World Cup of Great Powers

Chapter 288

The victory in Phnom Penh greatly boosted morale.

After the game, the local Chinese fans excitedly told reporters: "Our national team is so strong, it really makes us very happy!"

Not only the score is happy, but also the privileges received when watching the game.

The Phnom Penh Stadium can only accommodate about 6000 people, but more than 10000 people squeezed in.

Before the game started, after the Cambodian Bamboo Shoes negotiated with the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, the people from the Chamber of Commerce yelled in the tweeter:
"Please pay attention to the Chinese fans on the opposite side of the rostrum. Please move to sit on both sides of the rostrum under the guidance of the police."

About a thousand Chinese fans lined up on the runway and walked towards the rostrum.

The cheers from the stadium were deafening as they joined hundreds of Chinese fans on the podium.

Local fans do not have this preferential treatment.

They stood quietly on the sloping stands, basking in the sun, watching their team being scored one goal after another by the Chinese team.

The atmosphere of the game was completely dominated by Chinese fans, and the Phnom Penh Stadium completely became the home field of the Chinese team.

What local fans care about is only the result of betting on the game.

After the victory over the Cambodian team, Zeng Zheng led the team to visit Angkor Wat according to the "agreement".

Because of the war, the heads of the big and small Angkor Wat statues were removed.

Only the characters on the murals are left, staring at the passing tourists with complex expressions.

Tickets for Angkor Wat are 20 US dollars.

Visitors can smoke, litter and touch murals here.

Seeing how Angkor Wat, known as the "Seven Wonders of the World", turned out so well, Zeng Zheng sighed after taking the photos.

The next day, Zeng Zheng led the team to fly away from Phnom Penh.

Transfer from Guangzhou to Kunming.

It is said that the Indonesian team has been waiting here for a long time.

Kunming is more than 2000 meters above sea level.

In order to resist altitude sickness, the Indonesian team not only came here in advance to adapt, but also specially carried more than 100 oxygen cylinders.

It is enough to see that Indonesia attaches great importance to this game.

The day after arriving in Kunming, Zeng Zheng led the team into training.

When the reporters arrived in a hurry, Zeng Zheng was leading the team to conduct set-piece training.

Because the first three games were all big victories, many overseas international players clamored to return to China to compete.

In addition, the European leagues have come to an end.

Overseas players such as Sun Jihai and Li Tie have all returned to the team one after another.

When the reporters arrived, there were already many student fans watching the national football training on the sidelines, most of them were girls.

These students started chirping as soon as they saw the national team. It turned out that they were practicing calling out to their favorite national team players.

"I'll call 'Yang Chen' first, and then you'll call 'Good job'."

"I call 'Li Jinyu', you call 'Da Yu'."

"I call 'Sun Jihai', and you call 'My Sun'."

After practice, they began to shout.

"Yang Chen~~"

"Good job!!!"

"Li Jinyu~~~"

"Da Yu!!!"

"Sun Jihai~~~"

"I I love you!!!"

The girls behind did not carry out the original plan, but shouted their own voices.

On the court, Sun Jihai, who was passing the ball, was also stunned and almost missed the ball.

Zhang Yanhua, who was in charge of picking up the ball, heard it, and quickly shouted back.

"Like Mice Love Rice!"

"Hahahaha~~~"

On and off the field, there was hearty laughter.

In the penalty area at this time, Xie Hui, the "header king", has won many times.

General Fan, who has excellent jumping ability, also scored goals one after another.

Not to mention Xiao Wang Tao, Yang Chen, Li Weifeng, Zhang Yuxie and others.

All of them smashed the gate guarded by Ou Chuliang full of holes, as if their heads were covered with oatmeal.

"Fuck, why are you kicking so high?"

"The Indonesian team doesn't have such tall players."

"Just kick 1.9 meters!"

General Fan complained to Xu Liang, who took the penalty kick, after a missed goal.

As the finished book, Xu Liang hurriedly cupped her hands and apologized.

