Kuroki Hisashi: Wu Lei Can Be Decisive, Zhang Yuning Is Very Versatile, Japanese Defense Must Be Cautious

Prior to the first round of the 18-team qualifying match where the Chinese national team is set to face Japan, Kuroki Hisashi, former Japanese international and ex-head coach of the Chinese Super League team Qingdao West Coast, provided an analysis of the upcoming match. In Kuroki’s view, China’s offensive lineup is diverse and requires heightened vigilance from the Japanese defense.

Kuroki Hisashi is very familiar with Chinese football. He stated that China’s head coach Ivanković led Oman to a victory over Japan away in the previous World Cup qualifiers, and China has players with rich characteristics, so Japan must not underestimate them.

Kuroki specifically mentioned Alan, whom he had coached previously, in his article, “He has excellent physical attributes and is incredibly fast, with sharp breakthroughs, posing a significant threat to Japan’s defense.” Following this, Kuroki noted that another naturalized player in China’s team, Fei Nanduo, shares similar traits with Alan but is younger.

Moreover, Kuroki introduced several other forwards on China’s team, “Bai Helamu, who plays for Shenzhen Xin Pengcheng, is young but possesses a robust physique and good heading ability. Lin Liangming, who plays for Beijing Guoan, stands out with his exceptional wing-breaking ability and also has good heading skills, both of which should raise caution among Japan’s defenders.”

Finally, Kuroki particularly highlighted Wu Lei and Zhang Yuning. Among them, Wu Lei has the ability to decide the course of the game, while Zhang Yuning serves as the front-line pivot with strong heading ability, akin to a versatile forward like Japanese international Kamatari Ayase.