Fox in the Penalty Area

According to the schedule of the national competition, the morning of March 10 will be a closed-door meeting for the head coaches of all participating teams. After the closed-door meeting, there will be a lottery ceremony.

Matches of all participating teams are drawn on the spot.

There are a total of 32 teams participating in this national competition. These 32 teams adopt a single elimination system, and the first round match is determined according to the draw. The next match is determined according to the results of the first round match. .

The match is divided into the upper and lower halves, and the draw will also determine whether a team will go to the upper half or the lower half.

Teams drawn into different halves will not have a chance to meet until the final.

At the same time, the results of the draw will also be broadcast live.

Previously, it was through an online platform, but this time because the copyright was purchased by Capital Satellite TV, the lottery ceremony will also be broadcast live on Capital Satellite TV's "Hot-Blooded Youth·The 6th National High School Football Championship Special Report".

So this morning, the players of Dongchuan Middle School huddled in a few rooms and watched the live broadcast of the draw on the TV in the room.

It can be said that this is what they are most concerned about right now—who will their opponent be in the first round of the national competition?

"It's best to draw a team that is not that strong, so that at least a top 16 team can be guaranteed..."

"Hey, Mao Xiao, who is the weakest in the national competition?" Someone asked loudly.

"From the historical record of the national competition, we are the weakest." Mao Xiao replied.

Hearing what Mao Xiao said, many teammates shouted, "Is this impossible?"

They couldn't accept that they finally made it to the national competition, only to find out that they were the weakest one.

"High school competitions are not like national team competitions. There are regular FIFA rankings. There are so many high schools in our country, and there are many high schools with football teams. Whether it is information collection or statistics, it is almost impossible to compare these high school football teams. Ranking points." Mao Xiao explained to everyone.

"So you can only rate those teams that have participated in the national competition. The scoring system is also very simple. If you win a game in the national competition, you get three points, one point for a draw, zero points for a loss, and zero points for a loss. The league standings are the same..."

Someone asked: "Aren't the teams that were eliminated in the first round all accumulated zero points, so why are we the weakest?"

"That's right, they have zero points. But we don't even have zero points." Mao Xiao spread his hands. "We are not on the list at all. At least we have to wait until this national competition is over before we can be on the list and compare points with other teams."

Facing the surprised teammates, Mao Xiao explained to them: "In this national competition, among the 32 participating teams, we are the only team that has never played in a national competition before. So even if those zero points The team has not won a game, but they have all entered the national competition before, so zero points can be regarded as points. We don’t even have a point record, so naturally we are ranked last in this ranking.”

A group of people looked at each other in blank dismay, which really made them uncomfortable.

Hu Lai whistled: "Oh, I was looking for fish belly, but we are the fish belly that all teams want to meet? It's interesting to think about it, and suddenly turned into a sweet potato Hey... hey, should we auction off our right to fight?"

"Can this be auctioned off!" Meng Xi yelled at him.

"Auctioning the right to fight? You can figure it out, Hu Lai!"

"Why do I suddenly feel like 'I'm weak but I'm proud'? Haha!"

Everyone was amused by his statement.

Chu Yifan noticed that the disturbing and awkward atmosphere in the team had also been swept away.

"The lottery has begun!" Someone pointed to the TV, and the room suddenly fell silent. Everyone was staring at the TV screen, for fear that they might miss any details.

The lottery ceremony of the high school football game is very simple, and there will be no cultural performances like the World Cup or the European Champions Cup...

After the host announces the start of the lottery,

The leading guests in charge of drawing lots began to draw lots.

The lottery itself is also very simple, all done by the computer, the guests only need to shout "start" and "stop".

The voice control device will automatically start and stop drawing lots according to the voice they shout out, and then draw a result.

In order to demonstrate fairness and justice, the lottery guests all turned their backs to the big screen of the lottery. There was nothing in front of them, and they could not see the names of the schools flashing quickly on the big screen behind them.

The lottery is drawn in order, and the first team to be drawn will naturally be ranked first in the match list, and it will automatically be in the upper half. In this way, drawing backwards in turn can determine the team's mutual confrontation, as well as the issue of belonging to the upper and lower halves.

