Time flies by in a flash.

31 May, 2002.

Last year's World Cup winners, France, will also be the first team to appear in the World Cup in Japan and South Korea, against Senegal.

France vs Senegal is the opening match of the World Cup between Japan and South Korea.

And without Zidane?

The French team did not raise enough alarm, because even without Zidane, they still have a lot of good candidates. Such as Vieira, Djokaeff, Petit and many more.

Moreover, Germany is also the number one favorite to win the World Cup.

So the first win against Senegal?

That's what everyone thinks.

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At 18:30 Beijing time, the 17th World Cup Football Championship, which was attended by the Chinese team for the first time, was grandly opened at Sangam Stadium in Seoul.

Starting this evening, 736 football heroes from 32 countries will compete in 20 stadiums in South Korea and Japan to carry on the glorious dream of the World Cup for 72 years and leap through the surging passion of fans around the world.

Compared with previous World Cups, this World Cup has attracted more attention from the world because it is the first World Cup in the new century, the first time it has been hosted by two countries, the first time it has been held in Asia outside Europe and the United States, and China's first entry into the World Cup.

After 44 years of hard work, Chinese football has finally realized its dream of becoming a member of the World Cup finals, in a sense, this World Cup is a grand festival for people all over the world, a carnival for Asians, and a World Cup for Chinese fans. For Chinese fans, for the first time, they have changed from World Cup spectators to "fans" in the real sense, and for the first time, they have changed from outsiders to insiders, and the joy, anticipation, and excitement cannot be expressed in words.

Seoul's main stadium -—— Sangam Stadium were packed today, and it became a sea of boiling. The opening ceremony was attended by the heads of state of 11 countries, including Kim Dae-jung, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, and football giants such as FIFA President Sepp Blatter and former FIFA President Havelange.

At 18:30 Beijing time, the opening ceremony officially began.

In the cheers and attention of hundreds of millions of spectators, the flags of the host countries South Korea and Japan entered the venue. The national anthems of South Korea and Japan resounded over the stadium. The FIFA flag and the flags of the 32 participating countries fluttered in the wind in the stadium in turn. The five-star red flag was raised for the first time in the World Cup finals, which made hundreds of millions of Chinese fans enthusiastic.

After the wonderful opening ceremony, the opening match of this World Cup between France and Senagal kicked off.

The air temperature on the course was 20 degrees Celsius, the wind speed was 1 km/h, the humidity was 75%, and there was light rain on the sky. Nearly 63,000 fans watched the game, and the enforcer was Buyssem of the United Arab Emirates. The line-ups of both sides did not deviate much from the pre-match predictions. Le Maire lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Djokaef coming in for the injured Zinedine Zidane, flanked by Thierry Henry and Wiltord to the left and right, with Trezeguet coming forward. Senegalese coach Mechu lined up in a 4-5-1 formation, with Diouf playing up front.

After the loss of Pire and Zidane, the quality of the French team's midfield organization, versatility and flexibility seem to have dropped a notch. In fact, the French team's glorious record in the past, including the 98 World Cup victory and the 2000 European Championship victory, is also based on defensive counterattacks, and if this defensive counterattack lacks the clever passing organization of Zidane and Pire, I am afraid that it can only fall into a more chaotic state.

Therefore, the French team did not play what everyone expected in the game.

By the time Le Maire found out the pain without Zidane, it was too late. Throughout the game, France tried to fill the gap in midfield left by Zinedine Zinedine's absence, but allowed the Senegalese players to take advantage of the holes in the back line to score first.

As a result, the French team lost.

Lost 0:1 to Senegal.

"How terrible it is to have no midfield soul!"

"France lost Zinedine Zidane and lost to Sergal."

"And if we don't have Zheng Zhi? I can't imagine it! ”

Huang Jianxiang, who broadcast the opening ceremony live, sighed, "Recently, many media have been rumoring that Zheng Zhi was also injured, but at present, this should be a smoke bomb." What we see is that Zheng Zhi is still alive and kicking on the training ground. ”

In fact, Zheng Zhi is now under the care of the domestic Chinese medicine expert group every day, and at present, there is really no big problem, and it is no surprise that he will definitely represent the Chinese team in Costa Rica.

No one can afford to take a risk.

Once every four years, he still rushed to the World Cup for 44 years, even Zheng Zhi himself was not calm. For Zheng Zhi, you have to add 18 years, counting the previous life.

Shortly after the match, Saudi Arabia, the first Asian team to play the game, was slaughtered.

Lost 0:8 to the aging German tank!

The strength of the Asian team is vulnerable, and even the German team can't bear it?

3rd. The whistle blew at the Ulsan Manju Football Stadium for the opening match of Group C of the World Cup.

