The final round of the group stage was played over the past few days, with Uruguay and hosts Russia qualifying, Spain and Portugal from the Iberian Peninsula in Group B, France topping Group C and Denmark beating the circle of death to reach the round of 16 as group runners-up.

Argentina and Croatia in Group D made it to the knockout rounds, while Iceland failed to do the same miracle as the European Championships, while Brazil in Group E won all three games and scored 10 goals to reach the round of 16, while Costa Rica won between Switzerland and Serbia to reach the round of 16 for the second time since the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. In Group F, Germany's qualification was expected, while Sweden beat Mexico in the final round to reach the round of 16.

The final round of Group H and Group G has not yet started, but England and Belgium in Group G have won both games and have already qualified early, so it will only be up to them to win the group. As for Group H, we will have to wait until after the group stage is played to make a decision.

The day before the game, the coaches of both sides held a press conference, at which An Rong said very happily: "Our goal at this stage is not only to qualify from the group, but to win the first place in the group." Yes, I'm sure there will be, because they're going to talk about our draw with Colombia, but I just want to say that it was a few days ago and now we just want to win this game. ”

An Rong's words made all the reporters in the audience a little dumbfounded, even Chen Hui and Shen Hao were stunned, in their impression, An Rong is a more introverted coach, not so easy to show his feelings, why did he say such a direct thing today?

A Polish reporter in the audience asked, "May I ask Mr. An, why are you so confident that you can win the game?"

"Because we're strong, stronger than Poland, aren't we?"

In the face of An Rong's rhetorical question, the Polish journalist was a little dumbfounded, but what An Rong said was also the truth. The international ranking of the Chinese team is higher than that of Poland, the value of the players is also higher than that of Poland, and the championship index is much higher than that of Poland. No matter from which angle you analyze it, it is the Chinese team that is strong.

However, reporters are always journalists, he said: "Football is not a simple comparison of size, value and popularity can only be used as a reference. ”

"Yes, value is not the decisive factor in the outcome of a match, but strength can determine the outcome of a match. Let's see, the Chinese team will win. ”

Shen Hao patted Chen Hui: "Old Chen, Director An, shouldn't it be because of the misjudgment in the last game?"

Chen Hui whispered: "Who knows? However, it's a good thing that An Rong has this confidence." ”

Nawalka was much more tactful than An Rong, he said: "When I saw that we were in a group with the Chinese team, I didn't think it was good, because the Chinese team is something that many teams don't want to meet, they are too strong, and any team will not have a high chance of winning against them, but I feel very honored, because it is a bad thing that we are in a group with such a strong team, and only playing against the stronger team will make us stronger." Some people may say that I am complimenting the Chinese team, and some people will say that I am showing weakness to the Chinese team, it doesn't matter, I just want to tell everyone that we will do our best in the competition to fight for a place in the top 16. ”

Chen Hui asked directly: "Then will you be afraid of the front line formed by Zhang Shujie and Li Mu?"

Navalka said: "No. Because it's useless to be afraid, once you feel scared, it means that you are afraid before you fight, which is something that cannot happen in football. Chinese journalists don't need to ask me how I can limit their play, I have nothing to say. ”

Shen Hao said something even more poisonous: "In fact, as long as you can draw the Chinese team, you can enter the top 16 together." ”

Navalka frowned, this clearly showed that he was seeing Poland clearly, but Navalka did not get angry, but said lightly: "Yes, a draw is enough, but my disciples may not be satisfied with a draw." ”

After Chen Hui heard this, he suddenly felt that it might become a key point in the news, so he quickly wrote it down in his notebook.

*********************

The match between China and Poland will take place at 10 p.m. Beijing time on June 28 at the Volgograd Arena, along with the match between Colombia and Senegal. Interestingly, the final round of Group G will take place a day later than Group H, which is also a bit different from the order of the first two rounds. It's not clear why FIFA is arranging the schedule this way, and the players won't do it, just play their own games.

The players of the Chinese team came out of the hotel and felt the enthusiasm of the Chinese fans outside, just like the previous two times, they chanted the name of each Chinese player, and the reporters kept filming them, wanting to capture every moment of them.

Zhang Shujie, Li Mu and other players are still the same as before, waving to the crowd from time to time, causing a burst of screams from fans; Yan Tao is still the one who reacts the most, like a singer about to appear on the stage, waving loudly to reporters and fans, and snorting a few times from time to time. This move can always murder a lot of film, and reporters are very much looking forward to his appearance.

The bus traveled for about twenty minutes and arrived safely at the Volgograd Stadium. When entering the stadium from the entrance, the fans gathered on both sides were no less enthusiastic than the fans outside the hotel, and if it weren't for the security personnel, it would still be a question whether the Chinese players would have been able to enter the stadium smoothly.

The players went to the dressing room to change their clothes and then got ready to warm up on the pitch. The Polish players also just arrived, and the players of the two teams also met at the entrance and exit of the players' tunnel, coincidentally, Zhang Shujie inadvertently turned around and happened to see Lewandowski walking behind him.

Zhang Shujie smiled at him and said hello: "Hi." ”

Lewandowski also smiled and returned the salute: "Hi." ”

There was not much communication, and after a simple greeting, the two went to each end of the court, met with their teammates, and began to adapt to the venue.

In the press gallery, reporters from all over the world were already in place, and Chen Hui and Shen Hao were the first two reporters to arrive. They are not worried about the prospects of the Chinese team to qualify, not because of An Rong's confident words in the pre-match press conference, but because this national team has never dropped the chain at critical moments, and it is no longer the same as the national football team that often overturned in the gutter.

(End of chapter)