Portugal defeated Russia 2:0 to advance to the quarterfinals, which gave Tang Zheng a great incentive to take the bus to the Nizhny Novgorod Arena, because while Portugal advanced to the quarterfinals, many media used Portugal's promotion to hype Tang Zheng and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Four years later, Cristiano Ronaldo is thirty-seven years old, and there is a big question mark over whether he can continue his career, and four years later, Tang Zheng is also close to thirty-three years old, and his career will come to an end, and a decline in form is inevitable......

In other words, once the Chinese team can beat Croatia to advance to the quarterfinals, the showdown between Cristiano Ronaldo and Tang Zheng will appear again.

However, this matchup is different from the past, because the two represent their respective countries, and many media have thought about the title of the match in advance.

A battle of fate!

At the beginning, Cristiano Ronaldo and Tang Zheng fought for power in Real Madrid, and in the end, the younger Tang Zheng won the infighting and stayed, and now the showdown that may appear in the World Cup naturally attracts everyone's attention.

But before that, the Chinese team led by Tang Zheng must beat Croatia led by club teammate Luka Modric!

"Whoa—"

In a frenzied atmosphere, the Chinese players who arrived at the Nizhny Novgorod Arena warmed up very seriously before the game and were in very good shape.

Of course, the excellent state of the players has little to do with the frenzied atmosphere on the scene, the real reason is that the **** Xi Lao will watch the 1/8 final between the Chinese team and Croatia accompanied by Russian President Putin.

You must know that Putin did not go to the scene in the 1/8 finals between Russia and Portugal, but asked Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to be present on his behalf to 'supervise the battle'.

This shows how much Russian President Vladimir Putin attaches great importance to the first Russian World Cup match that Boss Xi watched live.

I don't know if it's because the media revealed before the game that Putin and Xi Lao appeared at the Nizhny Novgorod Arena to watch the game, and the world's top ten bookmakers also adjusted the odds of both sides, and the odds of Croatia, which was originally favored all the way, have risen, while the odds of the Chinese team have been adjusted.

It is not difficult to see that the bookmaker is starting to be optimistic about the prospects of the Chinese team.

With an hour to go before the start of the game, the starting line-ups for both sides appear on the official FIFA website.

Croatia played the usual 423 formation, goalkeeper Subasic team, four defenders Strinic, Lovren, Vida and Fosarico, two midfielders Luka Modric partnered Rakitic, three forwards Perisic, Brozovic and Rebic, Mandzukic at the front of the attack.

The official formation submitted by the Chinese team is also 4231, goalkeeper Yan Junling, four defenders Jiang Zhipeng, Feng Xiaoting, Gao Zhunyi and Zhang Linpeng, double back Tang Zheng partner Li Kui, three forwards Lu Liang, Hao Junmin and Wu Sanshi, Sun Jingbo at the front.

Chinese fans sitting in front of the TV can see the Chinese players warming up in the training ground through the CCTV 5 live broadcast, and the Beijing studio commentator Shao Shengyi, who appeared on the left side of the broadcast screen, took the starting lineup of the Chinese team and analyzed it to the camera: "In this game, Lippi Coach neither sent Zhang Yuzhan, a center forward in the traditional sense, nor sent Ye Erfan, who performed well in the third round of the group, but chose Sun Jingbo, and it is easy to see from the formation that the Chinese team is going to seize the side with Croatia, whether it is Tang Zheng or Modric, Rakitic has a strong ability to transfer long balls, and in the case of a defensive footing, long ball counterattack is a very direct and practical tactical ......"

Although Shao Shengyi's eyebrows fluttered in the live broadcast room, the Chinese fans sitting in front of the TV did not have the heart to listen to his nonsense, and their attention was focused on the Chinese players who occupied most of the broadcast screen.

On the eve of the big game, the form of the players is what they focus on.

And the Chinese players seen from the broadcast screen did not disappoint the fans in front of the TV, and every player was in a good mental state.

If this amazing form can continue until the start of the game, Chinese fans have absolute confidence in the fans they support!

What if Croatia is stronger overall?

Our national team can still win the game!

※※※

"Whoa—"

With half an hour to go, players from both sides had returned to their dressing rooms to make final preparations for the upcoming game, when a deafening chant erupted from the stands.

The momentum was so loud that even the Chinese players who closed the locker room door could hear it.

Lippi, who explained the tactical points of the game, paused, raised his eyebrows, and then continued to explain.

While the Chinese fans in the locker room were curious, they weren't curious either, because the priority for them was the upcoming match.

