As the world qualifiers approach, Ivankovic has released a high-profile training squad of 31 players for our national soccer team. The unveiling of this lineup has brought a considerable shock to the selection results of local players. Surprisingly, Deng Hanwen, a young right back from Wuhan III, made the cut.
Dating back to the 2017 China Cup tournament, Deng Hanwen first caught the eyes of fans. At the time, at the age of 22, he stepped through the door of the national team on the special recommendation of then-coach Lippi. In the match against Croatia, Deng Hanwen sent a precise assist to his teammate Wang Jingbin, helping the team score a crucial goal, and since then he has made a name for himself in the soccer world. Now, Wang Jingbin's figure has long faded from the fans' field of vision, but Deng Hanwen is still in the Super League field to move forward, but often overlooked by the national team.
Although Deng Hanwen emerged from the China Cup seven years ago and was hailed as a future star of the national team, his career has not been a smooth one. The Guangzhou Evergrande and Wuhan teams he has played for have gone from strength to strength, and Deng Hanwen's personal fortunes have also fluctuated.
In the Chinese Super League, Deng Hanwen's performances have been impressive, especially in recent seasons, as he has matured in the Wuhan 3 team. His flexible running and forward assists from the right side have become an important part of the team's attacking end. In the past two seasons, he has contributed four goals and seven assists to Wuhan Three. However, it is puzzling that he has not been utilized in the national team. Li Tie has underutilized him and Jankovic has treated him as a dispensable player.
It is for this reason that Ivankovic's selection of Deng Hanwen to join the national team this time is of particular concern. However, in the author's opinion, this is exactly a wise decision and a sign that he values talents. Given that the national team's right back position is tight, except for Wang Zhenao, almost no one can be used. The 29-year-old Deng Hanwen is clearly superior to the young player Wang Zhenao in terms of individual ability and game experience.
Statistics show that Deng Hanwen is not only stable in the defensive end, with outstanding speed and explosiveness, but also creative in the offensive end. His addition to the team will ensure that the right-hand corridor of the national soccer team will have a strong influence. Perhaps this is the reason why Ivankovic recruited Deng Hanwen at the beginning of his tenure. Let's hope that Deng Hanwen can live up to the expectations and perform well for the national team in the World Qualifiers.
