Soccer: If they're using these kinds of cheats, what's the point of training?

Chapter 86 That arrogant and audacious prediction is likely to cause big trouble.

On Weibo, the topic "Zhang Kuang's Interview" surged to the top of the trending searches within half an hour of the program airing, with views exceeding one billion.

"Zhang arrogantly claims that Chinese football is the balancer of the nation's fate"—this statement is too harsh, truly laughable. It makes it seem as if we can tolerate the abysmal state of Chinese football.

"What does an eighteen-year-old know? He actually said we shouldn't learn from the West, and that Western medicine can't cure all diseases. That's bullshit. I think the reason we haven't developed well is because we haven't learned from the West thoroughly enough. What does an eighteen-year-old kid know?"

"Having learned from the West not thoroughly enough? Is letting a football star like Zhang Kuang bring four women home enough? Is learning from the Danish bestiality enough? How much more thoroughly do we need to learn from the West?"

"You don't know anything!"

"The new first floor is abandoned, the upper floors are ruined. Football is football, why talk about politics? He arrogantly said he wouldn't give up his Chinese citizenship to play in the World Cup"—I cried. This is true patriotism.

Based on this decision alone, I forgive all the harsh words he's said and the mistakes he's made. There are so few people who can truly do that these days.

"Yes, I completely agree with what he said. The reason a bottom line is a bottom line is because once you cross it, even if your career truly reaches its peak, you will fall into an abyss of personal depravity and regret it for the rest of your life." I believe in the character of someone who can say something like that. Even if he did say something harsh about Chinese football, it was out of frustration with their lack of competitiveness, not out of genuine malicious intent.

"Yes, those who say he's unpatriotic, look at this: he's more patriotic than any of you."

The part where he said "insufficient firepower" was so inspiring! "If you're not strong enough, you can't stand firm. If you're strong enough, you can stand firm. The root of all trouble is insufficient firepower!"—I'm going to stick this quote on my wall.

"He's right. This is true on the football field, true on the battlefield, and even more so in relationships between the opposite sex. It's also true in life."

The part about his private life cracked me up. "No matter how many women you bring home, if they're not satisfied afterward, aren't you just humiliating yourself?"—Zhang Kuang, you really understand women.

"I hereby declare that from today onwards, I am a wildly obsessed fan."

"Me too. Before, I was just his fan, but now I'm his believer."

"He said in an interview that my greatest pride in life is being Chinese"—I, a grown man, teared up when I read that.

"Zhang Kuang, you are the pride of Chinese football, and even more so, the pride of the Chinese people."

"Hopefully he can score goals like crazy at Manchester United. No, he definitely can."

"Wait for the official announcement. Wait for Manchester United's official announcement."

'

""

The female fans reacted more directly.

"No wonder four French women fell for him, he's so eloquent, I'm starting to love him too."

"He's eloquent, scores goals, is handsome, and can keep four women happy at the same time! What woman wouldn't love a man like that?"

"I'm already looking up flights to Manchester."

"Sister, calm down. He belongs to us, not just one person."

"Can't you women have some self-respect? He's a football player, not your object of fantasy."

"He's a football player, and he's a man. What's wrong with us fantasizing about him? Is that not allowed?"

"Okay, you can continue."

'

In short, the arrogant interview broadcast on CCTV-5 made him even more popular in front of the national audience. This is not only because he is a teacher, but also because he is the first Chinese player to win a championship in the top five European leagues and the first man to win the Golden Boot in the top five European leagues. Furthermore, his witty remarks and insightful thinking have truly broadened people's horizons.

Zhang Kuang, far away in Paris, was completely unaware of what was happening back home; he was currently being interviewed by four female reporters.

Four women and four voice recorders filled the living room of the hotel suite to the brim.

Marina sat on the single sofa to Zhang Kuang's left, Camille sat next to Marina on the armrest, Lucy took the seat to Zhang Kuang's right, and Gillia sat directly on the coffee table, facing Zhang Kuang. The four of them surrounded Zhang Kuang.

Zhang Kuang leaned back on the sofa, holding a cup of tea in his hand, his expression relaxed.

