World Cup of Great Powers

New year, new goals.

As soon as Zeng Zheng returned to China, fans focused their attention on the new national football roster.

He has experienced two Asian Youth Championships, an Olympic bronze medal, a World Cup, and an Asian Cup championship.

So many players have played alongside Zeng Zheng.

In this year's World Cup preliminaries, will there be a new "lucky person" selected for Zeng Zheng's national team?

During the work report held in Zhuxie, Zeng Zheng was dressed in formal attire and wearing a pair of brown glasses.

He has the air of an old scholar.

But while Zeng Zheng was speaking, both the media below and the leaders above all sat in silence.

The scene also became quiet.

"...Dear leaders and comrades, with the joint efforts of all colleagues and under the correct command of the leadership, we have had a good year..."

"...As the head coach of the national team, I will do my best in the new year and do everything I can to lead the Chinese national men's football team to the finals of the 2002 Japan and South Korea World Cup..."

After a long, necessary but contentless opening statement, Zeng Zheng first gave a brief summary of the results of football teams of all ages in 2000.

Then he made it clear that in the new year, he will focus on the national football team.

This also means that due to the conflict between the World Youth Championship and the Confederations Cup, Zeng Zheng will not lead the team to Argentina for the World Youth Championship in the middle of the year.

Bamboo Shoes immediately announced that the head coach of the China Youth Team would be temporarily taken over by Chen Jingang.

This decision has also been recognized and understood by the majority of fans.

After all, the senior team's games are the most important.

...

The day after the meeting, Bamboo Shoes announced a new batch of national team training rosters.

This is the list of the first issue in 2001. Everyone is discussing who can last until the last issue.

Head coach: Zeng Zheng.

Coaches: Shen Xiangfu, Chi Shangbin, Jin Zhiyang, Xu Tao;

Advisor: Ladd

Goalkeepers: Ou Chuliang (Jianglong Team), Fu Bing (Chongqing Lifan), Gao Jianbin (Sichuan Quanxing);

Defenders: Zhang Minghua (English League Grimsby), Wu Chengying (Shenhua), Li Weifeng (Jianglong), Sun Jihai (Manchester City), General Fan (Crystal Palace), Zheng Zhi (PSV Eindhoven)

), Xu Yunlong (Beijing Guoan);

Midfielder: Li Tie (Sevilla), Li Jinyu (Turin), Zhang Xiaorui (Benfica), Ma Mingyu (Perugia), Qi Hong, Shensi (Modu Shenhua), Shao Jiayi (Monchengladbach)

), Zhang Ran (Brazil International);

Forwards: Yang Chen (Frankfurt), Xie Hui (Aachen), Zhang Yuheng (Liaozu), Li Yi (Morocco), Qu Bo (Benfica).

Judging from the roster for this training camp, Zeng Zheng has included almost all overseas players.

Zeng Zheng’s explanation is also very reasonable.

It’s finally the winter break and everyone is free. Of course, we must try our best to bring these overseas players together to communicate more.

In addition, of course Zeng Zheng also had other small thoughts.

Like Li Yi and Qu Bo, after playing in the Super Cup, they just arrived there for a physical examination and joined the job.

Zhang Ran, Ma Mingyu, and Zhang Minghua were all temporarily loaned out to compete abroad for the World Cup.

Also like Zheng Zhi and Shao Jiayi, although they have been with the new club for a while, they have always been unable to become the main force.

In this situation, Zeng Zheng naturally wanted to help these disciples.

This visit to Italy is an opportunity.

On January 6, a group of more than 30 people took a plane to Rome, Italy.

Nowadays, Han Tao and Li Huajun's coaching certificates are enough to coach first-class teams.

But both of them unanimously decided not to miss the World Cup preliminaries and World Cup.

Even if I fly solo, it will be after the World Cup.

Although it is not officially "prepared".

But as soon as the camera pans to the sidelines, you can see the two people behind Zeng Zheng.

Regardless of whether it is true or not, the club owner is not a fool and will still buy it.

"Coach Zeng, what do you think about this competition?"

On the plane, several coaches discussed the trip to Italy with Zeng Zheng.

"You can't win, and you can't even draw!"

Zeng Zheng gave a direct answer.

However, after hearing this strange answer, all the coaches present nodded in agreement.

"That's right. After all, it's their centenary celebration. It wouldn't be appropriate for us to win in the past."

"Yeah, if we really win, people might think we are just going to cause trouble!"

"But Coach Zeng, why can't Ping also work?"

Facing the questions from several colleagues, Zeng Zheng smiled.