Seeing this scene, the reporter on the side couldn't help asking cautiously:
"Coach Zeng, do we play the same way with Indonesia?"

Zeng Zheng laughed out loud and waved his hand.

"Of course it is."

"Indonesia doesn't have tall players."

"Of course I'm going to take advantage of the air superiority."

Although Zeng Zheng answered frankly, the reporters around looked at each other in blank dismay.

Is it really good to speak out the essence of your tactics so openly before the game?
Seeming to see the doubts of the reporters, Zeng Zheng waved his hand.

"I can say it, and it doesn't matter if I tell you."

"I can't say, I hope you don't ask too much."

"At that time, everyone will be embarrassed, and no one will think about it, will they?"

The reporters nodded.

"Don't look at it as the world preliminaries."

"But this is a group match, and the opponent's strength is really not as good as I see."

"In this case, there is no machination."

"Let's use Yangmou openly and openly, and push it openly and squarely."

"Wouldn't it be beautiful and happy to win the competition with dignity?"

All the reporters were moved by Zeng Zheng's rhetoric.

One by one, they stretched out their thumbs, "That's right! That's right!"

"We are the champions of the Asian Cup."

"If you are disturbed by these sideline small teams."

"That's too inappropriate!"

Even so, some reporters couldn't help reminding:
"Coach Zeng, even though that's the case, be careful not to capsize in the gutter!"

Zeng Zheng glanced, "You mean the Yemen team, right?"

Back then, Schlapner was in high spirits, and in Irbid, the Chinese team got off to a great start.

5月22日首战5比0狂胜巴基斯坦，5月25日对东道主约旦，又以3比0轻松拿下。

In the first two games, 8 goals were scored and 1 goal was not conceded.

At this time, the Chinese team began to burst with confidence, and both players and coaches showed pride.

Coach Shrapner even looked at his opponent as worthless before the game with the Yemeni team.

He commented on his upcoming opponent: "The Yemeni team is just a little snake, we can cut him off with one click!"

As a result, in the third game against Yemen on May 5, although the national football team took the initiative from the beginning to the end, the impetuous Chinese team failed to score any of the 28 shots in the game and failed to break the deadlock.

The players kicked more and more anxiously, but the Yemeni team, who were resolute in defending and counterattacking, took the lead in scoring with a free kick.

At this time, the Chinese team was powerless and capsized in the gutter.

The same history repeated itself in previous days.

In the eighth group match of the Asian World Preliminaries, the United Arab Emirates, which was sure to win, lost to Yemen 2-1, and the boat capsized in the gutter.

If the last game can't beat Yemen at home, it is very likely that they won't even make it to the top ten.

Now the UAE is arguing up and down.

Afang Zhuxie also quickly announced that if they still can't beat their opponents at home, the national team, from coaches to players, will have to pay the corresponding price!

A lesson from the past, a teacher of the future.

In people's traditional concept, there is no such thing as an absolutely strong team or an absolutely weak team in Asia.

Either wins or loses.

What's more, the national football team has always brought "surprises" and surprises to fans.

Now the outside world is full of reports of "Zeng Jiajun massacred Indonesia at home".

The reporter also kindly reminded Zeng Zheng.

Be careful of the flattery of your peers, and don't follow the old path of Schlapner.

"Thanks for your reminder."

"but."

"I'm different from my old monk."

Zeng Zheng smiled and shook his head, "My confidence does not come from blind trust in myself, nor does it come from the hype of the Spring Festival Gala sketch."

"My confidence comes from the strong strength of the players, from the long-term contact and accumulation with the players, from the skills and tacit understanding accumulated by these players on the court."

After finishing speaking, Zeng Zheng shouted to the court.

"Ji Hai, kick directly into the door!"

Under Zeng Zheng's order, Sun Jihai changed his right foot to his left foot in the corner kick.

Take a few steps back and run quickly, spinning the ball into the air with one kick.

