Jiang Guangtai and Ai Kesen are the naturalised players in the squad, otherwise known as Tyias Browning and Elkesen respectively. Browning has a Chinese parent, so has the heritage despite being English born and bred; Elkesen has no Chinese heritage. Elkesen was most recently at Gremio in Brazil, having only just left so could possibly be one of the bigger attacking threats, alongside Wu Lei.
Five of the 24 strong squad played in the last match between the All Whites and China, a 1-1 draw in Nanchang in 2014 with Chris Wood getting a late equaliser. That match was Anthony Hudson's second in charge, and possibly his first with a squad chosen by himself. Those five include goalkeeper Wang Dalei, defenders Ren Hang and Zhang Linpeng, midfielder Wu Xi and forward Wu Lei. Wood, Thomas, Rojas, Barbarouses, Tuiloma, Wynne, Smith, Boxall, Roux and Payne all also played that day.
Two of the squad (Wang and Zhang) also played in the match before that, in 2012, another 1-1 draw this time hosted in Shanghai. Wood, Rojas, Payne, Barbarouses, Smith and Howieson all featured in that match under Herbert.
Seven players in the squad were among the 15 players used in the 'home' World Cup qualifier 1-1 draw against Australia in November 2021.
The squad isn't really young, but also doesn't have that many extensively-capped players. The median birth-year is 1993 (for context, the median birth-year for the AWs squad against Australia was 1999), and the two youngest players were both born in 1997. Despite that, only seven players have more than 15 caps - two being goalkeepers - and only three have over 40. Three players are uncapped and a further eight have ten or less caps.
In terms of goals, Wu Lei cuts a Chris Wood-esque figure, with 27 goals in his 79 caps, and the next highest goal-scorer is 80-cap midfielder Wu Xi with nine. Defender Zhang Linpeng with five in 92 and Elkesen with four in his 13 caps round out the next top scorers.
Five of the 24 strong squad played in the last match between the All Whites and China, a 1-1 draw in Nanchang in 2014 with Chris Wood getting a late equaliser. That match was Anthony Hudson's second in charge, and possibly his first with a squad chosen by himself. Those five include goalkeeper Wang Dalei, defenders Ren Hang and Zhang Linpeng, midfielder Wu Xi and forward Wu Lei. Wood, Thomas, Rojas, Barbarouses, Tuiloma, Wynne, Smith, Boxall, Roux and Payne all also played that day.
Two of the squad (Wang and Zhang) also played in the match before that, in 2012, another 1-1 draw this time hosted in Shanghai. Wood, Rojas, Payne, Barbarouses, Smith and Howieson all featured in that match under Herbert.
Seven players in the squad were among the 15 players used in the 'home' World Cup qualifier 1-1 draw against Australia in November 2021.
The squad isn't really young, but also doesn't have that many extensively-capped players. The median birth-year is 1993 (for context, the median birth-year for the AWs squad against Australia was 1999), and the two youngest players were both born in 1997. Despite that, only seven players have more than 15 caps - two being goalkeepers - and only three have over 40. Three players are uncapped and a further eight have ten or less caps.
In terms of goals, Wu Lei cuts a Chris Wood-esque figure, with 27 goals in his 79 caps, and the next highest goal-scorer is 80-cap midfielder Wu Xi with nine. Defender Zhang Linpeng with five in 92 and Elkesen with four in his 13 caps round out the next top scorers.