Time flies quickly, coming to 8:50 p.m. local time in Russia, the players in the locker rooms of the home and away teams at the Nizhny Novgorod Arena have come to the players' tunnel one after another, and the fans sitting in front of the TV realize that the fourth 1/8 final of the Russian World Cup between the Chinese team and the Croatian team is coming soon.

The Croatian team and the Chinese team have a lot of acquaintances, such as Tang Zheng and Modric, Kovacic is a Real Madrid teammate, Lu Liang and Lovren are Liverpool teammates, Zhang Linpeng and Mandzukic are Juventus teammates, Pecilic played a season in Dortmund in the 2011-2012 season, but he was not reused by Klopp, more as a substitute, but he had a good relationship with Tang Zheng, so the two politely hugged and encouraged in the player tunnel.

Tang Zheng and Modric are the focus of attention of fans in front of the TV, as the captains of the Chinese team and Croatia, the two are also wearing No. 10 jerseys, so they naturally receive more attention, so the close-up of the live director is to consciously take care of Tang Zheng and Modric.

Tang Zheng and Modric didn't pay attention to the voices outside the arena, Tang Zheng, who was a full head taller than Modric, rubbed Modric's flowing medium-length hair affectionately, and said with a smile: "I'm sorry, Luka, you have to pack your bags and go home tonight." ”

Modric rolled his eyes, but he was not angry, but shrugged his shoulders: "Anyway, you are just quick to speak, and we will definitely win in the end!"

"Really?" Tang Zheng blinked: "Luca?"

"Of course!" Modric said firmly, "we are much stronger than you." ”

"That'...... I hope you don't cry when the time comes. ”

Tang Zheng grabbed Modric's raised right hand and grinned.

"Don't worry, I will definitely comfort you when you cry. Modric also shook it hard: "Who made you my best partner?

"Hahaha, in that case, let's see in the game. ”

“OK！”

Tang Zheng and Modric, as captains of their respective teams, have more heavy tasks, so naturally they don't have so much time to chat in the players' tunnel, and after they separated, they hugged their teammates one by one to relieve pressure on their teammates.

You must know that this game was watched by the head of state Xi Boss on the spot, and it would be absolutely fake to say that you are not nervous.

A short time later, referee Pitana and his referee team led Croatian players in red and white checkered shirts and Chinese players in yellow jerseys into the court.

"Whoa—"

In the sky above the Nizhny Novgorod Arena, a huge shout like a tsunami sounded.

Whether it's the fans in the fan plaza outside the stadium or the fans in front of the TV, you can feel the surging feeling from the depths of your heart.

The tournament to advance to the quarterfinals is about to begin!

※※※

According to the schedule of the World Cup in Russia, the Chinese team is the away team, so the first broadcast on the radio is the Chinese national anthem "March of the Volunteers".

Everyone in Chinese was in awe at this time, including Boss Xi, who was waiting for the start of the game accompanied by Putin and Infantino, and he and his wife had serious expressions and sang the national anthem softly to the tone of the radio.

As one of the most watched leaders in the world political arena, Xi Lao Nature was under the focus of the live director, so he quickly switched to the VIP seat after giving a close-up of the Chinese starting players, and gave Xi Boss a close-up shot pushed to his face.

Fans sitting in front of the TV can see Boss Xi and Mrs. Xi through the broadcast screen, as well as Russian President Putin, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic.

In addition to the star-studded stadium, the VIP seats in this World Cup 1/8 final are even better.

Of course, the main focus of the fans is the game itself.

When the Croatian national anthem "Our Beautiful Motherland" ended, the players of both sides stood on their sides, and the captain walked to the referee Pitano and guessed the ball.

In the end, Modric won the right to pick the edge, and Tang Zheng naturally got the right to tee.

Before the start of the game, the live director also gave the video referee team a close-up of nearly five seconds, and the six video referees who appeared on the broadcast screen will assist the referee Pitano to enforce the focus of the game.

He Wei, the central 5 commentator sitting in the commentary seat of the stadium, couldn't wait, his voice was full of passion, and he shouted hysterically: "The game is getting closer and closer to us!" I think the fans sitting in front of the TV are very much looking forward to the Chinese team beating the Croatian team and advancing to the quarterfinals of this World Cup, because Ronaldo's Portugal has taken the lead in advancing to the quarterfinals, if the Chinese team can beat Croatia, the opponent to face in the quarterfinals will be Portugal led by Ronaldo!"

At this moment, the referee on duty, Pitana, blew the whistle: "Beep~"

Sun Jingbo kicked the ball back to Tang Zheng outside the arc of the center circle, and Mandzukic took the lead to pounce on Tang Zheng, who was in possession of the ball.