Facing the incoming ball, Ou Chuliang, who was standing in front of the goal, and a few of the top players stood there with their waists pinched, watching the ball fly over their heads rapidly.

Swish!
The rapidly falling ball spun into the far side net.

In other words.

If the goalkeeper does not concentrate on the ball and choose a good position, it will directly lead to the loss of the ball.

"Great!"

The reporters put down their cameras and gave thumbs up.

It seems that this year's Chinese team is really different from the past!

Now there are not only players on the team who play where they want to play.

There are also coaches who know which players can point to where to play!
Recalling the magic of Zeng Zheng in the last World Cup.

The attitudes of journalists have also gradually changed.

The day before the Sino-Indian war, outside the Tuodong Stadium in Kunming, groups of fans can be seen everywhere commenting.

Ticket dealers in groups of threes and twos also mixed in, preparing to write "war chaos".

It is reported that the original ticket price of 60 yuan has been fired to 200 yuan.

Around the stadium, children divided into two teams can be seen from time to time competing in street football.

"Damn it, look at the weather, it's likely to rain in Kunming tomorrow!"

"Who said no!"

"Our Chinese team is not good at playing rainball, while the Indonesian team is more adapted to water battles."

"I don't know if Coach Zeng is prepared for this. If not, it will be difficult for us!"

When a fan heard this, he couldn't help retorting:
"rain?"

"What's wrong with the rain?"

"For a team like Indonesia, even if it is a knife, the game must be won."

"If you can't win, the Chinese team should disband immediately!"

When the fans around heard it, they grinned.

"Brother, from your accent, you are from the Northeast, right?"

"Yeah, from Dalian, what's the matter?"

"He's still from Coach Zeng's hometown! Why do you have less confidence in Coach Zeng than we Kunming people?"

The elder brother blushed when he heard this.

"Hey, isn't this afraid that Coach Zeng will embarrass our Dalian!"

"Brother, what you said is wrong!"

Everyone immediately retorted, "If Coach Zeng is really ashamed, it will be the face of our whole country."

"And vice versa."

"Every time Coach Zeng grows a face, he also grows the face of our whole country!"

"What's this called? It's called prosperity for all, loss for all!"

The eldest brother nodded quickly when he heard it, "Yes, yes, yes, both are honored, and both are honored."

Don't look at the Chinese team scoring so many goals in the first three games.

But most fans believe that the Chinese team should normally win Indonesia by 2-3 goals in this game.

If you play well, you can even win 4-5.

On May 5th, in the World Cup qualifiers, the Chinese team ushered in the most powerful opponent in the group stage - the Indonesian team at home.

It was raining lightly in Kunming, but the fans were enthusiastic.

Outside the stadium, a huge red flag was held to cheer for the national football team.

Due to the excellent performance of the national football team in the first three games, and Zeng Zheng did not pay attention to the Indonesian team.

Facing the group's biggest opponent, the Indonesian team, Zeng Zheng does not have the strongest lineup currently available with several international players returning to the team.

The starting goalkeepers are Ou Chuliang, defender Sun Xiang, Li Weifeng, Shu Chang and Sun Jihai;
Midfielders Zheng Zhi, Li Xiaopeng, Qi Hong, Shensi.

Forwards Yang Chen and Xie Hui.

Before the game, the Indonesian team threatened to take away a point in the away game, and the players were all suffocated after hearing this.

In the first minute of the game, Yang Chen made a high-speed breakthrough from the left, forcing the first free kick and corner kick.

After Shen Si took the corner kick, Li Weifeng set off the Chinese team's offensive with a powerful charge.

Two minutes later, Xie Hui entered the penalty area after receiving Sun Jihai's long pass over the top, and was destroyed by the opponent in time to tackle the bottom line;

One minute later, Qi Hong shot angrily at the ball from the top of the gourd in the penalty area after the opponent took a corner kick, but it was a pity that the ball was higher than the crossbar.

Compared with the previous three games, the Chinese team also maintained a huge offensive after the opening, trying to defeat the opponent in one fell swoop.

