Reverse.

Chapter 76 Victory is certain
During dinner time, Wang Lie was the most lively around. One could even use the word "endless" to describe the crowds of people coming to greet him and chat with him.

Everyone came in a queue. Some said hello and left, some said hello and stayed, chatting with Wang Lie about various topics, and some did not say anything, just listened quietly, as if they were satisfied as long as they could be next to Brother Wang...

The most talked about topics were the feud between Wang Lie and Sofia United, and how Wang Lie could score so many goals at the "advanced age" of 38...

Everyone was curious about Wang Ge's performance with such a big gap between Sofia United and Tyne.

Of course, Wang Lie still used his explanation of Cai Bokang to answer his teammates in the national team.

During the last days at Sofia, the training effect was not good; I played few games, which made it difficult for me to find the rhythm of the game, so even when I played, my performance was not good; I did not get the trust and respect I deserved, and I was not assigned the most suitable tactics for my characteristics; the atmosphere in the team was tense, etc...

It makes sense, although the contrast is so great that it still feels exaggerated.

But hasn’t their brother Wang always been able to do impossible things like this in his past career?

If you think about it this way, it doesn't seem so unbelievable...

※※※

"Brother Wang looks like a godfather, so enviable!" Su Ju said enviously, looking at the crowd in the distance. "Everyone lined up to kiss the back of his hand, and he promised everyone: 'I will bring you victory...'"

He imitated the husky voice of Marlon Brando.

Then he turned his head and looked at Chi Zhen: "Ah Zhen, when can you be like Brother Wang? When the time comes, I will be the first to come over and kiss the back of your hand."

Chi Zhen ignored his unruly buddy and just stared at Wang Lie in a daze.

Seeing that Chi Zhen ignored him, Su Ju asked, "What did Brother Wang tell you when he asked you to go? Why did I feel like you were distracted during this meal? Did he drug you with drugs?"

Chi Zhen whispered, "Brother Wang has issued a letter of challenge to me."

"Ah?" Su Ju looked at him in surprise, then at Wang Lie. "What challenge? Are you asking for a fight?!"

Hearing his best friend's excited tone, Chi Zhen couldn't help but curse: "What the hell! What's on your mind all day long!"

Then he sighed: "Brother Wang said he wanted to compete with me for the core position of the national team."

"Huh?" Su Ju was stunned for a moment, then he touched his chin and looked at the crowd gathered near Wang Lie. "A 38-year-old veteran took the initiative to challenge you... It seems that Brother Wang is very confident in himself. Does he think he can maintain his recent state and performance?"

After saying that, he looked at his friend again: "You agreed?"

Chi Zhen smiled bitterly: "How can I not agree? I am the 'defender' now. If I refuse the challenge, wouldn't it be the same as telling Brother Wang that I am a coward and have given up and surrendered?"

"Wow, then you're done. Everyone knows how miserable it is to be targeted by Brother Wang!" Su Ju's tone and expression were exaggerated.

But what he said was not an exaggeration at all.

Being targeted by Wang Lie is really miserable.

He can immediately cite many well-known and popular examples.

For example, Scouse, Athletic Barcelona, ​​FC Madrid...these are football teams.

The players have too.

For example, Cohen Jacob, a central defender who once played for the Ruhr Steel Union, is an American international.

He once successfully defended Wang Lie in a match between Ruhr Steel Union and Sofia Union at home, preventing Wang Lie from scoring a single goal throughout the game.

After the game, he was too excited during an interview and said, "Being the defensive king is easier than playing with my son at home."

As a result, in the second round, Wang Lie performed a "big four" in the Champions League knockout stage in front of him, eliminating the Ruhr Steel Union while completely bewildering the American international.

But this is not enough.

After the game, Wang Lie posted a photo on his social media account, which showed Cohen Jacob standing there in a daze.

Wang Lie added a very brief caption to this photo:

"my son."

Just like Joe Wesley against Scouse, Wang Lie will not only defeat you on the court, but also humiliate you off the court...

This incident later caused a lot of controversy, and Wang Lie gained a lot of haters.

But this can at least explain how Wang Lie treats those he targets...

Although Wang Lie would not ridicule Chi Zhen, he would definitely try his best to defeat Chi Zhen.

And it is indeed miserable to be targeted by someone who is so determined to defeat you.