Tang Zheng didn't stick to the ball, and handed it directly to the central defender Gao Zhunyi, Mandzukic turned a corner, his speed did not decrease, and rushed over.

"CCTV! CCTV is now broadcasting for you the live broadcast of the match between the Chinese team and the Croatian team in the fourth 1/8 final of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, wearing yellow jerseys and yellow pants is the Chinese team, they attack from the right side of the broadcast screen to the left, wearing red and white plaid shirts and black shorts are the Croatian team, they attack from the left side of the broadcast screen to the right side......"

At the same time, He Wei, the commentator of Yang 5, habitually said the opening remarks.

Gao Zhunyi passed horizontally to Feng Xiaoting, who stopped the ball forward with the outside instep slightly, and then passed directly to the frontcourt.

Because the pass position was too far forward, Lovren pressed Sun Jingbo to complete the header clearance.

Hao Junmin and Modric jumped at the same time, but no one grabbed it, and after the football bounced to the ground, Li Kui returned to the front court in the Croatian defense half-circle arc.

Croatian left-back Strinic, who was adducted, jumped high to beat Wu Sanshi, who took off symbolically, and once again pushed the ball into the center circle.

The ball flew into Tang Zheng's control area, and Brozovic and Rebic jumped at the same time, but Tang Zheng was tall and judged the landing point of the football very accurately, and he easily pushed the ball forward.

Although Sun Jingbo is also 1.84 meters tall and has a good bounce, it is a pity that he obviously suffered a loss in size in front of Lovren, and the football was pushed back by Lovren again.

In this way, the football was pushed back and forth eight or nine times.

Until the football was under Tang Zheng's control again, he first stuck the position, stuck Brozovic behind him, and then padded the ball forward with his chest, and without waiting for the football to land, he directly used the arch of his right foot to end the football, and the football flew to the left rib of the Croatian defense.

Because Tang Zheng's pass was closer to Sun Jingbo, it was difficult for Lovren to get the football behind him, but fortunately, he reacted quickly, stretched out his left foot while sticking to Sun Jingbo, and stabbed the football to the sideline.

"The football was cleared off the sideline by Lovren, and the Chinese team got a sideline ball in front of the court. ”

He Wei's voice changed.

"Whoa—"

The game had just begun, and the chanting in the stands was deafening, and Zhang Linpeng, who was about to throw a sideline ball, waved his arms to stir up the excitement of the Chinese fans.

Zhang Linpeng took the football thrown by the staff on the sidelines and retreated enough distance.

Zhang Linpeng is ready to throw the sideline ball vigorously. He Wei's voice changed significantly, and he became more agitated.

Most of the fans sitting in front of the TV are not quite ready to watch the game, still eating snacks and drinking beer......

The broadcast footage showed more than six Chinese players entering the Croatian penalty area, so much so that except for Modric standing at the top of the arc of the penalty area, the other nine players all returned to the penalty area to assist in the defense.

"The Chinese team's sideline ball. Zhang Linpeng ran and threw the sideline ball, and the central 5 commentator He Wei shouted: "The football is thrown far away, flying to the Croatian penalty area!"

Tang Zheng, Gao Zhunyi and Sun Jingbo are the three highs of Croatian players, especially Tang Zheng.

Tang Zheng, who was standing at the back point, gave up the jump under the pull of Lovren and Mandzukic, Sun Jingbo at the front point and Gao Zhunyi and Hao Junmin in the middle jumped at the same time, and Vida, Brozovic, Rakitic and Fosariko followed suit.

But after the jump, they bumped into each other, and neither of them hit the ball and missed.

Tang Zheng, who was ambushed at the back point, reacted very quickly, saw the incoming ball and subconsciously raised his long legs forward, used a very good ball sense to stop the ball at his feet, and then picked up his right foot to trick Lovren into falling to the ground and putting a tackle.

As a result, Tang Zheng did not shoot, but slammed the ball to the left with the instep of his right foot, and the speed of action was not at all like that of a big man with a height of more than 1.9 meters.

The right foot stepped on the ground, the left foot was naturally picked up, in order to ensure the speed of the foot and increase the suddenness, Tang Zheng did not pick up the thigh, he swung his calf, and poked the toe of his left foot towards the football.

The ball rolled against the turf towards the near corner of the goal, and Rebic, who was guarding in front of the goalpost, did not kick the ball, and goalkeeper Subasic fell to the ground too late......

No one expected that the game was less than a minute, and the Chinese team got off to a dream start!