China's group opponents, Brazil and Turkey, were the first to appear. Brazil's "3R" combination all played, and in first-half stoppage time, Basturk opened the scoring with a volley from the edge of the penalty area. In the second half, Ronaldo scored with a cross from Rivaldo. Before the end of the game, Luisson won a penalty for Brazil, which Rivaldo converted.

Brazil beat Turkey with a thrilling 2-1 scoreline.

Turkey has finally shown its true strength.

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4th.

The Chinese team, which has been in Seogwipo for 18 days, will finally make its debut today. This is the first time for Chinese football in the World Cup, and it is also a new chapter in the history of Chinese football.

Although I saw the Saudi Arabian team lose to Germany 0:8, but also saw Senegal win France, Ecuador humiliated Maldini, especially the Turkish team fought Brazil, the Chinese team's confidence was steep.

In the first game against Costa Rica, the good thing is that the Chinese team knows them, they don't know the Chinese team. The brother team is a Latin style of play, which is mainly individual, and the overall concept is not strong.

At the pre-match press conference, Costa Rican coach Guimarães was confident: "China are a dangerous opponent, but we think we can compete with them. We are confident of winning in the first race. France can lose to Senegal, and it's normal for us to win against China. ”

Goalkeeper Mason echoed the manager's sentiments, saying: "The Chinese team is very strong, but our team is also very strong. ”

Striker Parks also pointed out that "Costa Rica are not afraid of any team in the same group, and Brazil and Turkey will also be attacked by Costa Rica." ”

"It doesn't matter which team is famous, it's important to do your best, no matter who your opponent is," Parks said. ”

On the Chinese team's side, Horton is also very heroic.

"We've been preparing for this game against Costa Rica for a long time, and now we're ready and now we just have to wait for this game."

The reporter asked: "One goal or three points, which is more realistic for the Chinese team?" ”

Horton replied very tactfully: "It's more realistic to score four points!" ”

Then he said: "I want to win every game, and this game is no exception. There are three possible outcomes in every game, though, and I hope our result is a victory. ”

Zheng Zhi on the side was also asked: "Zheng Zhi, have you ever thought about scoring the first World Cup goal for the Chinese team?" ”

Zheng Zhi said with a smile: "That's a good question, in fact, each of us thinks like this. ”

"I also got a reward for everyone, whoever scores the first goal of the Chinese team in the World Cup, I will personally reward 1 million!"

"Huh!"

The scene was in an uproar.

This reward is awesome, everyone has to fight for it? It's really capricious to be rich.

"But what if everybody rushes to shoot and doesn't pass the ball?"

"If you lose, you don't have a reward." Zheng Zhi shrugged his shoulders, it turned out that he still had a precondition, "It must be a draw or a win for my reward to be valid." ”

"Ever thought you did it yourself?"

'Of course, there will be a lot of free-kick opportunities in the game and as long as there are free-kick chances, I can score.

He is confident in his free-kick footwork.

……

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At 12 o'clock in Seoul time and 11 o'clock in Beijing time, there are still three and a half hours before the start of the World Cup match between China and Costa Rica, but fans from both sides have rushed to the stadium one after another.

In the square outside the stadium, Chinese fans began to gather and wave the five-star red flag. Fans in Gwangju also put up slogans such as "China and South Korea are friends."

There is news that 40,000 Chinese fans will appear at Gwangju Stadium today, but apparently this news is not very accurate; There is also a theory that 20,000 Chinese fans have arrived in Gwangju, but based on the reporter's consultation with the relevant personnel of the Chinese travel agency, they judge that there will be a little more than 10,000 Chinese fans today.

There were also dozens of Costa Rican fans outside the stadium, who were collectively gearing up their costumes. The uniforms of some of the more famous Costa Rican players like No. 9 Wanchope and Gomez are worn by these Costa Rican fans. It is estimated that the number of Costa Rican fans at the Gwangju Stadium today is about 400 to 500.

Two days ago, the government in Seoul notified fans who went to various stadiums to arrive at the stadium at least two hours in advance for admission, and every fan who entered the stadium, including reporters, had to go through a very strict security check, so that everyone would have about one minute in the process of security check. Obviously, if a large number of fans rush to the stadium before the game, there will definitely be some fans who will not be able to enter the stadium at the start time of the game because of the long security check.

An hour and a half before the game, the two sides announced their starting lineups.

The starting lineup of the Chinese team is: goalkeeper Ou Chuliang; The four defenders from left to right are Sun Xiang, Fan Zhiyi, Li Weifeng, and Sun Jihai; The four avant-gardes from left to right are Shao Jiayi, Li Yin, Zheng Zhi, and Qu Peng; The two forwards are Yang Chen and Xie Hui.