Soon the first drawn team was born, from Baima Middle School in Yujiang City, Xiaojiang Province.

"They were the eighth place in the last national competition, and their strength is not bad." Mao Xiao seemed to be more professional than the hosts on TV. After the names were reported, he introduced them to his teammates.

The second drawn team, against Baima Middle School, was Fushui High School from Yuanyang City, Xishan Province.

"This school has participated in the national competition three times in a row, and the best result was the tenth place in the previous session."

"Tenth versus twelfth, I feel that this method of drawing lots can easily lead to a strong matchup in the first round..." someone said.

"That's right, in the last national competition, Shuguang High School where Chen Xingyu was located met Chongwen Middle School in Shanhai City, the defending champion in the first round, and Shuguang High School was fourth in the last national competition. It was a strong dialogue. In the end, with Chen Xingyi's brace, Shuguang High School defeated Chongwen Middle School 2:1, and the defending champion went home in one round of the national competition..." Mao Xiao said.

"Wow, how cruel..."

"Yes, at the end of the game, all the players of Chongwen Middle School were paralyzed on the field, all of them couldn't get up, and they were all crying like tearful people..." Mao Xiao's tone was a little bit somber, "And Shuguang High School was on the field. After knocking out the defending champions, their momentum was like a rainbow, and they won their first national championship in the end. The only thing that can make them suffer is Jiaxiang High School led by Wang Guangwei. That's why Chen Xingyi cares so much about it. Who scored the goal under Wang Guangwei's marking..."

Having said that, everyone looked at Hu Lai one after another, and Hu Lai did not disappoint them. He put his hands on his hips, raised his head, and raised his tail to the sky.

As the defending champions, Dawn High is the third team to be drawn, which means that any team in the upper half will meet them.

At the same time, it also makes people very concerned about who will be their opponent in the first round.

Many people in Dongchuan Middle School secretly prayed in their hearts that it must not be them. They finally came to a national competition, and they want to stay a few more days...

In the midst of everyone's attention, the unlucky ghost who played against Shuguang High School was drawn out, and he came from the High School Affiliated to Normal University in Wuli City, Ningtian Province.

Seeing this name, many Dongchuan Middle School players in front of the TV let out a sigh of relief.

The lottery continued, and the participating teams were drawn one by one and appeared on the big screen at the scene.

Soon all the sixteen teams in the upper half were released, and Dongchuan Middle School was not among them.

"Ah, what a pity. If you want to meet Shuguang High School, it seems that you have to go to the finals..." The Dongchuan Middle School players who breathed a sigh of relief began to pretend.

As a result, as soon as the words fell, the name of Dongchuan Middle School appeared on the big screen...

"I'll go! The first team in the lower half!"

"It scared me to death, but luckily it's not the upper half..."

"I don't know who our opponent will be... Take a look at the teams that have come out of the upper half. Are there any teams that were eliminated in the first round of the previous session?"

The draw ceremony did not wait for the Dongchuan Middle School players to calculate their opponents, and the answer was given quickly.

From Xizi Middle School in Anqiu City, Western Yuan Province.

"Mao Xiao, how is this school?" Meng Xi immediately looked at his friend.

Others also cast their gazes.

"The 15th place last year, the top 16 team."

"Damn, top sixteen!" The teammates exclaimed.

"Hey, it's just that the last national competition was the top 16. They were all eliminated in the first round before." Seeing that everyone seemed to have some fear of difficulties, Mao Xiao quickly explained. "But they can enter the national competition every year, and they can be regarded as the local football overlord..."

"That only means that their overall football level is not high?" Meng Xi asked rhetorically. "Otherwise, the national competition will give Antarctica a place to participate, and let them go to Antarctica to play the qualifiers, and they will be able to participate in the national competition every year."

Hu Lai sneered: "Meng Xi, what are you thinking? Who said they can qualify easily? Shouldn't they lose the game because of the cold weather?"

Meng Xi was stunned, never expecting that Hu Lai would look at the problem from this angle...

The teammates burst into laughter, and the room was filled with cheerful air.

