upcoming match against Tajikistan?
Wu Xi was injured in a match on January 1, a match in which China suffered a comeback and lost 1-2. Although this defeat cannot be entirely blamed on Wu Xi's injury, it is undeniable that Wu Xi's role in midfield is crucial for the Chinese team. He is not only the spiritual leader of the team, but also the key to midfield control. So, how will his absence affect the team's overall performance?
Judging from the current training situation, Wu Xi is still unable to fully participate and can only conduct recovery training on the sidelines. Fans and coaching staff are watching his recovery and hope he will be back in time. But if he ends up not playing, it will be a major blow to China's midfield control.
At present, the Chinese team has five captaincy candidates, and if Wu Xi is unable to play, Zhang Linpeng may wear the captain's armband. However, Li Ke's departure and Wu Xi's potential absence have made the national team's selection of candidates in the midfield position very limited. With such a personnel change, how should the Chinese team adjust its tactics to cope with the upcoming challenges?