Fox in the Penalty Area

Who is No. 1?

The addition of Hu Lai has accelerated the Chinese team's preparations.

Before his return, Jorge Dillon had the team practice how to play without Jule.

After all, it must be fully taken into account that as the most popular forward in today's football, Hu Lai will encounter strict marking by the opponent during the game.

Even if Hu Lai has the ability to break down the opponent's defense, he has to consider more extreme situations. That is... what if Hu Lai is injured due to continuous violations by the opponent during the game?

If Hu Lai cannot play for various reasons, what will the Chinese team do?

Although Hulay's attendance has been stable over the years, he has never suffered a major injury.

But who can guarantee that it won’t happen in the future?

As a head coach, Dillon always has to consider all possibilities, otherwise he is not qualified.

So while Hu Lai didn't return to the team, Dillon asked the team to try new formations and tactics.

The Chinese team without Hu Lai changed to 433, with Zhou Zijing playing center. Chen Xingyi and Luo Kai have good positions and become wingers.

Double midfielder plus Zhang Qinghuan in the midfield.

The three defenders in the defense changed to four defenders, reducing one central defender and returning two full-backs.

Facing a weak team, this lineup can maximize offensive firepower and use frontcourt attacks to completely suppress the opponent.

If you encounter a strong team, play simpler and faster, focusing on defensive counterattacks.

But this is a backup plan after all, and I rarely practice it.

Now it's time to practice while Hu Lai hasn't returned to the team yet.

With Hu Lai's return, the team has returned to the 352 formation and tactical training.

In the 433 tactics, the Chinese team’s battering ram is Zhou Zijing.

In 352, Hu Lai was the Chinese team's number one scoring weapon, and all offensive tactics had to be designed around Hu Lai.

Then based on this core, different details are divided.

For example, when Hu Lai encountered the opponent's tight defense during the game and could not solve it for a while, Hu Lai was asked to act as a bait to create shooting opportunities for Zhou Zijing and other teammates.

At this time, Zhou Zijing changed from assisting Hu Lai to serving as the main attacker.

His role and positioning are not static, but are constantly adjusted according to the actual situation of the game.

In addition to Zhou Zijing, the Chinese team also has two scorers, Chen Xingyi and Luo Kai.

In short, the specific tactics can vary a lot.

There is no situation where Hu Lai is the leading scorer, so everyone has no idea to pass the ball to him.

But to know how to practice specifically, Hu Lai still needs to be present.

※※※

"Here, here, here!"

Hu Lai had already raised his hand to ask for the ball before he reached the position.

Chen Xingyi from the wing passed the football diagonally, but while Hu Lai was catching the ball, he was also hit hard by Yao Huasheng behind him.

This made it more difficult for him to stop the ball, and the football was stopped slightly larger.

However, Hu Lai reacted quickly and immediately caught up with the football. He also took advantage of this opportunity to pull the ball under his feet and then turned around.

Not only did he widen the distance between himself and Yao Huasheng behind him, he also adjusted his body orientation from facing away from the attacking direction to facing the goal.

Yao Huasheng did not give up, but went forward to grab the football at his feet.

Hu Lai had no choice but to pass the football out again.

In the end, Guo Junfu completed the shot, which was saved by goalkeeper Lin Zhiyuan.

After seeing the football fly out of the baseline, Yao Huasheng turned around and asked Hu Lai with a smile: "How was my defense just now?"

Hu Lai gave Yao Huasheng a thumbs up: "Team Yao is awesome."

Yao Huasheng grinned: "I still want to go to the World Cup."

"With your current state, Captain Yao, you will definitely be fine."

Qin Qi looked away from Brother Hu and Captain Yao.

Team Yao really did what he said. Since that conversation, Team Yao has really been targeting himself and competing with himself in training.

Judging from the defense against Brother Hu just now, Team Yao's victory lies in his more sophisticated experience.

But I won’t admit defeat!

I want to play in the World Cup too!

A corner kick was taken, and Zhou Zijing rushed forward, preparing to header the goal.

Then he bumped into Qin Qi.

Although he was able to hold Qin Qi, he also lifted the football due to Qin Qi's interference.

Qin Qi, who landed with Zhou Zijing, turned around and saw the football flying over the crossbar, and punched a few times in excitement.

Hu Lai looked back and saw Qin Qi so excited, a little baffled.

※※※

"It's just training for confrontation. What is Xiaoqi so excited about?"

During lunch break, Hu Lai asked his roommate Wang Guangwei about his doubts.

Wang Guangwei laughed: "Because Xiaoqi wants to compete with Team Yao for a spot in the World Cup."

"Are they competing?" Hu Lai frowned.

"Yeah, it's not a secret anymore. It's just that you haven't been here before, so you don't know." Wang Guangwei said with a smile, indeed with a tone that was not surprising.

"Although we are playing 352, it is impossible for the old man to take six central defenders to Spain, right? The central defenders alone account for a quarter of the twenty-three-person roster. How can that be done?"