Yang Chen and Xie Hui frequently threatened the Indonesian team's defense with wide-ranging runs on the front line, and the teammates also worked together to deliver shells to them.

But in the face of Indonesia's intensive defense, they always missed the goal.

In the 12th minute, Sun Jihai took a corner kick from the right. Li Weifeng took off on the spot and deflected the ball under the pressure of the opponent;

In the 17th minute, the Chinese team won another corner kick, and Xie Hui's header in the penalty area missed again.

Judging from the results of topping the frontcourt again and again, Zeng Zheng's "Yangmou" was implemented very successfully.

The small Indonesian team has nothing to do with the high-altitude bombing of the Chinese team.

But the problem is that several top earners seem to have forgotten to bring their shooting boots.

Even topped several times, but failed to top the ball into the opponent's net.

This made the fans who came to the scene to cheer anxiously.

Every time the header failed, the camera switched to Zeng Zheng on the sidelines.

At the beginning, the fans could still see Zeng Zheng holding an umbrella and pointing at the players in the rain.

But after 10 minutes, I don't know whether it was because the rain was too heavy, or Zeng Zheng had said all he needed to say.

Except for Han Tao who ran around occasionally, the Chinese coaching staff could no longer see a coach on the sidelines.

In the 19th minute, after receiving a direct pass from General Fan, Yang Chen directly dribbled the ball towards the opponent's penalty area.

Under the close marking of the opponent's two defenders at the gourd tripod, he directly kicked and shot.

Unfortunately the ball went wide of the far post.

The Indonesian team is skilled at their feet.

It can be seen from the scene that they are more adaptable to the wet and slippery field in the rain.

On defense, they placed heavy forces in the back defense, and paid special attention to blocking the high ball lines from both sides of the Chinese team.

When the Chinese team was unable to attack for a long time, the Indonesian team also began to counterattack the Chinese team's position.

In the 23rd minute, Sun Xiang made a mistake when he tackled the ball.

Indonesia's number one star Kurniawan got the ball and went straight to the goal of the Chinese team from his own right. Li Weifeng, who defended quickly, used his physical advantage to destroy the ball.

Kurniawan took advantage of the opportunity to dive and was shown the first yellow card of the game by the referee from Little Days.

After the three-pointer, Sun Jihai also made a mistake in the defense and passed the ball directly to Kurniawan.

Facing the three defenders including General Fan, Kurniawan skillfully plugged into the gap in the middle.

No. 15 Riyadi of the Indonesian team went to the meeting alone. Fortunately, Ou Chuliang attacked in time and destroyed the ball.

Indonesian right back Setyabudi made a follow-up shot and the ball went over the bar!

The Chinese team launched a counterattack immediately after surviving.

Qi Hong and Shensi had three threatening long-range shots, but the Indonesian goalkeeper Hendro, who was selected into the best Asian team of the year, saved the balls one by one to the bottom line with extraordinary skill.

The following corner kicks by the Chinese team were not too threatening. Instead, in the 29th minute, Yang Chen bumped into the goal post when he took the corner kick in the penalty area, and was injured bravely.

Seeing Yang Chen re-entering the field after being wrapped in bandages, the fans in Kunming gave the warmest applause since the beginning of the game.

Although the team was unable to attack for a long time, the Kunming fans who came to the scene were still very cute. They cheered for the national team neatly.

In the 37th minute, Yang Chen used a feint to wipe out the opponent's defender at the front of the penalty area, and was pulled down by the opponent from behind.

The referee was not in place in time in Xiaotian, so the ball was not awarded a penalty kick.

Then in the 39th minute, the Indonesian team got the first corner kick.

When the Chinese team dominated the penalty area with 6 defenses and 2 numbers, they were almost succeeded by a player from the opponent's rear point.

After 1 minute, the Chinese team's defense paid a heavy price for the mistake just now.

This time, the Indonesian team chose a low-level ball for the second corner kick.