There is absolutely no room for maneuver and it is impossible to relax, because relaxing would be tantamount to admitting defeat.

Unless Chi Zhen himself no longer wants this core position.

Otherwise, he would be chased by Wang Lie all the time and would not be able to stop and rest.

This pursuit may continue until before the World Cup... No, it is entirely possible that it will continue until the World Cup!

After scaring and teasing his friend, Su Ju saw that Chi Zhen's face did not improve, so he comforted him again:
"But I don't think you need to worry too much about this. After all, Brother Wang is already 38 years old..."

Chi Zhen suddenly interrupted him: "Su Ju."

"what?"

"If I have to wait for Brother Wang to age naturally before I can win the competition between him and me...then why don't I just wait for Brother Wang to retire before becoming the core of the national team?" Chi Zhen turned his head and looked at his good friend with a sharp gaze.

"Uh……"

Just at that moment, Su Ju felt that there seemed to be some changes in his good friend that were different from before.

In the past, when Brother Wang was mentioned, Chi Zhen was always a little resistant, even timid.

Even though Brother Wang can hardly threaten Chi Zhen's position in the national team due to his poor condition, Chi Zhen always seems a little uncomfortable when he mentions Brother Wang.

It seemed as if he always felt guilty about stealing Brother Wang's core.

Although this is actually a very normal upgrade.

But perhaps it is because the ideological imprint that Wang Lie has left on Chinese football in the past twenty years is so strong that many players in the national team can be said to have grown up watching Brother Wang play football.

Many people regard Brother Wang as an idol and role model.

In their minds, snatching Brother Wang’s core position seems to be “treason”.

So when Coach He first proposed that Chi Zhen replace Wang Lie as the core of the national team, Chi Zhen's first reaction was to refuse:
How could I possibly replace Brother Wang? How could I steal Brother Wang's core? No, absolutely not! I'm not being modest, Coach He, you should look for someone better...

Even though he eventually stood in this core position with the strong support and encouragement of Coach He, he still couldn't avoid embarrassment when facing Brother Wang.

But just now, Su Ju discovered that his good friend did not show any awkwardness or timidity when mentioning the competition between him and Brother Wang, nor did he show any intention of resistance.

"Hey, Ah Zhen, you..."

Chi Zhen raised his eyebrows and smiled at him: "You said that players should speak with football, and you said that what I said was too old-fashioned. But today, Brother Wang also told me that we should speak with football. So, you see, Su Ju. Brother Wang and I are the same kind of people, and I will answer Brother Wang with football."

※※※

After dinner, Wang Lie left the restaurant and did not continue to stay at the table as the "godfather".

However, as soon as he walked out of the restaurant, he was stopped by deputy captain Chu Yu.

"Wang Lie, I heard that you went to see Xiao Chi before dinner?"

Chu Yu asked straight to the point.

Wang Lie didn't hide anything. He nodded and gave Chu Yu an affirmative answer: "That's right."

"May I know what you talked about with him?"

"It's nothing, actually. I just told him that I will compete with him for the tactical core of the national team."

Chu Yu looked at Wang Lie in amazement.

"What's that expression on your face?" Wang Lie asked with a frown.

Chu Yu laughed: "It seems that you are very confident in yourself, Wang Lie. I thought that the six nine-ball games were just your last glimmer of hope."

Wang Lie sneered and said confidently: "That's just the beginning."

Chu Yu smiled and nodded: "Very good, very good... It seems that you made the right decision to stay in Europe. Okay, just do your best in Europe."

After saying that, he turned and left, with no intention of continuing the conversation with Wang Lie.

His relationship with Wang Lie has never been good, but as adults, they would not quarrel over anything.

But it was naturally impossible for him and Wang Lie to chat freely like close friends.

He originally wanted to ask about the reason behind Wang Lie's sudden outburst, but during the dinner, he had already heard too many reasons relayed by others.

There is no need to ask the person involved again.

As the team's vice-captain, it is his job to care about the team's atmosphere.

He was worried that Wang Lie and Chi Zhen would have conflicts...

Now it seems that my worries were unnecessary.

Wang Lie is still as pure as before...

It makes me seem like I'm meddling in other people's business...ha!

Chu Yu shook his head and grinned at himself.

※※※

With a clear whistle, Wang Lie rushed out from the starting line, ran to a red plate ten meters ahead, and then immediately turned back.