Costa Rica: goalkeeper Ronis; defenders Martinez, Wright, Marin; midfielders Castro, Fonseca, Soris, Santeno, Wallace; Forwards Wanchope and Gomez.

At 14:51 Seoul time, all the members of the Chinese team lined up to run into the Gwangju World Cup arena and began the formal training before the game.

The 11 main players of the Costa Rica team also lined up to run into the field a minute earlier, and the atmosphere on the field has reached a climax due to the presence of players from both teams.

Twenty minutes ago, a 30-meter-long Chinese flag was held high by Chinese fans and circled the stadium stands for half a circle, causing a burst of cheers from the Chinese fans in the stadium, and at the same time, South Korean fans also played a flag 5 meters wide and 20 meters long, which was composed of the Chinese and South Korean flags connected together. It shows the friendliness of Korean fans to Chinese fans.

Led by Zhu Guanghu, the head of the Chinese coaching staff, the 10 starters of the Chinese team, except for the goalkeeper, were training on their physical flexibility on the field, while the other substitutes were running around their own half under the leadership of assistant coach Shen Xiangfu. And Horton was also standing in the middle of the field, chatting with the team leader all the time?

At 14:30 on June 4, Beijing time, the second match of the first round of Group C of the World Cup whistled at the World Cup Stadium in Gwangju, South Korea, and the "World Cup debut" that hundreds of millions of Chinese people were waiting for finally kicked off!

"CCTV, CCTV, audience friends, fans and friends......"

"Horton lined up in a 4-4-2 formation, and there was only one change in the starting lineup from our pre-match prediction, that is, PSV Eindhoven's Sun Xiang replaced Wu Chengying, and the Chinese team's starters were all composed of players from the Liuyang Army!"

"Goalkeeper Ou Chuliang, defenders Sun Jihai, Li Weifeng, Fan Zhiyi, Sun Xiang, midfielders are Li Yin, Zheng Zhi, Shao Jiayi and Qu Peng, and forwards are Yang Chen and Xie Hui."

Guimaraes lined up in a 3-4-3 formation, with main striker Lopes not playing, replaced by striker Philemon Fonseca.

"The enforcer of this match is the Greek Kiros, the two assistant referees are from Portugal and the Netherlands, and the fourth official is from Sweden."

"Today's temperature at Gwangju Stadium is 31 degrees Celsius, wind speed is 0.3 m/s, the weather is cloudy, and the humidity is 34%. The physical demands on both players are high! And this climate is similar to the climate of Costa Rica, so the Chinese team does not have any physical advantages. ”

A whistle blows in Kyros, and Costa Rica kicks off first!

The Chinese team immediately launched a full-court pressing!

In the game where he vowed to win three points, the Chinese players could not afford to slack off.

The two strikers who played in Germany, Yang Chen and Xie Hui, were very aggressive in their scramble, and soon forced the Costa Rican defenders to kick the ball up in the backfield.

As a result, the ball fell to the feet of Fan Zhiyi, Fan Zhiyi handed the ball to Zheng Zhi, Zheng Zhi immediately launched a fast attack, sent the ball to the right front with a big foot, and Eindhoven winger Qu Peng quickly cut inside, and was about to unload the ball, but was put to the ground by the opponent's left back.

The Chinese team immediately won an opportunity to position themselves in the front court.

"Here's your chance!"

"Set-pieces up front!"

"But the set-piece is not in a good position, Zheng Zhi may still pass the ball into the Costa Rican penalty area."

Sure enough, Zheng Zhi still passed the ball to the back point to find Li Weifeng and Fan Zhiyi, but unfortunately neither of them could reach the ball, but was pushed out by Costa Rican striker Wanchope.

However, the ball is still owned by the Chinese team, and Li Yin immediately gave the ball to Shao Jiayi who pulled out of the penalty area outside the penalty area!

Shao Jiayi glanced up at the big penalty area and crossed directly with his left foot!

"Oops!"

"Hey! Zheng Zhi! ”

In the big penalty area of Costa Rica, Zheng Zhi suddenly rushed in from outside the penalty area, and then jumped high at the back point, a mighty dive! The forehead smashed accurately on the ball, and the flight path of the ball was changed instantly, and it went straight to the upper right corner of the goal!

"The ball is in!"

"The ball is in!"

"The ball is in!"

Huang Jianxiang immediately jumped up in the live broadcast room and roared loudly.

The whole stadium was thunderous in an instant! The fans hadn't even started shouting cheering slogans before they saw Zheng Zhi's goal!

The surprise came too early, too early!

"Sure enough, it's Zheng Zhi!"

"Zheng Zhi scored the first goal of the Chinese team in the World Cup!"

"A lot of players don't even touch the ball!"

"Look at Ou Chuliang's expression, he doesn't seem to believe it now?!"