World Cup of Great Powers

Chapter 17 What is the World Cup?

Lao Zhang was sitting at the back door of Dongfang Building, where the swill carts came in and out.

He smoked cigarettes one after another, just like this, quietly welcoming the dawn.

"It's dawn! The team members are waking up soon."

Lao Zhang didn't sleep all night.

Staying up late with him were thirty-one kitchen staff.

These people prepared the ingredients the night before and started cooking at two o'clock in the morning.

Dishes have been brought into the restaurant one after another.

The staff carefully keeps each dish warm and strives to ensure that it is still steaming hot when the lid is opened.

After doing all this, Lao Zhang straightened his tie, held a white towel, and stood straight at the door of the restaurant.

He stared straight at the elevator entrance, waiting for the first person to appear.

With a bun in his mouth and a bottle of mineral water in his hand, Xiao Liu walked quickly to the taxi, opened the door and got in.

"I'm sorry, I had to go out to work in the morning and didn't have breakfast."

"It's okay, it's okay." The passenger in the back row waved his hand.

As soon as the car started, the announcer's voice came from the radio.

"Today is the day when the national football team competes in the World Cup for the sixth time. As long as we win this game, we will be able to watch our country's World Cup at home in 1998."

"The good news from Saudi Arabia about the expedition team led by the new coach Zeng of the national team has once again ignited the hope of our country's fans to qualify."

"Today is the last game of the Big Ten, and the result will determine whether we can qualify."

". Our station will open a 'World Cup Hotline', and we invite our listeners to join us in cheering for the national team."

Xiao Liu swallowed the bun in his mouth and glanced at the rearview mirror from time to time.

"Hey, the World Cup? Only fools watch it!" The passenger in the back row curled his lips.

"That's right, that's right, only fools would read it!" Xiao Liu said bitterly.

Although he said this, Xiao Liu inadvertently glanced at the red rag doll in front of the windshield.

That was the mascot exclusively sold by the Golden State Football Stadium for the match against Qatar a few days ago.

50 yuan each.

At 8:30 in the morning, the first wave of passengers hurried out of the airport hall was welcomed outside Zhoushuizi Airport.

These travelers from all over the world spoke with obscure local accents and issued a common instruction to the taxi drivers waiting outside the airport.

“Go to Golden State Stadium!”

On the street, in the alley, in the park, at the vegetable market, at the entrance of the alley.

Wherever there are people, the same topic is being discussed - football!

"Can we win this time?"

"Can we qualify this time?"

The voice of the fans is public opinion.

Wherever the people want, they will win.

In the conference room of the Oriental Building, under the leadership of Wang Junsheng, Zeng Zheng and all the national players solemnly swore in front of the red flag.

"Don't be a coward or a deserter. For the sake of honor, we will definitely eat Kuwait."

The same process runs almost throughout the Big Ten Tournament.

Except for the away game against Saudi Arabia.

Because at that time, everyone felt that the Chinese team had no chance of qualifying.

Since there is no hope of qualifying, this process is purely self-deception.

But now, the process makes sense again.

"Coach Zeng, please say a few words."

After a series of speeches from leaders, it was finally the turn of Zeng Zheng, the head coach of the national team.

This leader may look great, but he is actually the smallest "official" in the team.

In this position, sometimes the head coach even feels that he is not as good as his 10 assistant coaches!

When Zeng Zheng walked onto the stage, the audience immediately burst into applause.

In just a few days, Zeng Zheng used his strong personal charm and professional strength to convince these international players.

Most people present believe that Zeng Zheng will become the most important figure in writing the history of Chinese football!

"Team members, the leaders have said everything that needs to be said."

"Here, I just want to ask a question."

"World Cup, what is it?"

Hearing this question, everyone was stunned for a moment.

Wang Junsheng whispered to his colleagues beside him: "Coach Xiao Zeng asked this question very well!"

What is the World Cup?

Isn’t it just a football match organized by FIFA?

What else could it be?

Seeing that no one raised their hands to speak, Zeng Zheng continued to ask: "In other words, what do you think the World Cup means to you?"

What does it mean to you? This question is easy to answer.

"General Fan, you are the captain, you speak first."