"Let's begin," he said.

Marina was the first to speak.

"Zhang, first of all, congratulations on winning the French Cup, completing a double this season, and also winning the Golden Boot. Now that the season is over, how would you summarize this half-season? Are there any regrets?"

Zhang Kuang put down his teacup.

"Of course there are regrets," he said. "The biggest regret is that Auxerre didn't participate in the Champions League this season, otherwise I could have shown myself in the Champions League."

He paused.

"Of course, that's greedy. Auxerre already had a near-perfect season, winning both the Ligue 1 title and the French Cup at the end of the season."

I want to thank Coach Fernandez, my teammates, and the Auxerre fans. Without them, I couldn't have adapted to the pace of Ligue 1 so quickly.

Gillia interjected, "So how would you summarize your personal performance? Half a season, over thirty league goals, averaging nearly two goals per game. Are you satisfied with yourself?"

Zhang Kuang: "Satisfied, yet not satisfied."

He said, "I'm satisfied that I proved I can compete in the top five leagues, score goals, and help the team win. I'm not satisfied that I feel I could have done better; I should have scored more goals in some games, and I wasn't calm enough in handling some opportunities."

Lucy laughed: "Two goals a game isn't enough for you? How many do you want to average?"

Zhang Kuang laughed too.

"I think scoring three or four goals in every game is achievable," he said. "Scoring four goals in a game, that's my goal."

The four women looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Are you serious?" Camille asked.

"Of course," Zhang Kuang said, "that's just the kind of person I am—never satisfied, always wanting more."

Marina steered the conversation back on track.

"What moments have been particularly memorable for you during your half-season with Auxerre?"

Zhang Kuang thought for a moment.

"Many," he said. "My first appearance, my first goal, my first hat-trick, my first championship—these are all memorable moments. But if I had to choose one, I think it would be the celebration on the night we won the title."

Why?

"Because that night, I saw how much the people of this small town love football," Zhang Kuang said. "I had only ever seen championship parades on TV before, but when you actually stand on that double-decker bus, watching the streets packed with cheering fans, seeing the heartfelt joy on the faces of the elderly, children, and young men and women—that feeling is something no trophy can give you."

"Zhang, during your six months in France, besides your performance on the field, your life off the field has also been a focus of media attention." She glanced at the other three women, "especially your private life. How did you manage so many relationships at the same time?"

Zhang Kuang did not shy away from the question: "Almost every reporter who interviews me asks this question, and my answer is very simple. Sincerity. As long as you are sincere to them, they will treat you sincerely in return."

Camille raised an eyebrow: "Sincere?"

"That's right," Zhang Kuang said. "Sincerity is the ultimate skill in dealing with people. Only when people see each other's sincerity can they truly become friends."

"Isn't it possible that one party might use sincerity to deceive the other?"

Zhang Kuang spread his hands: "These kinds of things happen every day. Sometimes we need to learn a different mindset. We don't ask for forever, but we cherish the memories. As long as we treated each other sincerely, that's enough. We have a clear conscience. As for any melodramatic plots like betrayal, accept them, stay away from them, and start a new life. That's all."

The four women all smiled slightly.

"Ahem." Lucy cleared her throat. "Let's move on to the next question."

"Ask away," Zhang Kuang said.

"How do you feel about not being able to participate in the World Cup?"

His arrogant expression turned serious.

"It's a pity," he said. "Every player wants to play in the World Cup, and I'm no exception. But there's nothing we can do. Only 32 national teams in the world can participate in the World Cup, leaving more than 100 national teams with regrets."

It's like everyone doesn't want to be mediocre, doesn't want to be poor, and doesn't want to be at the bottom of society, but when you can't change it, you can only accept it.

"Have you ever considered switching to a different national team to compete in the World Cup and showcase your abilities?"

"I haven't considered this option. Our country doesn't recognize dual citizenship, so if I represent another national team, I would have to give up my Chinese citizenship. This is an inviolable bottom line for me. It's not that I'm unwilling to give up my Chinese citizenship."

