Chapter 412: Football debut comes off the bench
On the morning of the first day of officially joining the team, Zhang Huasong simply showed some of his skills, and before he could play his full game, the coach and players of the team were already shocked.
Everyone is looking forward to Zhang Huasong's first official match.
Of course, these are just Zhang Huasong's personal skills, and football also needs team cooperation, which can only be cultivated by training.
After meeting in the morning, the international players left the team one after another and returned to China to participate in the national team competition, and only some ordinary players were left in the Espino training base to train with Zhang Huasong.
With Zhang Huasong's official entry into the team, there are more and more reporters outside the Espino training base.
There are not only football reporters, but also entertainment reporters and comprehensive media reporters, all of whom were attracted by the world's top three superstar Zhang Huasong.
In terms of exposure, the current Atletico Madrid is not far behind Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Simeone occasionally opens up dozens of minutes of press interviews and fan visits, allowing reporters and fans to take a look at Zhang Huasong's training.
Naturally, Zhang Huasong's personal strength in training surprised reporters and fans.
The last time he crossed over from track and field to tennis, Zhang Huasong trained in a tennis hall in Peking for a period of time before he started to compete.
And now, as soon as Zhang Huasong entered the football world, he had extraordinary ball skills, and he seemed to be not inferior to those first-line superstars in football.
Especially in the counterattack, Zhang Huasong's sprint speed with the ball made the opponent unable to catch up without the ball during training, and could only eat ashes behind Zhang Huasong.
and Zhang Huasong's stopping, passing, shooting, free kicks, etc., are all very powerful, which surprised the reporters and fans who were onlookers.
Is this really a newcomer to football?
It's unbelievable!
Of course, in addition to the surprise, the reporters and fans were very excited. Obviously, such Zhang Huasong is more exciting than the nature of playing tickets that some people think!
In an interview with reporters at the end of Zhang Huasong's training, the reporters asked why Zhang Huasong was so powerful.
Hua Song replied that he has loved football since he was a child, and even if he developed in track and field and tennis a few years ago, Zhang Huasong did not let go of his hobby of football.
Moreover, after having the ideal of cross-border football, Zhang Huasong also deliberately studied and trained his skills in private.
That's why he's showing great skill when he first joins Atletico Madrid.
With the experience of track and field, tennis, and music, Zhang Huasong's all-round ability and genius have made reporters and fans accept Zhang Huasong's statement.
Everyone can only sigh that Zhang Huasong is really a super genius who is rare in the sports world for a thousand years, and he can learn everything quickly.
Zhang Huasong's skills in training spread all over the world through reporters' reports, and more people looked forward to Zhang Huasong's official match.
Especially Chinese fans, they began to look forward to Zhang Huasong playing an official game in Atletico Madrid, and then being called up to the men's national football team to fight for the country!
With the strength shown by Zhang Huasong in training, no one would think that Rehhagel, the head coach of the Huaguo team, who even paid Zhang Huasong's salary, would not recruit Zhang Huasong into the team!
Some conspiracy theorists even believe that Zhang Huasong paid out of his own pocket to hire a head coach for the national team, but in fact, he was playing the idea that he could join the national team smoothly after cross-border football in the future.
Of course, this conspiracy theory is not widespread and influential. The vast majority of people believe that with Zhang Huasong's fame and status, there is really no need to spare such a big circle in order to join the Chinese national team.
When Zhang Huasong was cooperating with his teammates who stayed at the Atletico Madrid training base, on October 16, the Huaguo team ushered in the first tough battle of the top 10 matches in the Asian region of the World Preliminaries: the fifth round of home against Australia.
In Group B of the top 10, Oman is rightfully considered to be the underdog, while Jordan is also considered the underdog.
Therefore, in the top 10 matches, the main competitors of the Chinese team are the Dongying team and Australia.
In the fifth round of the game this time, the Dongying team had a bye, the Chinese team faced Australia at home, and Oman faced Jordan at home, which was a good opportunity for the Chinese team to catch up with the points of the Dongying team.
At present, the Dongying team has 10 points and the Huaguo team has 6 points. If the Chinese team can defeat Australia in this round, it will chase 9 points, and it is only 1 point away from the Dongying team that has a bye in this round.
So, this game is crucial.
