World Cup of Great Powers

Zeng Zheng took a sip of water and cleared his throat.

"To tell you the truth, players, this Toulon Cup final is very likely to be the last chance for the 20 or so of you to get together and play football together."

Everyone at the scene heard this, and those players who were not even included in the squad, but still came to Toulon at Zeng Zheng's own expense, could no longer hold back, and tears flowed down like a broken dam.

"After returning to China, you will be faced with returning to your place of origin and joining local provincial teams... Oh no, now they are called local clubs."

"But it's not that there is no good news. Some players may have known about it in advance."

"Coach Zeng's hard work over the years has not been in vain, and he finally got half of the places."

"These half of the people will compete with me in A and B in the coming year. If we are lucky, we can succeed in A."

"If we are unlucky and the club disbands, I will go somewhere else to make a living, and you will put it up for sale on the transfer market."

Bamboo Shoes stipulates that Jianlibao players are not allowed to play in the second division.

If he failed to lead Jianlibao to A in one year, Zeng Zheng probably would not have the thought, energy and courage to continue leading the team.

Therefore, for Zeng Zheng himself, the only hope is to hit A.

"Maybe some people are lucky enough to find a good boss and even go abroad."

"But so what?"

"Our country is different from other European and American countries."

"Those who play football can be said to be happy, enjoy life, and are interested in everything. You have seen this on the streets of Brazil. They can play a cabbage gang with gusto."

"But we are different."

"Our nationalities are different, and the blood flowing in our bodies is also different from theirs."

"We have professionalized too late. Football knowledge and football education cannot keep up with the world's advanced level."

"If we want to compete with others in the field of football, we must first abandon our ideas of hobbies, personal likes and dislikes, and whether we are good at it or not."

"So when other children play football, they are enjoying life. When you played football, which one of you didn't want to join the national team and put on that clothes and win glory for the country?"

Having said this, Zeng Zheng put away his legs and stood up.

"But as long as I put on these clothes, there will be more environments and occasions like what Coach Zhu described before."

"Can't you handle this little thing?"

"Are you nervous and weak every time the leaders come?"

"How about playing football? Go home and farm!"

"Zhang Xiaorui, I know you are not convinced. Based on your three-legged skills, you feel that the seniors in the national team are not as good as you."

"But let me tell you, in terms of mental quality, those seniors are much better than you!"

"If you really get to the international A-level competition, you may not even be a substitute!"

"If you continue to have this temper, you will never be able to join the national team in this life!"

After taking a deep breath, Zeng Zheng's voice gradually softened.

"If the general environment doesn't work, then you must change yourself first; when you become stronger, you can then find a group of like-minded comrades to change the general environment!"

"Don't be dissatisfied. Who asked you to be born in this stall?"

"This is the current of this era."

"Think about it, did the martyrs who fought bravely and died on the battlefield during the Anti-Japanese War ever complain about their fate?"

"Didn't our peaceful era come in exchange for their lives?"

"Now that there is peace, competitive sports are war."

"What your generation has to do is to continuously narrow the gap with the world's top teams in terms of performance in the field of football, and to always maintain the lead in Asia and set a correct example for future generations."

"I, Zeng Zheng, have never asked you to win a certain championship, but championship is definitely the best way to improve your ranking and show your strength."

As he spoke, Zeng Zheng opened the laptop he carried with him and clicked on a photo.

"Look, this is the newly opened Huayuankou Youth Training Camp by Zeng Tou'er."

"These are all students in their 10s, about the same age as you when you first entered Jianlibao."

"This is a photo of all the team members and coaches of the first winter camp."

"This is a photo of all the players and coaches of the upcoming summer camp."

"Look at this kid."

"He's the youngest kid in the academy."

"His name is Wu Lei. He is only 7 years old and has not yet entered elementary school."

"After all, this youth training school has just opened, and it has not yet recruited students of this age group."

"Before we set off, his father brought him and Santiao Zhonghua from Jiangsu to find me. He tried hard to persuade me to take him in."

"Don't look like he has a snotty nose. This kid's ambition is no less than yours."

"The first thing he told me when he met me was that he wanted to join the national team led by me and help the Chinese team win the World Cup championship."

"Don't laugh either, think about what you said when you joined the team in 1993?"

"Zhang Xiaorui, I remember that your dormitory is full of Maradona's photos, right? Don't you also want to be Maradona?"

"And you, Li Tie, don't you also want to be Rijkaard? Sui Dongliang, don't you want to be Matthäus?"

"If your generation doesn't become Jacko, Blanco, Bebeto, Romario, and Ray, who will become Cafu, Carlos, or Ronaldo?"

Looking at the Jianlibao team members in front of him who were lost in thought and memories, Zeng Zheng looked at the time.

"The second half is about to begin."

"I will still watch you play the game just like the first half."

"Except for substitution adjustments and some simple on-site command, I will no longer be a nanny to help you play football like before."

"When to shoot and when to pass, you decide for yourself."

"The oldest among you is 21 years old, and the youngest is 19."

"You have grown up, it's time to learn to be on your own."

"Don't forget that it is also broadcast live in China."

"These last 40 minutes are a dragon or a worm, it's up to you to decide."

After speaking, Zeng Zheng waved his hand.

This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! As soon as the confused players stood up and relaxed, the bell rang to start the second half of the game.

The 11 people looked at each other and walked onto the court without saying a word.

"Li Jian, come here, let's shout together!"

After coming on stage, Li Tie shouted loudly.

Li Jian ran over and put his gloved hand at the bottom.

Next came Li Weifeng, then Wang Wenhua...

The team members' hands stacked up layer by layer until Li Tie's hand capped it.

"1,2,3..."

"The Chinese team must win!!!"

The Jianlibao team members roared loudly.

Zeng Zheng took a glance, and everyone's status changed to "unwavering."

At this moment, Zhu Guanghu also came back, came to Zeng Zheng's side, looked at the Jianlibao players who were yelling on the field, and said softly:

"Xiao Zeng, how are you? Have these guys made up their minds?"

"It's okay. Winning or losing is not determined by determination."

"As long as you are determined, at least don't play like you did in the last ten minutes of the first half. It's so outrageous!"

"Coach Zhu, can you be less serious next time you act? It makes my skin crawl."

"What acting? How can there be acting? I'm telling the truth! Why don't we give these brats a good head start so that when they return to the country, those players who have been scattered around the country will not be eaten by others?" Zhu Guanghu crossed his arms,

He curled his mouth as if it were eighty thousand.

Zhu Guanghu plays a bad role, Zeng Zheng plays a white face.

This method has been tried and tested for five years and has proven to be successful.

Looking at the Jianlibao players with renewed fighting spirit, the four coaches stood in a row on the sidelines, filled with joy and appreciation.

To paraphrase a saying once said by a great man.

Football is ours and yours, but in the final analysis, it belongs to these young people.