"Okay, you're a staunch patriot, and all patriots deserve respect. Zhang, the World Cup is less than a month away. As a player, what are your thoughts on this World Cup?"

Zhang Kuang picked up his teacup and took a sip.

"You want me to make a prediction?"

"Yes," Marina said. "What do you predict the top ten teams in the world will do in the World Cup?"

Zhang Kuang put down his teacup and leaned forward slightly.

"Alright, let's talk about the French team first." He looked at the four French women—Marina, Camille, and Lucy—all of whom were French.

The three of them focused their attention.

"The French team will be eliminated in the group stage," Zhang Kuang said.

"Huh? What did you say?"

"I said, the French team will be eliminated in the group stage." Zhang Kuang repeated, his tone as calm as if he were saying that the weather was nice today.

"Impossible!" Camille's voice rose. "The French team has Ribery, Henry, Anelka, Malouda—how could they be eliminated in the group stage?"

Zhang Kuang shook his head.

"The problem with the French team isn't the players' ability, it's the locker room," he said. "You really don't know that?" He raised an eyebrow. "Coach Domenech simply can't control this group of players."

The French national team's locker room is rife with factions, and no one is willing to submit to anyone else. Anelka and Henry don't get along, and Ribery and Malouda also have conflicts. A team like this won't go far.

"But it shouldn't mean the group will be eliminated, right?" Lucy said.

Zhang Kuang glanced at her.

Are you going to bet or not?

"What are we betting on?"

"If France advances from the group stage, I'll treat the four of you to a Caribbean vacation. If France is eliminated from the group stage—"

"The four of you invited me."

The four women exchanged glances.

"I'm taking the gamble," Marina said.

"Okay, remember that agreement." Zhang Kuang laughed. "Let's move on to the other teams. Brazil—the favorite to win the championship, right?"

""

The four people nodded.

"Brazil won't win the championship," Zhang said arrogantly. "Not only will they not win this time, but they will also have a hard time winning at least the next four. This time, they will at most reach the quarterfinals."

"Why?" Gillia asked.

"The problem with Brazilian football is its outdated tactics and lack of teamwork," Zhang Kuang said. "Their players are very strong individually, with world-class individual skills, but their overall tactical awareness is not up to par with the top European teams."

Football is a team sport, not an individual sport. Brazilians rely too much on individual ability and neglect teamwork.

"How far can Brazil go?"

"Eight quarterfinals," Zhang Kuang said. "At most, eight quarterfinals, not even four."

Marina was writing quickly in her notebook.

"What about Italy?" she asked.

Zhang Kuang sighed.

"I really like Italy. Their chain defense is really strong, and their tactical execution is world-class. Plus, this Italian team has some of my favorite players—Cannavaro, Pirlo, and Buffon, all of whom are legends."

He paused.

"However, this Italian team is too old."

"Getting old?"

"Yes," Zhang Kuang said. "The personnel structure is unbalanced. Cannavaro is thirty-seven, Zambrotta is thirty-three, Gattuso is thirty-two, and Pirlo is thirty-one—the core lineup is seriously aging. Moreover, Italy's younger generation has not yet matured, and there is a lack of successors."

"so?"

"So it's highly likely that, like France, they won't advance from the group stage."

"The defending champions are out in the group stage?" Camille shook his head. "That's insane."

"Not crazy," Zhang said arrogantly. "In 2002, the French team, as defending champions, was eliminated in the group stage. History will repeat itself."

"What about England?" Gillia asked.

Zhang laughed wildly.

"England?" he said. "That's Europe's China."

"What do you mean?"

"They look like they should be strong, but they actually aren't," Zhang said arrogantly. "England's players are all top-notch at their clubs, but they falter when they come to the national team. Why is that?"

Because the technical ability of English players is actually overestimated. They play in the Premier League, where the pace is fast and the competition is intense, but their tactical execution isn't high. When they join the national team, they don't have enough time to gel and work together effectively.

"So how far can England go?"

"Round 16, that should be their limit," Zhang Kuang said. "Even if they all perform exceptionally well and make it to the quarterfinals, they'll most likely be in the round of 16."