In this context, even the news that Zhang Huasong reported to Atletico Madrid and performed well in training had to make way for the national team's game.
On the afternoon of October 16, in the cheering of tens of thousands of fans at Kunming Tuodong Stadium, the Chinese team failed to win Australia.
Although Australia have been inconsistent in the early rounds and have struggled to win a single victory, they have not completely lost their fighting power.
In this game, the Australian team used their excellent physical fitness to cause huge problems for the Chinese team.
Although the Chinese team has improved a lot under Rehhagel's tutelage, it has not reached the point of winning against Australia. The previous unbeaten record in the top 20 matches was just because the opponents were not strong enough.
As a result, after losing to Dongying in the last round, the Chinese team was forced to draw 1-1 by Australia in this round and failed to win the opponent at home.
This is a dangerous achievement.
Failed to win at home, do you hope to win away from home?
After the game, the media and fans couldn't help but be very disappointed, and everyone began to collectively complain about Chinese football, and even scolded.
Fortunately, in another game in this round, the Oman team, which was regarded as a fish belly, exploded at home and defeated the Jordanian team with a score of 2-1, not allowing Jordan, which was originally ranked third, to catch up.
After the fifth round, Dongying continued to rank first in the Group B standings with 10 points and 10 goal difference, Huaguo team ranked second with 7 points and 5 goal difference, Oman team ranked third with 4 points - 6 goal difference, Australia ranked fourth with 3 points - 1 goal difference, and Jordan team ranked fifth with 3 points - 8 goal difference.
Halfway through the tournament, Asia's No. 1 Australia has yet to win a single game, and even Oman, who are considered to be the belly of the fish, are ahead of Australia.
And every team still has the possibility of qualifying directly, which is worthy of the group of death.
After the international break, international players returned to clubs and the major leagues were back in action.
This time, the eyes of the world are on Spain, and everyone wants to know whether Zhang Huasong will be selected for the squad and will play in the eighth round of La Liga Madrid away against Real Sociedad on October 21.
Just looking at Zhang Huasong's skills on the training ground, Zhang Huasong can definitely get the main position in the Atletico Madrid team.
On October 20, before leaving for the away game, Simeone announced the 18-man squad for Real Sociedad, and Zhang Huasong's name was prominently listed.
Immediately, the media and fans all over the world were excited.
Not only football journalists, but also countless entertainment media and general media travelled to the Basque Country to cover Atletico Madrid's away match against Real Sociedad.
The scale of its coverage is not far behind the previous round of the Spanish national derby.
Because, Zhang Huasong, who ranks third in the international star popularity list, is too famous, more famous than Messi and Ronaldo, the strongest in football today, and the whole world is paying attention to Zhang Huasong's football debut.
On October 21, two hours before the start of the game, Simeone announced the starting line-up for the game. Not surprisingly, Zhang Huasong did not start.
After all, he has only just joined the team, and although he has shown good skills on the training ground, it is still unknown how well he will cooperate with his teammates on the field.
Even if he plays, he will definitely come on as a substitute, and it is impossible to start as soon as he comes, even if Zhang Huasong is the owner of the club.
Being able to join the team for training for more than ten days and enter the 18-man squad is already strong enough.
At 20:30 local time on October 21, with the referee's whistle, the eighth round of the 2012/2013 Spanish Serie A season Real Sociedad home match against Atletico Madrid officially began.
CCTV Sports Channel naturally broadcast the game live, although it was 3 o'clock in the middle of the night Beijing time, there were still many Zhang Huasong fans and fans in front of the TV, waiting for a possible Zhang Huasong football debut.
Once the match began, Real Sociedad launched an attack on Atletico Madrid to the cheers of the home fans.
Real Sociedad have been in good form this season and are currently fifth in the table. Coupled with the combat power bonus at home, it is normal to take the initiative to attack Atletico Madrid at home.
The opponent took the initiative to attack, and Atletico Madrid, who were fighting away, naturally focused on defensive counterattacks.
However, 45 minutes passed and Real Sociedad at home failed to find the back of the net against David De Gea.
And Atletico Madrid's frontcourt trident Aguero, Falcao, and Costa also failed to break through Real Sociedad's goal, and the two sides went into the dressing room 0-0.
