Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Canberra: For Wang Dalei the AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 has already become a tournament the China goalkeeper is never likely to forget.
The tattooed, hip hop-loving and at times controversial custodian, who cites eccentric former Colombia goalkeeper Rene Higuita – “a crazy guy” – as a role model, had already had a successful 2014 after winning the Chinese FA Cup with club side Shandong Luneng and being named the Chinese FA Goalkeeper of the Year.
But a few days at Asia’s premier football competition has already meant 2015 tops last year for Wang.
China’s opening match against three-time champions Saudi Arabia was on Wang’s 26th birthday and the ‘keeper had one to remember when he saved a second-half penalty from Saudi striker Naif Hazazi with the sides deadlocked in a goalless stalemate.
Before Hazazi stepped up, Wang took the unorthodox preparation of consulting the ballboy behind his goal, Stephen White, on which way to dive for the spot-kick.
“I asked him because I thought maybe he would bring me luck. I was hoping he could give me some ideas or thoughts on which way to go,” said Wang, with television footage showing the 12-year-old clearly indicating for the China number one to go to his left.
“I didn’t actually hear clearly if he said left or right, because the stadium was very noisy. But actually he did bring me luck.”
It was a crucial block from Wang with midfielder Yu Hai going on to grab the only goal of the match 10 minutes from the end. After the final whistle had blown, Wang made a point of going over to White and embracing the youngster, calling him his “lucky charm”.
And if that was not memorable enough, on the morning of January 14 – the day of China’s match with pre-tournament Group B favourites Uzbekistan – Wang became a father for the first time with his wife giving birth to a baby girl.
The day proved a double celebration yet again for the Wang family as China would go on to register their second win of the tournament by defeating the Central Asians 2-1 and in doing so top Group B and secure a first appearance in the AFC Asian Cup knockout stages since the 2004 edition.
“On the 10th was my birthday and we won the game, and on the morning of the 14th was my daughter's birthday and we won again - birthdays definitely brought us very good luck,” said Wang, who felt that it was fitting the newest member of his family should reflect his good fortune.
“Maybe I’ll give her the English name ‘Lucky’.”
With no more birthdays or births scheduled to coincide with China’s forthcoming fixtures, final Group B opponents DPR Korea will have to be beaten without any outside help on Sunday.
Already eliminated from the knockout stages, the Chollima have not won at the AFC Asian Cup since the 1980 tournament and they will be keen to end their drought.
“We will try our best to beat DPR Korea tomorrow (Sunday). DPR Korea are a very strong and aggressive team and the past meetings with them have always been tight games,” said Wang, whose side will face Group A runners-up Australia in the quarter-finals on Thursday.
“Our team is different from the China teams before. This team has more courage, more willingness to win; the biggest difference is the team’s spirit.
“We want to play against the strongest teams because we want to fight like men. Maybe we're not the best team in Asia but we have to challenge ourselves against the best - that's the only way we can learn and improve against an opponent.”
Photo: WSG