The tension of facing the top 16 in the first round was swept away.

※※※

After the lottery ceremony, it was noon.

The players of Dongchuan Middle School went to the cafeteria to eat under the leadership of the two captains.

The lottery ceremony ended a little late. When they thought they went to the cafeteria, there were already many people in the cafeteria.

Unexpectedly, on the way, they found that there were many people who just came out of the dormitory building like them. Obviously, they all came out to eat just after watching the lottery ceremony.

After entering the cafeteria, everyone has a clear division of labor. Some people will line up to pick up food first, while others will occupy the seats of the whole team. Bringing it back -- that's what they learned at dinner yesterday by watching what other teams did.

For Dongchuan Middle School who participated in the national competition for the first time, it can be regarded as accumulating some experience about the national competition...

※※※

"Captain, look, people from Dongchuan Middle School."

When the players from Dongchuan Middle School took their meals and returned to the table, there was a table beside them who was eating and winking at their backs.

"Just them?" A tall man with a crew cut that couldn't be shorter shaved his lips.

"Yeah, the rookie who participated in the national competition for the first time was drawn by us. It looks like we are going to enter the top 16 this time!"

"What are you talking about? Did we rely on luck to enter the top sixteen? How many times have I said it? It's strength! Strength!" the leader said dissatisfied.

"Yes, yes, the captain is right, it depends on strength!" Everyone echoed.

"Captain, you are right. But it is a good thing for us to meet such a rookie team in the first round. At least we don't have to put too much energy in the first round. I think we Not only are we in the top sixteen, we might even advance to the top eight!"

Hearing what his teammates said, the captain rolled his eyes.

Then he got up: "A few people, let's go, let's say hello to our opponents in the first round."

He also specially prolonged the sound of the word "good".

※※※

The players from Dongchuan Middle School sat around several tables and were about to eat, but suddenly a few people walked by.

They were wearing uniform white sports uniforms, and the person walking in the front looked tall, with a slightly ruffian face, shaved a very, very short crew cut, and his scalp was bluish.

After walking straight to the dining tables where the Dongchuan Middle School players had dinner, the leader looked around slowly, and then said, "Dongchuan Middle School, right? We are your opponents, from Anqiu Xizi Middle School." .”

Chu Yifan and Yan Yan stood up one after the other, and greeted them. Chu Yifan even offered to extend his hand: "Hello, I'm Chu, the captain of Dongchuan Middle School..."

"It's not important." The leader glanced at Chu Yifan's outstretched hand, and didn't intend to shake hands with him, his hands were still in his trouser pockets. "Not for self-introduction, I'm not interested in your name. I'm just here to comfort you, it must be difficult to enter the national competition for the first time, right? But sorry, your first national competition is over here gone."

As soon as he said these words, the expressions of the players from Dongchuan Middle School on the opposite side changed.

He took the initiative to reach out his hand but was left alone, no matter how good-tempered Chu Yifan is now, his face is not very good-looking, Yan Yan took a step forward: "What did you say?!"

"Why, want to fight?" The other party smiled contemptuously, "Let me remind you that if you fight during the national competition, your team will be disqualified."

Then he ignored Yan Yan, but looked at the aggrieved Dongchuan Middle School players in front of him and said, "Don't get me wrong, I'm really just here to comfort you. You can pack your luggage in advance and take it to the bus, so that you can go directly to the airport or the high-speed rail station after the game.”

After he said that, several people who came with him behind him burst into laughter.

※※※

"Task: Counter the opponent's provocation and boost the morale of your team. Reward: Points x 3000, [Experience Potion] x 1."

Such a voice suddenly sounded in Hu Lai's mind, making him in a trance.

After the Anton Cup finals, the system seemed to have entered hibernation, and there was no movement for almost three months. If he hadn't entered the system space to buy two training scrolls during the team's training camp, he might have thought that the system had left him...

He had also imagined whether the system would issue tasks after entering the national competition, and what it would be related to.

In the end, he never thought that the system would have such a showy operation...

The first task of the national competition turned out to be a verbal battle off the court! How much gossip the system you have!

