Fans also expressed strong dissatisfaction that Hou Yongyong was not selected for the national soccer team. Some fans questioned, "Is the Chinese Super League really better than the Norwegian First Division? How about giving Hou Yongyong a chance, even a try would be good."" Some fans also pointed out, "If a player in the Chinese First League can score a dozen goals, then it is worthy of being selected for the national football team, not to mention that Hou Yongyong has already proved himself in the Norwegian First League. "This voice reflects the fans' questioning of the selection criteria for the national soccer team, especially in the context of the national soccer team's low performance, is Ivan too neglectful of potential players from overseas leagues?
There is no doubt that Hou Yongyong's rise has brought new hope to Chinese soccer. At the same time, his continuous improvement has also increased the concern about whether he can become the core force of the national soccer team in the future. Although he is not yet in Ivan's favor, if he can maintain his enthusiasm in the next game, he may enter the national team's vision sooner or later. For Chinese soccer, which is currently facing difficulties, naturalized players like Hou Yongyong may bring some hope and breakthrough.