"Honor!" General Fan's reply was sonorous and forceful.

"Okay, where are the others?" Zeng Zheng continued to ask.

"An opportunity to prove your strength!" Ma Mingyu raised his hand and spoke loudly.

"Okay, are there any more?" Zeng Zheng continued to encourage.

With the active speeches of the two veterans, others became enthusiastic.

Some people say that they have achieved their wishes, others say that playing football is not a waste of time, and still others say that the World Cup is a war in peacetime.

When everyone finished answering, even Wang Junsheng and other leaders looked forward to seeing what kind of answer Zeng Zheng could give.

Zeng Zheng suddenly changed the subject: "Jianlibao guys, do you still remember when I took you to watch football in the United States in 1994?"

Seeing Zeng Zheng mention the past, Li Tie and others immediately fell into memories.

In the 1994 World Cup, Zeng Zheng spent half the team’s savings saved by frugality and took 22 Jianlibao students to the United States to watch a quarter-final round.

"I remember when Brazil eliminated the Netherlands 3-2!" Li Jinyu shouted loudly.

"I also remember that it was Romario who scored first, then Bebeto. Then Bergkamp of the Netherlands pulled a goal back." Li Tie also said quickly.

"Winter helped the Netherlands equalize the score in the 75th minute!" Sui Dongliang was not to be outdone.

"In the end, it was Blanco's long-range free kick that directly sealed the victory!" When talking about this goal, Zhang Xiaorui's eyes lit up.

The four Jianlibao students remember that game very dearly. Watching the game live has long been engraved in the depths of their souls and has become a memory that will last a lifetime.

In the corner, Sun Jihai's eyes shone brightly, as he watched the four Jianlibao players scrambling to recall the game, with envy written all over his face.

After the four little swans subsided, Zeng Zhengcai said: "I don't know how many of you here have watched the World Cup as fans, but as a mere bystander, I was completely overwhelmed by the passion brought by football. The feeling is still unbearable.

forget!"

"Think about it, as a fan you can feel this way, but what about as a participant?"

"What will it be like?"

"I once asked a Mexican assistant coach, and he mumbled a lot of local slang, and I couldn't even understand what he said and gestured."

"But I can see from his expression that it is definitely a feeling that is difficult to describe in words."

"So this time, I want to go to the World Cup to see it in person."

"Let's take a look at what celebrities mean when they say, 'The World Cup is of extraordinary significance to everyone involved.'"

"Especially for you athletes, think about it. As long as you have participated in the World Cup, you will be the best part of the 32 teams in the world!"

"What does that feel like?"

“Will life be very different in the future?”

"So, what the World Cup means to us, I can't tell you right now."

"But I can make it clear that it will be a supreme enjoyment, a process that can sublimate your soul!"

"As for what exactly you will get at the World Cup."

"I think it's more appropriate for you to go to the World Cup to find it yourself."

Having said this, Zeng Zheng stretched out his hand and slapped it hard on the table.

Snapped!

The movement was so earth-shattering that even the leaders in the front row were shaken.

"If you win, go to France; if you lose, get the fuck out and go home!"

"Don't talk to me about the play-offs. I'm just going for the through ticket to be first in the group this time!"

"If you can't even win against Kuwait at home, you guys might as well go home and sell sweet potatoes!"

"Tell me now, do you have the confidence to go to the World Cup and prove yourself?"

"Yes!" the international players shouted in unison.

"What are you talking about? I can't hear you!"

"Yes!!!" the roars of the international players broke through the sky.

When the excited national players followed Zeng Zheng and shouted for victory, Wang Junsheng suddenly frowned and tilted his head towards the secretary beside him.

"Play-offs? What does the play-offs mean? Don't we qualify if we win?"

The secretary on the side also quickly opened the note and checked it for a while before saying:

"Team leader, it's like this. We only have 3.5 places in the Asian region. The first place in the two groups of the top ten will qualify directly, and the second place in the two groups will go to the play-offs to fight for the last qualifying place!"

"Oh, that's it! I didn't expect it to be so complicated!"

Then Wang Junsheng thought of something again and continued to ask: "Then do we have a chance to be first in the group?"

(End of chapter)