Wang Lie ran back to the starting line and turned back again. He ran to the red plate and bowl, changed route to his right, where there was a red pole.

He dodged around the pole. At this time, the national team coach passed the ball to Wang Lie. He caught up with the ball and shot directly!
The football hits the net!

"Oh! Beautiful!" "Brother Wang is awesome!"

There was a burst of cheers, whistles and applause from the crowd waiting behind.

"How is it?" He Zhenyong approached Cai Bokang, the assistant coach in charge of timing, and asked.

Cai Bokang glanced at the stopwatch in his hand and said to him, "It's more than one second faster than the last time... This is not scientific."

"Hehe, do you think it's scientific for him to perform a hat trick against the Scots at the age of 38?" He Zhenyong said with a smile.

"There's no problem with his physical fitness, and his sprinting explosiveness is also good. Should we change the previous arrangement and let him start?" Cai Bokang asked in a low voice.

He Zhenyong shook his head: "No, let's stick to our original plan... I heard that Wang Lie went to see Chi Zhen yesterday, and it seemed that he made it clear that he wanted to compete with him."

Cai Bokang nodded, he knew about this.

Neither party deliberately concealed the fact, and the relationship between the two of them was the most watched in the national team.

So in just one night, the news spread throughout the national team.

"So let Chi Zhen start and Wang Lie be the substitute. I'm curious, when Wang Lie is sitting on the bench watching him play, what kind of performance will Chi Zhen show this time... And this kind of pressure from Wang Lie is also a test for Chi Zhen. If he can't even withstand this kind of pressure, it means we have found the wrong person."

He Zhenyong expressed his thoughts.

Cai Bokang felt that what Lao He said made sense.

Wang Lie went to Chi Zhen and made things clear. There was no longer any ambiguity between the two of them. So they could put aside all the nonsense such as fame, reputation, qualifications, status... and just focus on training and competition.

Then see what kind of performance the two people can show in such pure competition.

Just like what Lao He himself said:

Those who can live there.

Then prove that you are "capable".

After Wang Lie finished, it was Chi Zhen's turn. He stood at the starting point, waiting for the whistle.

When the coach blew the whistle, he was like a bullet, fully demonstrating his explosive power and fast starting speed.

Following the same operation, the football was kicked accurately into the small goal specially used for training.

There were also applause, cheers and whistles - this talented young man also has many supporters in the national team.

Cai Bokang handed the stopwatch to He Zhenyong and took a look:
A little faster than Wang Lie.

He Zhenyong nodded and said nothing.

※※※

Before leaving for the competition venue, the entire national team held a meeting in the hotel conference room.

This meeting has only one purpose, which is to announce the starting lineup for this game.

According to regulations, the starting lineup must be announced two hours before the game, so after the announcement within the team, the starting lineup will also be sent to the AFC and then appear on their official website for everyone to view.

When He Zhenyong finished reading out the starting lineup for the game, everyone couldn't control their necks and eyes, and turned their heads to look at Wang Lie.

Everyone was shocked:
In the starting lineup just announced by Coach He, Brother Wang’s name is not on the list!

No one expected that Wang Lie, who had scored nine goals and provided three assists in the last six games, would still be a substitute after returning to the national team...

They looked at Wang Lie, on the one hand because they were surprised by this decision, and on the other hand because they wanted to see how Brother Wang would react to it.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Wang Lie sat upright in his chair with a calm expression, and nothing could be seen on his face.

This surprised many Chinese players.

Although it was not the first time that Brother Wang played as a substitute in the national team, every time when he was not in the starting lineup, his face would obviously become gloomy, letting everyone know from their expression how unhappy he was.

Brother Wang is such a person, not good at... or rather, he is unwilling to hide his thoughts.

Everyone can see whether you are happy or unhappy.

This is also why there are so many controversies surrounding Wang Lie.

Because he does not hide his opinions, and not all of his ideas are in line with the values ​​of the general public.

When his views differ from everyone else's, controversy arises.

Those mature players will always hide their true thoughts under a well-disciplined appearance and try to avoid causing controversy and trouble.

Wang Lie is the exact opposite. He is not afraid of controversy and trouble. He even enjoys it...

But what everyone saw today was that Wang Lie accepted the arrangement of putting him on the bench with a calm face...!

Does Brother Wang also know how to hide his true thoughts?

