World Cup of Great Powers

Since Xu Fang suddenly fell ill in 1996, he has stepped down from all duties in the AFC.

The Chinese team has no say in the AFC.

It was not until the second half of this year that Zhang Jilong successfully ran for the AFC deputy seat, which allowed the AFC to "accept" Chinese football again.

"Boycott the World Cup? What is going on?"

Hearing Zhang Jilong's speech, Zeng Zheng and other coaches were stunned.

Is the AFC about to go against the grain?

Or are they planning to organize the "World Cup" themselves?

Looking at the coaches in the audience who had questions on their faces, Zhang Jilong continued.

"You must already know that the next World Cup will be jointly hosted by Japan and South Korea, right?"

"It is for this reason that we, the AFC and the Oceania Football Confederation, both voted against the decision made by FIFA in Zurich at the beginning of the month."

After Zhang Jilong’s explanation, Zeng Zhengcai suddenly understood.

Since the next World Cup will be jointly hosted by Japan and South Korea, the number of teams that automatically qualify for the World Cup finals has become three, namely Japan, South Korea and the previous champion France.

The remaining 29 places will be divided among each continent.

As a result, Asia, which had 3.5 seats in the last World Cup, was only allocated 2 places.

This result naturally caused dissatisfaction with the AFC.

According to FIFA's explanation, Asia only had 3.5 quotas in 1998, but in the next edition, including Japan and South Korea, it will actually occupy a total of 4 quotas.

From 3.5 to 4, this has given Asia enough discounts.

However, AFC chairman Veerappan said that it is illogical for more than 40 Asian countries and regions to compete for two places.

What's more, in 1998, there were actually 4 teams in Asia that qualified.

In other words, these four seats are what Asia deserves, not FIFA's "award".

In this case, the number of seats for Asia to participate in the next World Cup should be based on 4 and increase upwards.

According to Veerappan, Asia must get at least 5 participating seats.

If Asia wants five, FIFA will naturally not agree.

In their view, Asia is "a lion's mouth wide open".

In the end, the focus of the dispute between the two parties shifted to South America, the direct beneficiary of this distribution.

South America is the direct beneficiary of this distribution plan.

They increased from 4 seats last year to 4.5 seats next term.

In addition to the 4 teams automatically qualifying, they will also compete with Oceania for 1 qualifying spot.

Because Oceania has always competed with Asian teams for the 0.5 quota.

Now the opponent has become a South American team, which undoubtedly makes the Oceania team's hope of qualifying even slimmer.

To a certain extent, Oceania and Asia suffer from the same problem, and both play the role of "victims" this time.

After the FIFA meeting, the AFC returned home and their own people closed the door and continued to hold meetings.

Since the quotas are only preliminary, there are still opportunities for changes.

The meetings held by the AFC these days have always centered on two things.

1. Whether it is possible to show determination through continuous appeals, negotiations, boycotts or other peaceful means to force FIFA to modify the allocation plan;

Second, discuss merging the Oceania Football Association into the AFC so that Asian and Oceanian teams can participate in the World Cup qualifiers.

As long as these two points are solved, Asia can benefit from this allocation plan.

Faced with the two plans of the AFC, Zhang Jilong expressed strong opposition to the second one.

"...I think that even if all the teams in Oceania are merged into the AFC, it will not change the size of the overall cake, and it will not solve the fundamental problem of insufficient quotas in Asia as a whole."

"And Australia and New Zealand are not weak teams. After they join the AFC, they have a high chance of posing a threat to other member countries that have a chance to qualify."

"So merging the teams from Oceania into the AFC is actually drinking poison to quench thirst."

Zhang Jilong's sonorous and powerful speech made everyone in the audience nod frequently.

Australia is not a weak team.

If it really joins the AFC, it will definitely lead the wolf into the house!

At this point, the interests of East Asian and West Asian countries are consistent.