Kurniawan, who was in the front line, forcibly kicked and shot angrily when someone was chasing him closely behind him, and was knocked down by General Fan in the penalty area.

This foul was immediately caught by the referee Xiaori and directly whistled for a penalty kick.

The ball flew to the other side where Ou Chuliang made a save.

In the 41st minute of the game, the Chinese team fell behind by one goal at home.

After the score fell behind, the team played more impatiently.

The opponent's consecutive hasty shots from the top of the arc in the penalty area were all outrageous.

In desperation, the team and fans could only accept the ending of 0-1 trailing at halftime.

Liu Jianhong, who explained half of the game, couldn't help sighing when he saw the bad score.

"It seems that the Chinese team is less adapted to altitude sickness than their opponents!"

At the same time, the camera lens on the sidelines also captured Wang Junsheng's face in the stands.

Looking at the gloomy expression of this bamboo shoe bamboo mat, the fans wondered whether he was also regretting at the moment, and put his home game on such an "outrageous" plateau.

Can Zeng Zheng still perform magic?
During these 15 minutes, the fans had an extremely tormented life.

As soon as the second half started, the fans noticed the changes on the field.

Zeng Zheng replaced Qi Hong with Zhang Xiaorui, apparently to strengthen the offense in the midfield.

Seeing Zeng Zheng's substitution, the fans immediately sang the national anthem loudly, hoping that the team could cheer up.

In the 49th minute, Zhang Xiaorui dribbled the ball left and right in the frontcourt.

Continuously pulling the ball and turning around made the fans unanimously dazzled.

Just when some fans thought he had held the ball for too long, Zhang Xiaorui, who had just turned around in Marseille, suddenly tiptoed and picked the ball over the head of the Indonesian defense.

At the same time, Xie Hui, who was plugged in, rushed to rush.

Almost with his head down and in a swooping posture, he slammed the ball directly into the Indonesian gate with his forehead.

1 is better than 1!

The Chinese team equalized the score!

One minute later, Zhang Xiaorui repeated his old trick.

After attracting three defensive players to defend closely, he tiptoed again and picked the ball into the penalty area.

This time, it was Yang Chen who rushed to the top.

Like Xie Hui, he didn't even jump, he ran forward and touched his forehead.

It's just that this time I was a bit unlucky, and directly fell into the arms of the opponent's goalkeeper.

Hendro reacted quickly and hugged the ball in his arms.

In the 55th minute, the same move, the same style of play.

The Chinese team patiently controlled and transferred the ball in front of the opponent's penalty area, and looked for opportunities to initiate a cross.

Xie Hui's header in the small penalty area was once again saved by Hendro;
After 1 minute, Hendro took the initiative to attack and reluctantly saved Shensi's pick pass with a single boxing punch out of the penalty area.

After Zhang Xiaorui got the ball, he shot hard at the ball. The ball hit the post and bounced off the baseline.

Although several consecutive attacks did not overtake the score, they allowed the team to completely control the situation on the field.

The changes brought about by Zhang Xiaorui's appearance also made the fans realize that Zeng Zheng is also serious now.

Amidst the cheers of the fans, the goal appeared quickly.

In the 56th minute, Sun Jihai stepped in on the right to attract two defenders, and calmly used a sweep to send the ball to Zhang Xiaorui's feet.

After Zhang Xiaorui got the ball, he intentionally made a move in the opposite direction to the two Indonesian players who were defending, attracting the opponent to speed up the attack.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, after catching up with the ball, he swung his right foot and swung the ball towards the penalty spot again.

What a Yang Chen!

On the penalty spot, he plucked the green onion from the dry land, and a powerful head shake went straight to the lower right corner of the goal, leading the score to 2-1 for the Chinese team!

After the Chinese team took the lead, Zeng Zheng played another substitution card, replacing Li Xiaopeng with Li Tie.

With Li Tie's personal marking, Kurniawan was completely helpless, and even Zheng Zhi had a chance to get an assist.