"What about Germany?"

His arrogant expression turned serious.

"Germany is a semi-finalist team," he said. "German football has a strong foundation, excellent tactical execution, a mature youth training system, and players with excellent mental fortitude. Whether they can reach the final depends on luck."

"What about Spain?"

Zhang laughed wildly, this time with the kind of laugh that said, "I don't want to admit it, but I have to."

"Although I really dislike Spain's possession-based tactics," he said, "I have to admit that they have a good chance of winning this World Cup."

Why?

"Because Spain's tactical system is the most advanced right now," Zhang Kuang said. "The midfield trio of Xavi, Iniesta, and Busquets, plus the forward line of Villa and Torres, and the defense of Puyol and Pique—every line is world-class. Moreover, their passing and possession style and their ability to control the tempo of the game are unmatched by other teams."

Which two teams will be in the final?

Zhang Kuang thought for a moment.

"Spain vs. Netherlands," he said.

Can the Netherlands reach the final?

"Yes," Zhang Kuang said. "The Dutch team has a very strong lineup this year: Robben, Sneijder, Van Persie, Kuyt, Van der Vaart, Van Bommel—top players in every position."

Furthermore, the Dutch team is very united this year, without the internal conflicts of the past. They may reach the final, but they are unlikely to win the championship.

"Because Spain is stronger?"

"Yes," Zhang Kuang said. "The Netherlands' tactics are still a bit too conservative. They have a hard time winning possession against Spain's passing and possession style."

"What about Argentina?"

Zhang Kuang shook his head.

"Argentina has many players with strong individual skills, and even world-class players such as Messi, Higuain, Aguero, Milito, and Tevez. But Argentina's problem is the same as Brazil's: outdated tactics and a disorganized team."

He paused.

"There is an even bigger problem—the core leaders are too weak."

"Messi?"

"Yes," Zhang Kuang said arrogantly. "Messi is the best player on the field, but he's not a leader. At Barcelona, ​​he had Xavi, Iniesta, and Puyol to help him shoulder the leadership responsibility, but in Argentina, no one can help him. Maradona as a coach—that's also a problem."

So how far can Argentina go?

"A maximum of eight," Zhang Kuang said. "Reaching the semi-finals will be very difficult."

Gillia pressed further: "So, none of the South American teams made it to the semi-finals this year?"

"Yes," Zhang Kuang said, "Uruguay."

"Uruguay?"

"Yes," Zhang Kuang said. "Cavani, Forlan, Suarez—these three forwards are all leaders and have a great sense of teamwork. Uruguay has the best overall cohesion among South American teams. They should be able to reach the semi-finals."

He paused for a moment.

"If I'm not mistaken, the semi-finalists should be Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, and Uruguay."

"No Brazil, no Argentina, no England, no Italy, no France?" Marina looked at her notebook. "Your prediction is insane."

"Crazy?" Zhang Kuang laughed. "We'll see."

The four female reporters exchanged glances, and they all saw the same expression in each other's eyes: this Chinese man is either a genius or a madman.

But whether he's a genius or a madman, this interview, once published, is sure to ignite public opinion.

After the interview, Marina turned off the recorder and looked at Zhang Kuang.

"Zhang, are you sure you want us to send out what you just said?"

"Confirmed," Zhang Kuang said.

"Do you know how many people this will offend?"

"I know," Zhang Kuang said, "but I'm telling the truth. I'm not afraid to offend people by telling the truth."

Camille sighed: "The French fans will kill you."

"No," Zhang laughed wildly. "When what I said comes true, they'll come and apologize to me."

"What if it doesn't come true?"

"impossible."

"You're that confident?"

"It's not confidence," Zhang said arrogantly. "It's scientific analysis; everything is traceable."

He stood up and stretched.

"Alright, the interview is over. Turn off the camera and the recorder. We should take off now."

"Is this your sincerity? King of Sincerity!"

"Yes, I've been sincere enough, haven't I? But I don't like the name 'King of Sincerity' because I'm not worthy of it. The true King of Sincerity should be orange."

"What, what? Ah————"

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