"So we unanimously decided to renegotiate with the FIFA Executive Committee in March next year to discuss increasing the number of Asian teams."

"During this period, we, the AFC countries, will unite to boycott the World Cup and put pressure on FIFA."

"The leaders of this boycott are jointly led by myself and Mr. Fahd, Chairman of the Olympic Council of Asia and Chairman of the Kuwait Football Federation, and others."

"I hope everyone here will understand the AFC's collective decision, lead by example, and support our boycott!"

"If the meeting passes next year, this will be a victory for our Asian football!"

After Zhang Jilong finished speaking, there was a burst of applause from the audience.

"Lao Zhang, just tell them what to do next." Wang Junsheng said at the right time.

"good."

Zhang Jilong nodded, then stretched out four fingers.

"In all subsequent matches of the men's and women's football teams, all players will make this gesture before the game."

As he spoke, Zhang Jilong placed "4" in front of him and shook it.

"Do this gesture continuously for one minute before starting the game."

Everyone nodded when they saw this.

This gesture is easy to understand and does not involve other issues, so it is easy to achieve.

"Okay, there's nothing else to do. Let's adjourn the meeting." Wang Junsheng announced the end of the meeting. "When we go back, we will have a good talk with the players. Don't underestimate the quota of 0.5 or 1. Maybe we will be short of this in the next term.

If it’s 0.5, it won’t be able to pass the line.”

"This is a big deal, and it is the first major thing Zhang Zhuxi has done since taking office at the AFC. We must give our full support, do you understand?"

Everyone nodded repeatedly and then dispersed.

As soon as they came out of the house, everyone gathered together in twos and threes and started talking in low voices.

"You see, this is the game between great powers!"

"It's not like Zhang Zhuxi was in vain!"

"Fortunately, Zhang Zhuxi went up. There is no one in the AFC, so we don't have the confidence to speak!"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, it seems there is hope for the Asian Cup to be held in Beijing in 2004."

This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!...

"Xiao Zeng, wait a moment."

Zeng Zheng was about to leave with everyone when he suddenly heard someone calling him from behind.

"Zhang Bamboo Mat." Zeng Zheng greeted politely.

Only Zhang Jilong, Wang Junsheng and Zeng Zheng were left in the room, and Zhang Jilong was no longer as majestic as before.

"Okay, there are no outsiders now, just call me Uncle Zhang."

"Uncle Zhang." Zeng Zheng quickly changed his words.

"Xiao Zeng, speaking of which, I also want to thank you." Zhang Jilong smiled and patted Zeng Zheng on the shoulder.

After taking two shots, he seemed to think of something again and immediately changed his mind and said, "Don't say it's me, even the entire AFC has to thank you."

"Hey! Uncle Zhang, I can't stand what you said, I can't stand it!"

Zeng Zheng stepped back repeatedly.

I can't stand it when I put this high hat on.

"What? Do you think I am trying to promote you?" Zhang Jilong said with a smile.

"Do you know? When he heard in Zurich that there were only two places in the AFC, Veerappan slammed the table and quit on the spot."

"The first thing he said when he got up, he stopped Bratt."

"Do you know what he said?"

"What are you talking about?" Wang Junsheng also looked curious.

"Verappan said: 'Why should we be given quotas for both of us? We in Asia are not just making up the numbers! Don't forget that the Chinese team has reached the top 16!'"

"Hahahaha~~~"

After Zhang Jilong finished speaking, he clapped his hands and laughed.

Once upon a time, the Chinese team actually became the capital of the game between the AFC and FIFA.

"Xiao Zeng, let me tell you, if the AFC succeeds this time, those West Asian countries will have to thank us!" Zhang Jilong proudly puffed out his chest.

"This is still open to the outside world."

"As for internally...if you hadn't done so well in this World Cup, do you think those guys in West Asia would have agreed to me being the leader of this boycott? Even if they agreed openly, they would still have to stumble on us behind the scenes.

son!"