He set his sights on the [Experience Potion] that appeared in the rewards for the first time, and immediately knew what it was for:

After taking it, it will deepen the user's understanding of the game and improve the effect of gaining game experience in the game.

To put it simply, every time a player plays a game, as long as his brain is not broken, he can gain something from this game.

Such as how he should move in the game; when he takes the ball and faces the opponent's press, should he shoot directly or choose to pass the ball;

These things are collectively referred to as "game experience".

Experience is a thing that sounds mysterious and seems unquantifiable, but it actually affects the performance of players. Experienced players simply perform better than inexperienced rookies.

For example, in this national competition, when the experienced Xizi Middle School faced Dongchuan Middle School, which had never played in the national competition, it seemed domineering and full of superiority. It is because they have more experience than Dongchuan Middle School.

As for Hu Lai, as a rookie who hasn't systematically touched football or played a game in the past 16 years, his lack of game experience is his inherent disadvantage.

If you want to catch up with others quickly, hard training is of course very important, but the accumulation of competition experience is also indispensable.

So at this moment, the system held something that could help him improve before his eyes.

And all he needs to do is... talk.

※※※

Amidst the roar of laughter, the people from Xizi Middle School waved their hands: "Let's go, goodbye, I sincerely hope to see you again next year, haha!"

After speaking, he turned around and walked back with his teammates.

Behind him, the players from Dongchuan Middle School clenched their fists, their faces flushed.

But no one dared to catch up, because as that person said, if a player gets involved in a fight, the whole team will be disqualified from the game.

No one wants to cause the team's hard-won national competition trip to end hastily because of such a reason...

So even though they were very upset, so unhappy that they were about to explode, they could only endure it.

Even Luo Kai just stared at the backs of the Xizi Middle School players with gloomy eyes.

Mao Xiao pursed his lips, frowned tightly, and at the same time held his friend Meng Xi's arm, so as not to let him think about it on the spur of the moment...

At this moment, he didn't know if it was an illusion, but he suddenly heard Hu Lai beside him sigh.

※※※

Since the people from Xizi Middle School went to Dongchuan Middle School, other people in the cafeteria were attracted by this movement.

After seeing the situation clearly, there were discussions at the tables of the respective teams.

"Oh, isn't that Dongchuan Middle School that eliminated Jiaxiang High School?"

"By the way, their opponent in the first round is Xizi Middle School..."

"Xizi Middle School is really lucky. It even got Dongchuan Middle School who participated in the national competition for the first time. Maybe this time they will enter the top 16 again..."

"Damn, two consecutive rounds of top 16, with Wang Le's virtue, you can't judge others? No, it's too smug to bring people here to taunt before the match has even started!"

"I don't think Wang Le is necessarily complacent. He is here to play psychological warfare with the novices. He deliberately provokes the opponent and makes the opponent have nothing to do with him. When the time comes, he will be full of anger. I am afraid that he will lose his mind when he arrives at the competition... "

"Fuck, my heart is really dirty!"

At Shuguang High School, someone touched Chen Xingyi: "Hey, Chen Xingyi, Dongchuan Middle School is really going to be eliminated in the first round, right?"

"If you are eliminated, you will be eliminated." Chen Xingyi replied lazily.

"No, didn't you say you wanted to avenge Wang Guangwei?"

"What's wrong? Do you think they can make it to the final?" Chen Xingyi sighed. "It's not in the same area, what can I do?"

"Uh... that's right..."

Everyone really wants to vent their anger on Dongchuan Middle School, but the premise is that they can meet, and the current draw results, it is obvious that it is impossible for the two teams to meet-anyone with a clear mind will not feel that Dongchuan Secondary schools can reach the finals.

Chen Xingyi buried his head in his meal again, he didn't seem to care about the disturbance from the outside world, as soon as the result of the lottery came out, he seemed to become Buddhist.

But at this moment, he first heard the noise of the chair being dragged on the ground, then heard two muffled noises, and finally he heard a voice: "Hey, who is that, the big man wait a minute."

He looked up and saw a teenager standing on the dining table, pointing at the players from Xizi Middle School.

Who is it?