This shouldn't be!
Just over a month ago, when he left Sofia, he wrote an open letter cursing the management and coach of Sofia Club.

If he really knew how to hide his inner thoughts, how could he do so when saying goodbye to his former employer?

What should have been a warm and affectionate farewell to the legend turned into a war of words involving celebrities, ordinary fans, and club officials...

So why does Brother Wang now know how to hide his true inner thoughts?
Is it to put the interests of the national team first?

This reason is also untenable.

Because before, Wang Ge always chose to accept the arrangement of substitute for the benefit of the national team, but it did not prevent him from having a sour face...

Chi Zhen also looked at Wang Lie.

But he watches for different reasons than others.

He was indeed surprised that Wang Ge, who was in such an excellent state, was put on the bench by Coach He. To be honest, Coach He was really brave... After the release of this starting lineup, I don't know how many people on the domestic Internet will have to send cordial greetings to Coach He's family...

On the other hand, he felt that he had figured out why Brother Wang had come to him and said those words on his first day in the national team.

Maybe at that time Wang Ge knew that he would be a substitute in the match against Qatar.

Otherwise, why is his face so calm now?

There was only one explanation, and he knew it in advance.

He knew he couldn't start against Qatar, so he issued a challenge.

Because of this game, I will play first.

He wanted to see what kind of performance I could bring...

Chi Zhen didn't even have to guess, because experience told him that if he didn't perform well enough in the match against Qatar, causing the team to play poorly, Coach He would definitely send in Brother Wang.

Does this mean that I have lost yet another battle with Brother Wang?
No, I absolutely cannot let this happen!
Even if my opponent is Brother Wang, I don’t want to lose!

※※※

With nearly two hours left before the game started, fans from both teams began to enter the Al Thani Stadium, where the match would be held.

Especially those fan groups that need to make arrangements in advance, they are always the first to arrive and make preparations.

For example, hang a TIFO.

That's what fans in Qatar are doing.

Because it was an away game, there were not many Chinese fans coming, and it was impossible to hang up any TIFOs, but there were still some Chinese fans who entered the stadium early.

As the organizer of "Longyin", the official cheering team of the Chinese national team, Ankang was one of the people who entered early. He had to do a good job of organization. How could he be late at the last minute?
"Yaowei, give me your list..."

Ankang asked his partner Li Yaowei for the roster.

"Damn it, take the loudspeaker away from me. You are not even allowed to bring in a flagpole... Damn Qatar security!"

He took the roster handed over by his partner and complained as he rolled it up. He didn't care that the security requirements were actually similar to those of domestic stadiums, he just wanted to curse Qatar.

He rolled the roster into a trumpet shape and put it to his mouth: "Hey, hey, hey? How's the effect?"

His partner Li Yaowei said: "It has some effect, but not much."

Ankang cursed: "Tsk! Damn it! Forget it, just use it!"

Li Yaowei said: "Qatar really tried every possible way to create trouble for us. They forced me to store my bag. Even though I opened my bag and took out everything to show them that there were indeed no prohibited items, they still refused. In the end, they brought in this roster... Otherwise, you don't even have this."

He pointed to the simple loudspeaker in Ankang's hand.

"They must be scared!" Ankang snorted. "We have Wang Lie in this game! Wang Lie is back, let's kill Qatar!"

Just as he finished speaking, he heard someone from the Dragon Roar cheering group next to him suddenly exclaim:
"Fuck! Wang Lie didn't start?!"

※※※

Rezende looked at the news on his phone and laughed, "I guessed it right. The Chinese team has recalled Wang, which is actually good news for us!"

Assistant coach Joao Amado came over and asked, "What's wrong?"

Rezende handed the phone to Amado and asked him to look at it himself.

"Huh? Wang didn't start?!" Amado was also surprised when he saw the news. His exclamation even trembled at the end, which fully showed how surprised he was at that moment.

Rezende even laughed out loud.

Amado continued to analyze: "The head coach of the Chinese team didn't know how to let Wang and Chi coexist, so he could only put Wang on the bench, but this would cause Wang to be dissatisfied, which in turn affected the atmosphere in the Chinese team's locker room..."

He suddenly raised his head and said to Rezende:

"We have a chance to get three points in this game!"

Rezende smiled without saying anything, looking confident and certain of victory.

(End of this chapter)