Espanyol striker Wu Lei impressed by China's pandemic control system

SHANGHAI  -- Espanyol's Chinese striker Wu Lei said he was greatly impressed by China's meticulousness in preventing and controlling COVID-19 after coming back from Barcelona for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

The 29-year-old, who landed in Shanghai on Tuesday night, said on social media on Wednesday: "Finally I come back to my native country, for the first time in 18 months."

"From last night when I landed until now, what impressed me most is how stringent and orderly the Chinese pandemic-controlling system is. And from that I sensed the resolve and thoroughness of our country in combating the virus," he said.

Wu missed all of the Chinese side's six training camps held since its head coach Li Tie took over in January of 2020.

China will host all remaining Asian Group A matches from May 30 to June 15 in Suzhou, where the hosts will face Guam, the Philippines, the Maldives, and Syria in succession.

China is currently eight points adrift of group leader Syria and only leads the Philippines, which is in third place on goal difference.