At halftime, the commentators of the national television stations had different opinions on the next trend of the game.
Some commentators felt that Atletico would be more difficult in this game, so Simeone should have replaced Zhang Huasong in the second half and tried a new attacking style.
After all, Zhang Huasong's speed, shooting skills and free kicks in training alone are enough to be the winner of a football game.
Other commentators believe that Zhang Huasong has just joined the team and must not be familiar with the team. In such a game with a scorching score, Simeone should not dare to risk sending Zhang Huasong on the field.
Only when the score is leading, Simeone will send Zhang Huasong off the bench to find the feeling of an official game, and will not pin his hopes of winning on President Zhang, who has just entered the football world.
Fans naturally want to see Zhang Huasong play, but they are not sure whether Simeone will let Zhang Huasong play.
In the midst of everyone's discussion, in the locker room, Simeone, who is full of iron-blooded and adventurous factors, has made the decision to replace Zhang Huasong.
It wasn't because Zhang Huasong was the boss, but it was the strength that Zhang Huasong showed in training that made Simeone make this decision: he thought that Zhang Huasong had the potential to change the tide of the game and win for Atletico.
In the team, everyone calls Zhang Huasong by his first name, and Zhang Huasong did not let the coach and teammates call him "President Zhang" to avoid estrangement with his teammates and affect the cooperation on the court.
After more than ten days of training, everyone has become accustomed to calling Zhang Huasong by his name.
Therefore, Simeone said to Zhang Huasong: "Zhang Huasong, in the second half, you replace Rodriguez on the field and play the front midfield! Use your speed to counterattack, give assists to the striker, and shoot yourself if you have a good opportunity." If there's a free-kick, you'll take it!"
Zhang Huasong nodded, his eyes full of fighting desire. It's his favorite sport and he's willing to do his best for it.
The rest of his teammates congratulated Zhang Huasong, and Uruguayan midfielder Rodriguez, who was substituted, did not have any complaints.
In addition to Zhang Huasong's identity, Zhang Huasong's strength in training is the main reason why everyone is convinced.
Zhang Huasong also kept his promise, never spoke tactically after joining the team, nor did he put pressure on Simeone on whether he wanted to start and how much time he played, everything was arranged by head coach Simeone.
Since Simeone replaced him, he just had to play well on the pitch.
At the beginning of the second half, when everyone found out that Zhang Huasong was replaced, the commentators from various countries immediately became excited.
"Audience friends, as soon as the second half began, the high-profile Zhang Huasong was replaced by Simeone. Zhang Huasong's football debut is about to officially begin!"
At this moment, Atletico Madrid's fans and countless players, coaches, football insiders, fans, and melon-eating people around the world are staring at the live broadcast of La Liga with wide eyes, ready to witness Zhang Huasong's football debut.
On the field, the Real Sociedad players on the opposite side also looked at Zhang Huasong, who was wearing the No. 16 shirt, and was full of curiosity about the most famous and valuable "newcomer" in football.
Atletico Madrid plays a 4213 formation, with 4 defenders plus 2 defensive midfielders, offensive midfielders plus 3 forwards to attack, and the overall tactics are high-post pressing in defensive counterattacks, and Simeone requires everyone to run and press all over the field.
Although Rodriguez, who plays in the midfield, has the same name as Porto's Colombia star James Rodriguez, the difference in level is a bit large.
If it weren't for the luxury configuration of Aguero, Falcao and Costa on the Atletico Madrid forward line, Atletico Madrid would never have achieved the second place in the league last season.
The front three were not playing well in the first half of this game, and Rodriguez was unable to provide strong help to the front three, which was also the reason why Atletico failed to find the Real Sociedad goal in the first half.
The reason why Simeone replaced Zhang Huasong in midfield was that Zhang Huasong showed much better strength than Rodriguez in all aspects in training, and Simeone wanted Zhang Huasong to use his strength to help the forward line or score by himself.
As for whether Zhang Huasong's football debut will be nervous, Simeone is not worried at all.
Simeone believes that Zhang Huasong, who has seen a lot of things and has been tested in countless international competitions, cannot be nervous and cause his debut to be abnormal.
In fact, it is true, Zhang Huasong, who is on the court for the first time, has nothing to be nervous about, he only has excitement, and the expectation and desire for victory.
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