20 | Tuesday, June 22, 2021 HONG KONG EDITION | CHINA DAILY SPORTS China spikes back SOCCER Wu urges more talents to forge foreign careers By SHI FUTIAN might struggle to gel with the [email protected] squad upon his return. Over the last three weeks, however, he has Wu Lei silenced the doubters by emphatically dispelled those playing a key role in Team China’s doubts. progression to the next phase of “During my two and half years of World Cup qualifying, and the playing in Spain, I have grown a lot Espanyol striker believes the in many aspects — on and off the nation can aim even higher on the pitch. I’ve also been able to observe global stage if more young Chinese how foreign clubs operate. Differ- talents follow his example by play- ent levels of clubs have different ing abroad. methods of surviving,” Wu “After playing in a foreign explained. league, I finally understand why “So, for me, it’s been a compre- we cannot beat Japanese or South hensive learning experience, Korean teams. We are all Asian which can help Chinese soccer in teams, but why we are not at the the future. More importantly, we same level? The answer is clear for can see the pace of European me: Playing in a high-quality and matches are much quicker than fast-paced foreign league certainly the CSL. makes the difference,” the 29-year- “Before I arrived in Spain, I was old told Oriental Sports Daily in a prepared for all kinds of challen- Chinese captain Zhu Ting unleashes a spike during her team’s 3-0 victory over the United States at the Volleyball Nations League in Rimini, recent interview. ges. Since then, I have encountered Italy on Sunday. China eased past the US 25-10, 25-20, 25-17 to end its VNL journey with seven wins in a row, finishing fifth behind the US, “The Japanese squad now has at many difficulties and I’m still try- Brazil, Japan and Turkey. Despite Sunday’s loss, the US advanced to the semifinals as the top-ranked team, with China, which played a sec- least two teams of players who are ing my best to hold on and earn a ond-string team in the opening games, eliminated with a 10-5 win-loss record. “Today we won this battle against the USA, although it was capable of playing the top Asian spot in the team. After all this time, our last game at the VNL. We enjoyed a high-level performance today and we are really happy about it,” said Chinese setter Ding Xia. XINHUA games, and South Korea also has the biggest difference for me is the many players at this standard. growth in my confidence. Through “I mean, if an Asian team can my daily training and competing have six or seven players who can in Spain, I’m now much more con- WINTER OLYMPICS play in European leagues, even fident when I return to play the including the second tiers, the Asian matches.” team will have much better quality Team China head coach Li Tie and confidence. has staunchly defended Wu from “Like I’ve always said, I hope his critics in recent weeks. more Chinese players can step out “Wu’s progress and growth since Hockey honcho homes of the domestic league. And more moving to Spain is very obvious, importantly, they can earn a spot yet still he finds himself under in a foreign team on their own attack from some fans and media. merit.” Will they be happy if Wu quits and Wu, along with the rest of his returns to the Chinese Super national teammates, has returned League?” Li said after last week’s in on Olympic excellence to China from the United Arab win over Syria. Emirates after making key contri- “We need to encourage players butions in victories over Guam like Wu. It’s very tough for them to (7-0, played in Suzhou, Jiangsu forge a career in a foreign coun- province), the Philippines (2-0), try… If we have 20 players who the Maldives (5-0) and Syria (3-1). play in the major European lea- The four wins, during which Wu gues, what is there left for us to netted five times and laid on two worry about?” assists, secured China a spot in the Those words of support from Li, final phase of Asian zone World a former midfielder who played in Cup qualifying, which will kick off England with Everton and Shef- Family life and in September. field United, were clearly much appreciated by Wu. 2022 prep go hand Tough times “Honestly speaking, I was truly in hand for one After helping Shanghai Port win surprised by his words. I never its first Chinese Super League title expected he would say that in front Austrian expat in 2019, Wu embarked on a new of the media. I’m really touched chapter in his career, joining Span- and thank him for his understand- By SUN XIAOCHEN ish club Espanyol. ing,” said Wu. “He also had a career [email protected] However, after a brilliant debut in Europe and he knows how hard season, during which his goals it can be for us. Happily settled into family life in helped Espanyol qualify for the “I hope more Chinese players China, Austrian Harald Springfeld Europa League, Wu endured a can go out to Europe. Actually is determined to pay back his adopt- more challenging 2020. many of our players have the abili- ed home in his role as Beijing 2022’s The forward and his wife con- ty to play abroad. Even if it’s a sec- chief ice hockey advisor. tracted COVID-19 early last year, ond-tier league, it’s competitive Less than eight months out from and when he finally returned to enough. So we need to be persist- the Winter Olympics, Springfeld is the pitch after shaking the virus, ent enough to step out.” busy overseeing all aspects of prepa- he failed to avert Espanyol’s regela- Former China international and rations for the Games, including tion to the second tier. Crystal Palace player Fan Zhiyi has facility readiness, operational tests Wu spent most of last term also voiced support for Wu, urging and staff training. warming the bench as Espanyol him to continue with his European With a successful test event in earned promotion back to La Liga. adventure. April under his belt, Springfeld, Beijing 2022’s chief ice hockey advisor, Harald Springfeld (right), is married to Chinese hockey referee, His lack of playing time led many “From my point of view, Wu Lei known as Harry to his Chinese col- Wang Hui (middle). The couple have one son, Wang Xiaolong (left). ZHANG WEI / CHINA DAILY fans to wonder if he should quit should not return to the CSL,” said leagues, has drawn confidence from Europe and return home. Fan. “Even if he only has around 10 the world-class facilities, the effi- Wu’s absence from Team China’s minutes of playing time per game, ciency of the local operational team adding that his supportive wife has training camps last year due to he will still reap the benefits of the and the host’s resolve to overcome played a big role in his career pandemic-related travel restric- more intense training and more the COVID-19 challenge. success. tions added to concerns that he competitive environment.” “If you ask us can you organize the “One of the reasons the IIHF sug- Olympic Winter Games next month, gested that I work in China is the we would say yes,” Springfeld told understanding I have of how to China Daily last week at north Bei- work with people here. jing’s National Indoor Stadium, “In China, everybody is really which along with Wukesong Arena working hard for one goal with in the west of the capital will stage directions from the top to the bot- next year’s hockey tournaments. tom, which makes it very efficient “Major improvements to make? for work such as Olympic prepara- Really not much. Just to perfect a tions ... failure is not an option at all.” few of the last pieces that we need to Wang Hui is a former pro hockey have once we have more practical player from Qiqihar, Heilongjiang experiences.” province, who hopes to referee at To prepare for another round of next year’s Games. test events that could potentially She said working alongside her allow access to foreign athletes in Less than eight months out from Beijing 2022, Harald Springfeld is husband as Beijing becomes the September, Springfeld and his team fine-tuning preparations at hockey’s two competition venues — the world’s first city to host both the of 10 Chinese staff have been reeval- National Indoor Stadium and Wukesong Arena. ZHANG WEI / CHINA DAILY Summer and Winter Olympics is a uating and inspecting operational thrilling prospect. details at the two venues, such as the “It’s definitely a once-in-a-lifetime flexibility of the rink dashboard, “To let my Chinese colleagues him into managerial roles with the experience,” said Wang, who must dressing-room supplies and laundry understand what the requirements IIHF, mainly in charge of the sport’s first undergo an IIHF evaluation to operations. are, what they need to fulfill, what promotion in Asia. decide if she can officiate at the However, amid all the technical kind of regulations they need to fol- Springfeld is also personally Games. and logistical details of the prepara- low ..