In an international friendly match between the Chinese men's soccer team and the New Zealand national team, 29-year-old Dalian defender Sun Guowen came on as a substitute and made his debut with the national team with a score of 1-2. For the match, Sun was placed on the right side of the field, a change from his past role at the club. Head coach Jankovic wanted him to take on more offensive responsibilities. In stoppage time, Sun played a key role in assisting Barton to score his first assist for the national team.
Sun Guowen, born in September 1993, is a 1.82-meter tall player who was trained in the youth training system of Dalian Shide.He joined the first team of Shide in 2011, and then merged into Dalian Albin with Shide in 2013 until last season. He has been a regular in the National Youth and Olympic teams since his youth, and represented China at the Incheon Asian Games, wearing the No. 7 jersey that is his trademark as an attacking player.
Although Sun Guowen started out in the winger or wingback position, he faced competition from numerous foreigners and veterans in this position, resulting in few appearances and limited development in the early part of his career. It wasn't until the 2019 season that he was converted into a wing-back under the guidance of renowned coach Rafa Benitez, which gradually led to him occupying a starting position in the Chinese Super League. Last season, Sun Guowen had a full-blown career as he made 26 appearances in the Chinese Super League, contributing two goals and three assists, making him one of the top wing backs in the country. It was also the basis for his inclusion in the national team's roster. At the age of 30, Sun made his debut for the national team, which can be called a "late bloomer". Personally, I believe that being selected for the national team is an incentive and recognition for him, and also a motivation for him to continue his hard work and perseverance. However, in the new season, Sun Guowen said goodbye to his longtime player Dalian, and is about to announce that he will join the Chinese Super League giants Shandong Taishan. Facing a new environment, he not only has to adapt, but also compete with many outstanding players in the team. Hopefully, he will quickly integrate into his new team, quickly become the mainstay of Taishan, and continue to perform at a high level in the Chinese Super League, thus stabilizing his position in the national team.