"Sending Buddha to West, what's the point of a draw? How many fans like to watch a draw?"

"If someone else invites me but doesn't invite others, doesn't that explain this?"

"I just feel that we are influential internationally, but our strength is not that strong."

"Competing with us, no matter what the result is, it is reasonable."

"Now that we have talked about it, it would be too disrespectful for us to fight with others."

Zeng Zheng's explanation was recognized by everyone present.

It also set the tone for the first battle of the Italian tour.

"What about Coach Zeng, what about the next two games?"

"The next two games?"

Zeng Zheng's eyes turned cold, "In the next two games, we will have to fight with each other with real swords and guns."

During this trip to Italy, the national football team has three friendly matches to play.

One is Lazio’s centenary celebration on the 9th.

Because Serie A is the first to be broadcast in China, fans know Serie A best.

In addition, many Italian teams have visited China every summer in recent years, so our relationship with Serie A teams is closer than that of other countries.

The tradition of Serie A is that when a club reaches a century, it will win the Serie A championship.

Milan is like this, Lazio is like this.

think about it.

They just won the Serie A championship last season.

Then I invite you to play a friendly match at the centenary celebration.

If you go up and win someone else's prize, what else is that if you're not looking for a draw?

You know, the national football team’s trip to Serie A was all paid for by the clubs where the three friendly matches were played.

This is a first for the Chinese team.

This chapter is not over, please click on the next page to continue reading! But as just said.

You can lose against Lazio.

But in the other two friendly matches, we have to regain some face.

Otherwise, people would think that you, the new Asian champion, are all water!

The other two opponents are Torino in Serie A and Sampdoria who were relegated to Serie B.

The former is Li Jinyu's new club, and the latter is an old friend of Chinese fans.

In fact, the national football team has received invitations from many Italian teams, including the Milan duo.

Anyway, one sheep is being driven, and two sheep are being herded.

Since the national football team has to come to Italy once, let’s play a few more games.

But due to time constraints, Zeng Zheng carefully selected these two companies.

the reason is simple.

Can pass!

As Li Jinyu’s new club, Turin team Li Jinyu still values ​​​​it very much.

What Zeng Zheng did on the contrary was also realistic, that is, to use a friendly match to consolidate the status of his disciples.

As for the already lonely Sampdoria, they have the feelings of the fans of that era.

Due to business reasons, Samp is no longer as brave as he once was.

This Genoa Mariners team has been gradually disappearing from the fans' horizons recently.

Zeng Zheng's trip to Italy was also based on his gratitude for his continuous assistance in visiting China.

After finalizing the details, several people squinted their eyes and fell asleep.

Due to weather conditions, the national football team was unable to catch the original flight while transferring at Frankfurt Airport.

After being stranded at Frankfurt Airport for more than four hours, I took the last flight of the day and arrived in Rome.

After getting off the plane, the group looked very tired.

However, when the coaching team gathered at the airport with overseas foreign players who had arrived from other European regions, they still seemed very happy.

Facing the interview, Zeng Zheng said some special words:

"I'm bringing the team out this time, mainly because I hope they can gain some experience."

"Lazio is a strong team. Being invited by Lazio to participate in the closing ceremony of their centenary celebration shows that our strength has been recognized. Of course, this game is also difficult. Even Lazio's substitutes are of a very high standard."

"After all, he was the Serie A champion last season!"

"After this trip to Italy, the national team will not be disbanded immediately."

"We have to divert to Yinlang to play the game."

"By then, a new wave of national team players will join the lineup."

"After playing the game in Yin Lang, I have to transfer to the United States."

"Although it is troublesome, it is necessary."

"We hope to increase the players' competition experience by going out, and also improve their adaptability."

"Playing more games with some strong foreign opponents will help players better understand the advanced foreign football standards."

Lazio also attaches great importance to this game.

On the morning after the Chinese team arrived, Lazio Club Vice Chairman and former Italian national team coach Zuofu pointed out in an interview with reporters.

"Chinese football has improved rapidly in the past few years. As an emerging football market, Lazio has always been paying attention to the East Asian football market including China."

"Now there are players from China, Japan and South Korea playing in Italy, which shows that the three countries have great potential for football development."

"I believe that in the next 5 or 6 years, more Asian players will come to Italy to play."

Zuofu specifically emphasized that it was precisely because the Chinese team is now a representative team in Asian football that it was decided two months ago that Lazio would invite the Chinese team to play in Rome.

In response to rumors that Lazio will only play "half a game" with the Chinese team on the 9th, Zuofu said:

"Absolutely not!"