In front of the strong control field of the Chinese team, the Indonesian team, tired of defense, played for 20 minutes in the second half, but there was no attack in front of the penalty area.

In the 64th minute, Zhang Xiaorui passed three opposing defenders at the front of the penalty area and passed directly to the penalty area. Xie Hui, who got in in time, got the ball and also sent a high ball to the middle.

The ball came safely to the top of Yang Chen's head, and Hendro, who had lost his center of gravity, couldn't catch up. He could only watch the ball being pushed into the net by Yang Chen again.

3 is better than 1!

Yang Chen scored twice, Xie Hui also shot and passed.

In the face of the high-altitude ball bombing of the Chinese team, the short Indonesia really has no power to fight back.

In the 75th minute, Shen Si kicked a pass from the left, Yang Chen forcibly broke through, and the ball was pushed sideways by Hendro.

One minute later, Yang Chen, who was sick, was finally replaced by Xiao Wang Tao.

Looking at the white gauze on Yang Chen's head, the fans in the audience gave him warm applause.

On the other hand, the Indonesian team.

After seeing Xiao Wang Tao's height, everyone fell silent.

Even Yang Chen, who was 1.8 meters five, couldn't defend himself.

Who will defend Xiao Wang Tao who is 1.9 meters four?

Although Zeng Zheng still sheltered from the rain under the coach's bench.

But this substitution has made everyone see his attitude clearly.

If he dares to score ahead in the away game, he will bear his greatest anger!

In the 77th minute, Sun Jihai made an assist and passed Xie Hui directly from the front of the penalty area.

The latter fell to the ground and kicked a cross under very difficult circumstances, and also kicked the upper three.

Facing the high-altitude ball, Xiao Wang Tao barely moved, just shook the upper half of his body and hit it hard with his head.

When the ball crashed into the net, the Indonesian team's high-jumping defender's head did not reach his chin!

In the 80th minute, Sun Jihai took a corner kick with excellent placement and arc from the left. Xiao Wang Tao, like a wooden stake, perfectly reproduced his goal just now.

No jumping, no earning.

Just standing there, swinging your upper body, you can head the ball in.

In the face of such a "reckless" offensive by the Chinese team, the Indonesian team was silent from top to bottom.

The visitor is a guest.

In the first half, Zeng Zheng treated you like a guest, but you really treat yourself like a host!
In the remaining 10 points of the game, the Chinese team won two consecutive frontcourt free kicks and Sange corner kicks.

Of the 7 headers scored in total, 2 were scored.

One for Xiao Wang Tao and one for General Fan.

So far, Xiao Wang Tao, who came off the bench, used a hat-trick to draw a perfect end to the game in 15 minutes.

7 is better than 1!

The Indonesian team scored 1 in the first half, and the Chinese team scored 7 in the second half.

At the moment when the final whistle blew, Liu Jianhong was deeply moved.

"Coach Zeng, once again staged his magic"

Is it really magical?

At the press conference after the game, Zeng Zheng said frankly.

"What happened to the head team?"

"Which one said that players are not allowed to head the ball on the field?"

"My tactic today is to head the ball. Do you have any opinions?"

"It was still raining in the first half, and the road was slippery in rainy days. The players' vision was blurred by the rain, so the headers were inaccurate."

"The rain stopped in the second half, so I can see clearly, and the top is accurate. Is there any problem?"

Zeng Zheng's strong speech put the final label on this game.

The next day, when reporting on the game, 5 sets of cushions said:
"The first half of the Sino-Indian war was like the football version of the fable "The Donkey of Guizhou."

"The Indonesian team is the donkey, which once made the Chinese team forget that they are tigers."

"Fortunately, this tiger woke up in time, and finally used the score of 7 to 1 to beat the Indonesian team back to its original form."

"After this game, many netizens on the Internet began to support Coach Zeng's remarks."

"We don't have to be so serious about the group stage of the World Preliminaries"

(End of this chapter)