Hu Lai nodded, although the roster configuration basically follows that each position has a corresponding substitute. But in the central defender position, it is indeed impossible to have a substitute for everyone.

Seats are limited and the best candidates for each position need to be considered.

"Being able to bring five central defenders is the limit. After all, it is relatively rare to have two central defenders injured at the same time." Wang Guangwei continued. "In the last year's competition, Liu Yan and I have basically been in a fixed combination, but our partners have been changing. Before, the Mao team played more, but he is also thirty-six years old and has no Much younger than Captain Yao. Later, he was gradually replaced by Xiao Cai..."

Hu Lai is also no stranger to Xiao Cai, because they have fought side by side in the Olympic Games two years ago - Cai Shuyi currently plays for the Shanhai Mariners and was previously the captain of the National Olympic team and won the gold medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. He can be regarded as someone who has the experience of winning international competitions and has seen the big world.

"Me, Liu Yan, Mao Dui and Xiao Cai, there are four full-time central defenders, and there is still one spot left. Yao's advantage is that he has rich experience, and he is our captain after all. He doesn't have to play if he goes. , but with him there, there is always someone in the locker room who can keep him calm. Xiao Qi’s advantage is that he is young, but his shortcoming is also obvious, that is, lack of experience. He didn’t play a single first-team game in Frankfurt-White Hart last season. He's playing reserve team games. The Bundesliga reserve team plays all amateur games, which is really hurting him... No wonder people on the Internet say that Xiao Qi can participate in the World Cup training because of Brother Lin's relationship."

"That's nonsense. If Brother Lin was really such a selfish person, why didn't he just recruit Xiaoqi into Flash Star and let him go to high school to play in the national competition..." Hu Lai shook his head and sneered at the claims on the Internet.

Wang Guangwei said: "When Xiao Qi first joined our training team, Team Yao approached him and gave him a challenge. He said that he would target Xiao Qi in training, and he did so. They The two got into a fight."

Hu Lai thought for a moment. Before Qin Qi successfully defended Zhou Zijing, it was Team Yao who forced him to pass the ball.

Moreover, Team Yao came to him specifically to praise him.

At that time, Hu Lai felt strange - this is not Team Yao's style, why are they still chatting with him?

After knowing the ins and outs, he immediately understood the reason.

"Actually, the competition between the two of them is quite good. Team Yao is 37 years old and still works so hard in training. How dare others be lazy? If anyone does not perform well in training, Team Yao will scold him directly. No mercy. Don't talk about it. It's hard for others to say anything. After all, Captain Yao is in direct conflict with Brother Lin's son..." Wang Guangwei said with emotion.

"So who will the old man choose in the end?" Hu Lai asked.

Wang Guangwei pouted: "I don't know. It's reasonable to choose anyone or not, but it's a pity. Let's not worry about this kind of thing, let the old man and the others worry about it."

※※※

"Jorge, do you already have someone in mind?"

Yu Jintao asked Jorge Dillon.

Dillon nodded first, then shook his head: "Some are sure, but some are still hesitant."

"I'm not talking about the final list of twenty-three. You know what I'm asking about, Jorge."

Dilong did not answer the question, but asked first: "Are you asking for Qin?"

"No, I'm just curious. The whole team is actually paying attention to this matter now." Yu Jintao shook his head in denial.

"To be honest, Yu. This is one of the 'hesitations' I mentioned." Dillon shook his head.

"You hesitated. I thought you had already made your choice..."

"Who do you think I will choose?" Dillon asked with a smile.

"Qin Qi." Yu Jintao said firmly, "After all, if nothing happens, Qin Qi will definitely be in the main lineup of the local World Cup four years later. Now take him to the World Cup, feel the atmosphere of the World Cup, and accumulate some experience. The experience will be beneficial to our performance in the local World Cup four years later..."

"What you said makes sense. But why should I consider the World Cup four years later? I won't coach until then." Dillon spread his hands.

"With Yao, his experience and influence will save us a lot of things. In the locker room, he can maintain the team's atmosphere. On the field, his experience can also really support us when we need it." Go up. Why don't I choose Yao, who is safe, but Qin Qi?"

This question left Yu Jintao speechless.

Because Dillon has indeed said long ago that he will not coach the team until the World Cup in China four years later. The contract he signed with the Football Association expires after the 2031 Asian Cup.

He can only resign before that time, and it is impossible to renew and extend the contract period with the Football Association.

Yu Jintao considered this issue from a Chinese standpoint. Of course, he believed that Dillon should bring Qin Qi with him to accumulate experience for the next World Cup.

But Dillon is a foreigner. He does not need to be responsible for the future of Chinese football. He pays more attention to the results when he leads the team.

So who is more beneficial to his performance when leading the team, obviously the more experienced national football captain Yao Huasheng.

Unless Qin Qi can prove in training that he can do better than Yao Huasheng at the central defender position.

"Actually, it's normal to choose anyone or not. Let their performance speak for themselves." Dillon waved his hand and ended the topic.