Latest news with #ShanghaiPort
Ammon
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Ammon
Wu Lei returns to China squad for crunch World Cup qualifiers
Ammon News - Wu Lei looks set to make his first appearance for China in more than eight months after being included in Branko Ivankovic's 27-man squad for next month's World Cup qualifiers against Indonesia and Bahrain on Thursday. The 33-year-old former Espanyol winger, who has scored 36 goals in 99 appearances for his country, last played an international against Saudi Arabia last September before being sidelined by a knee injury. He returned to action for Shanghai Port last month and Ivankovic will hope he can bring a much-needed cutting edge to China's forward line, which has failed to find the net in either of their last two qualifiers. Uncapped midfielder Yang Mingyang was also included in the squad after the former Swiss youth international had his request to change international allegiance approved by FIFA on Monday. China are bottom of Group C and cannot now earn direct passage to the 2026 World Cup finals from the third stage of Asian qualifying. They could, however, still get through to a fourth stage if they can leapfrog Bahrain, who are above them on goal difference, and Indonesia, who stand three points ahead, after the final round of qualifiers. China, who have qualified only once for the World Cup in 2002, travel to Jakarta to play the Indonesians on June 5 before hosting Bahrain in Chongqing five days later. Reuters
South China Morning Post
22-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Winger Wu Lei returns to China squad for crunch Fifa 2026 World Cup qualifiers
Wu Lei looks set to make his first appearance for China in more than eight months after being included in Branko Ivankovic's 27-man squad for next month's World Cup qualifiers against Indonesia and Bahrain on Thursday. The 33-year-old former Espanyol winger, who has scored 36 goals in 99 appearances for his country, last played an international against Saudi Arabia last September before being sidelined by a knee injury. He returned to action for Shanghai Port last month and Ivankovic will hope he can bring a much-needed cutting edge to China's forward line, which has failed to find the net in either of their past two qualifiers. Uncapped midfielder Yang Mingyang was also included in the squad after the former Swiss youth international had his request to change international allegiance approved by Fifa on Monday. China are bottom of Group C and cannot now earn direct passage to the 2026 World Cup finals from the third stage of Asian qualifying. They could, however, still get through to a fourth stage if they can leapfrog Bahrain, who are above them on goal difference, and Indonesia, who stand three points ahead, after the final round of qualifiers.
Business Recorder
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Business Recorder
Wu Lei returns to China squad for crunch World Cup qualifiers
BEIJING: Wu Lei looks set to make his first appearance for China in more than eight months after being included in Branko Ivankovic's 27-man squad for next month's World Cup qualifiers against Indonesia and Bahrain on Thursday. The 33-year-old former Espanyol winger, who has scored 36 goals in 99 appearances for his country, last played an international against Saudi Arabia last September before being sidelined by a knee injury. He returned to action for Shanghai Port last month and Ivankovic will hope he can bring a much-needed cutting edge to China's forward line, which has failed to find the net in either of their last two qualifiers. Uncapped midfielder Yang Mingyang was also included in the squad after the former Swiss youth international had his request to change international allegiance approved by FIFA on Monday. Man United's Dalot calls for reflection after Europa League final loss China are bottom of Group C and cannot now earn direct passage to the 2026 World Cup finals from the third stage of Asian qualifying. They could, however, still get through to a fourth stage if they can leapfrog Bahrain, who are above them on goal difference, and Indonesia, who stand three points ahead, after the final round of qualifiers. China, who have qualified only once for the World Cup in 2002, travel to Jakarta to play the Indonesians on June 5 before hosting Bahrain in Chongqing five days later.
Reuters
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Wu Lei returns to China squad for crunch World Cup qualifiers
BEIJING, May 22 (Reuters) - Wu Lei looks set to make his first appearance for China in more than eight months after being included in Branko Ivankovic's 27-man squad for next month's World Cup qualifiers against Indonesia and Bahrain on Thursday. The 33-year-old former Espanyol winger, who has scored 36 goals in 99 appearances for his country, last played an international against Saudi Arabia last September before being sidelined by a knee injury. He returned to action for Shanghai Port last month and Ivankovic will hope he can bring a much-needed cutting edge to China's forward line, which has failed to find the net in either of their last two qualifiers. Uncapped midfielder Yang Mingyang was also included in the squad after the former Swiss youth international had his request to change international allegiance approved by FIFA on Monday. China are bottom of Group C and cannot now earn direct passage to the 2026 World Cup finals from the third stage of Asian qualifying. They could, however, still get through to a fourth stage if they can leapfrog Bahrain, who are above them on goal difference, and Indonesia, who stand three points ahead, after the final round of qualifiers. China, who have qualified only once for the World Cup in 2002, travel to Jakarta to play the Indonesians on June 5 before hosting Bahrain in Chongqing five days later.
Daily Record
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Kevin Muscat still meets Rangers next manager criteria as takeover kings hear exactly what unflinching boss craves
The former Ibrox midfielder has long been linked with the hot seat - but could finally jet in this summer Shanghai Port boss Kevin Muscat has laid out his perfect football environment amid speculation he could storm back onto the Rangers agenda. The Australian had been touted as one of the early favourites to replace Philippe Clement permanently. But off the back of league and cup double in China speculation cooled over a potential appointment by the incoming US consortium in the summer. Pressure is on Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises to get it right when they take control at Ibrox - with the new season set to start for the Light Blues in July with Champions League qualifiers. Steven Gerrard is reportedly being considered on the longlist of candidates - with Russell Martin, Rob Edwards and Gary O'Neil also named as potential candidates. But it is noted that foreign candidates are also on the agenda - which also opens the door for former Light Blues' midfielder Muscat. He was interviewed for the Rangers job after Michael Beale was axed following two successful seasons with Yokohama F. Marinos - but the decision-makers at Ibrox opted to go with Clement. And the boss has made it clear that he needs people behind the scenes who buy into his all-out attacking style of play - just like in Shanghai Speaking to Bruce, Muscat said: "Winning trophies is one thing, but the football allowed us to do that. "The great thing about being here is, yes, success is demanded not only from the club, but from the fans. That expectation has grown, especially considering last season. "But working with the people in this club who have a genuine belief and a genuine enjoyment for the way we play - that's the environment I like to be in, if I'm honest as well. "There's a genuine willingness and effort, and desire to win things and that expectation is on us once again this year." And he has dropped a hint on what his football philosophy would look like should he take it to the blue half of Glasgow. Discussing the changes he put in place at Port, the gaffer said: "If you arrive somewhere and you've got a belief and a real strong desire to do something, it grows on people and that's what happened here. "They could sense the belief in what we were trying to do and what we wanted to do, and that became infectious. "You have to learn it wherever you go, but you understand that it's you (who) has to make sacrifices culturally, because you are coming into an environment - and of course you have your certain beliefs and your non-negotiables because to play the way we play you have to train a certain way. "But then understanding where everyone sits culturally we have had to adapt. "Certainly, when we got here we had to adapt the way we train because it was so different to what the group was used to."