"But it's different now."

"We are in the top 16, and we have better results than Japan, South Korea, and Yin Lang's team!"

"In March next year, maybe I will have to step in on behalf of the AFC and fight for another quota from FIFA!"

"Tell me, do we, the AFC people, have to thank you?"

Zeng Zheng opened his mouth in surprise.

He had never thought of this.

"In competitive sports, results are our confidence!" Zhang Jilong clenched his fists.

"For a long time, countries in West Asia have united to fight against us in East Asia; and Xiaori and South Korea also have different ideas from us in East Asia."

"Only when we are strong can we gain more say in such a national game and seek our own interests."

"Xiao Zeng, I'm here to say something that comes from the bottom of my heart."

"In the future, whether we can have a say in the AFC and FIFA, and whether others can pay attention to us, depends on the efforts of you young people."

...

On December 12, at the Supachalasai National Stadium in Bangkok, the national football team faced the last opponent in the second stage of the group stage and the first strong enemy they encountered in this Asian Games - Team Yinlang!

The strength of the participating countries in this Asian Games is uneven.

There are strong teams that have participated in the World Cup such as Yin Lang, Japan and South Korea, and there is also the Mongolian team that was scored 26 goals in the first round.

At this stage of the game, attendance has gradually improved.

Before the game started, China and Yin made boycott gestures in accordance with their previous agreement.

Convey the determination of Asian football to the entire world.

Yin Lang was swept by Oman 2-4, and South Korea was defeated by Turkmenistan 2-3, which was the biggest upset of this Asian Games.

Unlike China and South Korea training for the Olympics, the Yinlang team's lineup is based on France's World Cup lineup, with all the elites coming out.

This battle is a last-ditch battle that must be won. So from the beginning, everyone presses forward, trying to control the game.

But newborn calves are not afraid of tigers.

In the 10th minute, Zhang Xiaorui, who had played against the Yinlang team in the top ten, took a long shot before entering, causing the Yinlang team's goalkeeper to miss.

Li Jinyu, who had been looking for opportunities in the penalty area, stepped in alertly and scored the first goal for the national football team.

Yin Lang, who was already in dire straits, fought back desperately.

In the 27th minute, Ali Daiyin suddenly shot a cold arrow at the front of the penalty area but was saved by Li Jian. Bagheri, who was suspected of being offside, calmly pushed the ball into the face of Li Jian who climbed up to level the score.

In the 29th minute, Li Weifeng made a tackle in front of the penalty area and fouled.

Yin Lang captain No. 5 Nadel took a free kick, and Ali Dai Yin scored with a header, completely reversing the situation within two minutes.

In the second half, the Chinese team, which was one goal behind, began to play steadily under the command of Zeng Zheng, building a defensive line from the midfield.

Even so, these young, energetic and irritable players could only use fouls and yellow cards to stop their opponents' attacks when faced with the Yinlang adult team.

In the 76th minute, Zheng Zhi made a tackle in the penalty area and was sent off with a red card.

Madavecchia, who made the point, made the hit himself, rewriting the score to 3-1.

Seeing that Yin Lang's team members were already celebrating their victory in advance, Zeng Zheng elbowed Ou Chuliang, who was standing aside in a daze.

"Brother Ou, why do you look so ugly?"

Ou Chuliang trembled all over, then shook his head: "It's okay, it's okay."

Seemingly sensing Ou Chuliang's thoughts, Zeng Zheng smiled slightly, leaned close to Ou Chuliang's ear and said, "Let's do this."

"Today, let Yin Lang's team go first."

"If we can still encounter it in the knockout rounds..."

"How about I go up there and try your hand at it instead of you?"

Ou Chuliang perked up after hearing this, and shook his head the next second.

"Forget it, let's give young people more opportunities..."

Although Ou Chuliang said this, his instantly shaking legs and hands with nowhere to rest revealed his true thoughts.