"This will be a complete game, and it will be a real game with real guns and real money."

"A few years ago I led the Sampdoria team to play games in several cities in China. The Chinese football team is very powerful."

"So we will go all out for this match with the Chinese national team, and I will also send the best players on the field."

.....

Although the match between the national football team and Lazio was a hot topic in China.

But in fact, things are quite calm in Italy.

The major Italian media did not attach much importance to this obvious commercial competition.

"Gazzetta dello Sport", "Gazzetta dello Sport", "La Repubblica", "Sports Post" and other well-known sports media did not report on this.

"Holy shit, what's going on? How did you cram it into such a small place for us?"

Li Jinyu turned over and over again, and finally found a few words about this report in the corner of "Corriere dello Sport".

This disappointed Li Jinyu, who wanted to show off his Italian.

"Dayu, what is written here?"

In order to support Li Jinyu, Li Tie pointed to the largest section of the newspaper and asked.

"Here it is said that Italy will play a friendly match with Uruguay in February. We will see if there will be any injured players or anything like that."

After Li Jinyu took a look, he was even more disappointed.

For the Italians, they obviously value friendly matches between national teams more.

"Fuck, you look down on me so much. I'm so anxious. You'll look good on me when I get to the court!"

After playing in Turin for two years, Li Jinyu also played against Lazio several times and even scored a goal.

So he still has some confidence in saying this.

However, as soon as he said the words, he was slapped on the back of the head by General Fan.

"Fuck, stop talking nonsense, have you forgotten what Coach Zeng told you?"

"Captain, but, but they look down on people too much."

"I look down on you because you are not strong enough!"

General Fan looked majestic, "If you are capable, you can lead the Turin team to win a Serie A championship!"

"Tch! If it hadn't been for them, would he have won the Serie A championship?" Li Jinyu was still a little unconvinced.

But in the face of General Fan's slap again, he finally chose to keep his mouth shut.

In the middle of the night, the snoring was loud in the hotel room.

Li Jinyu quietly pinched Li Tie's nose.

"Huchi, Huchi... Who is it?!"

"Shh~~Tiezi, it's me! Keep your voice down!"

This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "Fuck! You're up so late at night, why are you here with me?"

"Tiezi, I have something to discuss with you."

"What's the matter? Can't we talk during the day?"

"It's about the match against Lazio."

"Competition? What's going on? Didn't you agree that you will lose at least two?"

"Losing two means losing two, but you didn't say how many you won!" Li Jinyu said, "Tiezi, you said we came all the way here, don't let the Italians take it lightly!"

"Why are you so far away? Recently, you have been in Turin, okay?" Li Tie also woke up now and complained.

"I've always been here, but where is Boss Zeng?"

Li Jinyu moved Zeng Zheng out.

"Top Zeng is from China, right?"

"And Zengtou has just won the Asian Youth Championship and Asian Cup."

"If he loses badly, what will these Italians think of him?"

When he mentioned Zeng Zheng, Li Tie became silent.

He can lose.

You can also be looked down upon by others.

But he will never allow others to look down on him, Mr. Zeng.

Before Li Tie could answer, Zhang Xiaorui on the other side spoke.

"Fuck! If you dare to say that Boss Zeng is not good, I will be the first to quit!"

"Look, look, Zhang Heizi said he disagrees. Tiezi, please express your opinion. Do you want these Italians to think that our leader Zeng has no real talent?"

"Of course not!" Li Tie replied immediately.

"That's right!" Li Jinyu chuckled, "So, I have a plan..."

"What's the plan?" they both asked in unison.

"My plan is..."

January 9th, Lazio centenary celebrations.

Rome Olympic Stadium, China vs Lazio.

In fact, this year is already the 101st year since Lazio was founded.

But celebrations require preparation after all. They must be in the back row, and it is impossible to celebrate in advance.

Before warming up, Zeng Zheng gave the instructions again.

"Do you remember my request?"

"Remember!"

Everyone said in unison.

"Qu Bo, say it again."

Qu Bo, the youngest, immediately stood up and recited as if reciting a text:

"You must not score first after the opening. No tie-breaking is allowed during the game, and no collapse is allowed. At the end of the game, you must lose at least two points."

"Do you remember everything?" As soon as Qu Bo finished speaking, Zeng Zheng asked.

"Remember!

"The team members winked and shouted collectively.

Listening to the team members' collective long ending, Zeng Zheng's right eyelid suddenly twitched for no reason.

These bastards won't do anything to cause trouble for me, right?

Next chapter

Bookmark