On March 22, 2024, Beijing time, the Chinese men's football team challenged the Singapore team away in the third round of Group C of the second stage of the Asian zone of the World Preliminaries, and the two sides finally drew 2-2. After the game, Zhang Linpeng, the captain of the national football team, said in an interview that he would withdraw from the national team, and this news immediately aroused widespread attention and discussion.
Zhang Linpeng's decision to quit the team was not impulsive, but made after careful consideration. In this crucial game, the Chinese men's football team relied on Wu Lei's goal to take a 2-0 lead in the first half, but in the second half, the Singapore team showed tenacious fighting spirit and equalized the score through goals from Ramli and Mahler. This draw is undoubtedly a heavy blow to the Chinese men's football team that aims to impact the World Cup, and it also makes Zhang Linpeng feel deeply remorseful.
As the captain of the national football team, Zhang Linpeng is well aware of his responsibilities and influence in the team. He said after the game: "I thought about it for a long time after the game, we can't even beat Singapore now, I feel sorry for the fans, I think it's time to end my national team career. This sentence reflects not only his disappointment with the current state of the team, but also his deep apology for the fans.
Zhang Linpeng's decision to withdraw from the team was not groundless. He played 105 A-level matches for the national football team and witnessed the rise and fall of the national football team. From the first time he represented the national football team in 2009 to his farewell now, Zhang Linpeng has written a legend with his sweat and hard work. However, on the football field, victory and defeat always go hand in hand, and Zhang Linpeng can't escape this reality.
It is worth noting that Zhang Linpeng had in-depth communication with his wife before deciding to leave the team. His wife posted a chat record of the two on social media, in which Zhang Linpeng said: "Wife, I just went upstairs, and I have already talked to the team below, and I told everyone after the head coach finished speaking, and I will take this responsibility." It's not that I don't discuss my wife with you, I really feel that I can't do it better, I really put in 200% of my efforts every day, but I really can't accept this result, so let's end it like this. This passage makes people feel his inner struggle and helplessness.
Zhang Linpeng's decision to withdraw from the team has aroused widespread attention and discussion from all walks of life. Some fans expressed their understanding and support for his decision, believing that he has given too much for the national football team and should be respected and understood. However, there are also some fans who regret and disagree with his decision, believing that he should continue to lead the team forward.
Fan Zhiyi, as a famous national football player, also commented on Zhang Linpeng's mistakes. "It's a matter of capacity," he put bluntly. Although the words were harsh, they also reflected the problems and shortcomings of the national football team in the game.
In this controversy, Zhang Linpeng's wife was also subjected to online violence. She responded on social media: "You can scold if you want, it doesn't matter. "This helpless and open-minded attitude is distressing. As Zhang Linpeng's family, she has been silently supporting his football career, but now she has to bear such pressure and attacks.
There are only 4 days left before the national football team's home game against Singapore, and whether Zhang Linpeng will be in the squad, whether he will play, and even whether he will stay in the national team has become the focus of fans. Regardless of the final result, we should respect Zhang Linpeng's decision and thank him for his contribution to the national football team.
Judging from the data, Zhang Linpeng's career can be called brilliant. He played 105 A-level games for the national team, scoring six goals and providing six assists. He has participated in many major tournaments such as World Cup qualifiers and the Asian Cup with the national team, and has accumulated rich competition experience. However, football is a team sport, and individual efforts often cannot change the fate of the entire team. In this match against Singapore, the Chinese men's football team was tied by their opponents with a two-goal lead, highlighting the team's deficiencies in defense and ball control.
For Zhang Linpeng, his decision to quit the team may be a relief. After so many years of fighting on the football field, he may have grown tired of defeats and controversy. However, for the national football team, his departure is undoubtedly a huge loss. What we need to reflect on is how to strengthen the team's defensive and possession capabilities and improve the overall quality, rather than relying solely on the performance of individual players.
In short, Zhang Linpeng's decision to withdraw from the team has aroused widespread attention and discussion. We should respect his choice, and at the same time reflect on the problems and shortcomings of the national football team in the game. It is hoped that the Chinese men's football team can learn a lesson, strive to improve its strength, and achieve better results in future competitions.