Chapter 43: A battle of life and death
"The 2016-2017 season of La Liga has ended, although after Gao Zheng's comeback, Atletico Madrid was undefeated, but because the previous Atletico Madrid dropped too many points, they finally got 81 points, but they can only rank third. The first place went to Zinedine Zidane's Real Madrid, who won the league title with 93 points. Barcelona is second by three points ......"
"This season has been a failure for Simeone, who has been defending the league and Champions League twice, but this season he has been empty-handed, with no league title, Champions League and Copa del Rey to win. The absence of Gao Zheng has a great impact on the team...... So much so that in the end, the team had to give up the Champions League in order to keep third in the league......"
Gao Zheng still handed over a report card of ten league goals despite missing most of the games this season, and when he returned, there were only nine rounds left in the league...... However, Atletico Madrid fans don't need to be sad about this season's results, as long as Gao Zheng is healthy, Atletico Madrid will definitely be able to make a comeback next season......"
“…… After a short break at the club level, Gao Zheng returned to China yesterday and after a short break, he will gather with his national team to prepare for the Chinese team's away match against Syria in the round of 12 on June 13. To put it bluntly, this game may be directly related to whether the Chinese team can still enter the World Cup......"
“…… Our reporter photographed Gao Zheng and Feng Shiyu at the door of a restaurant! This is the first time that the two of them have appeared in front of everyone together after announcing their relationship. Facing the camera, Gao Zheng and Feng Shiyu greeted the reporter very generously, and Gao Zheng even simply accepted an interview with our reporter, saying that he came here to have dinner with friends, and hoped that the reporter would not follow up and disturb other guests to eat......"
"Gao Zheng and Feng Shiyu are really a good match! Gao Zheng is 1.9 meters tall, Feng Shiyu is not low, 1.73 meters tall, and the two of them standing together truly interpret what it means to be a 'talented woman'! The reporter noticed that when Gao Zheng was explaining to us, Feng Shiyu was standing next to him, staring at him all the time, very affectionate and focused, as if in Feng Shiyu's eyes, there was only Gao Zheng left in the world, such a fairy couple, it is really enviable! ”
"Yesterday, the Chinese national team's training camp reopened, and Gao Zheng, who had finished a short vacation, also returned to the national team, and our reporter met him outside the training base. After the break, Gao Zheng seemed to be in a happy mood and nodded frequently to the reporters. I don't know if it's an illusion, although we all know that Gao Zheng always has a smile, but now the smile on his face reveals more happiness...... Maybe it's because of love? It is said that when he returned to the national team again, he brought a pack of Feng Shiyu's signed new album and gave it to everyone in the national team, and even the staff was not left behind...... I have to say that Gao Zheng is also a talented person to be able to think of using his girlfriend's album as a favor......"
"In a warm-up match that just ended, the Chinese team defeated the Philippines 8:1 at home, making a good start for the next match with Syria......"
“…… After a period of intensive training, the Chinese team left for Malacca, Malaysia today to prepare for the match against Syria. This match is crucial for the Chinese team, who must win to continue their contention for group qualification......"
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"We analyzed a lot with you before the game, and finally came to a conclusion - if the Chinese team can't win this game, it will basically say goodbye to next year's World Cup in Russia......" He Ping said in a solemn voice. Yes, if you can't win. That is, you can only win, not even a draw. But now, the Chinese team is 0:1 behind Syria on the field......"
The match on June 13 was Syria's home stadium, but it wasn't really played in Syria, as none of Syria's matches in the round of 12 were played in their own country due to the turmoil in the country.
Their home stadium is Malaysia.
It stands to reason that this hot and humid climate in Southeast Asia will be very uncomfortable for players from the Middle East and Syria.
But in reality, Syria has always been fighting on its home turf.
They have drawn with South Korea with Son Heung-min, Iran and Uzbekistan 1-0 here, and so far they have not lost at home in the round of 12......
Obviously a neutral stadium, Syria really played at home level here.
In this game, too, just eleven minutes into the game, Syria used a quick counterattack to form a single knife, and the Chinese goalkeeper Zengcheng threw the opposing player to the ground in the process of saving, and was sentenced to death by the referee and awarded a penalty.
Syria took advantage of the penalty to take the lead.
The backward Chinese team was obviously a little panicked and played without discipline.
Naturally, there was no equaliser.
So until the end of the first half, the score was still 1:0, and Syria, which was playing at home, was ahead.
Before this game, in another game that ended in the early morning of the 13th Beijing time, Iran defeated Uzbekistan 2-0 at home, which allowed them to qualify for the World Cup in advance, and also gave the Chinese team a big gift - if the Chinese team can win Syria in this game, it will only be four points behind Uzbekistan.
In this way, when the Chinese team talks directly to Uzbekistan in the next round of 12, if the Chinese team can beat Uzbekistan again, it will only be one point away.
Everything is possible.
But not long after the game started, the Chinese team suffered a head-on blow.
And until the end of the first half, they couldn't equalize.
Immediately, the hearts of the Chinese fans in front of the TV were hanging.
Even a draw in this game was a failure......
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“…… Lippi must have made a change at half-time, and although he did not make any substitutions, the Chinese team significantly strengthened their attack on the flanks after the second half. In this way, the pressure on Gao Zheng in the middle was reduced, forcing Syria to have to allocate more troops to defend on the side, and the Chinese team went on the offensive. However, Syria, which is in the lead, played ...... The Syrian players, who are very smart and obviously have a better physical advantage, frequently fall down in physical confrontations, resulting in frequent interruptions and fragments of the game, and the Chinese team's attack has lost its continuity......"
He Ping, as a commentator and a public figure, can only euphemistically say that Syria is playing very "smart", and the Chinese fans in front of the TV don't have any scruples, they directly scold the Syrian players for being shameless and taking advantage of them
Lying on the grass tactics to stall for time.
This did work, the Chinese team's attack was very uncomfortable, and when it was finally time to fight, the opponent fell to the ground screaming, and the referee's whistle sounded.
Although it was only a verbal warning to the players of the Chinese team, the offensive state and morale of the Chinese team were all gone.
Although Syria only had a one-goal lead, they were looking to hold on to that lead from the start of the second half.
After all, they also need three points to fight for third place in that group – and for now, they are closer to qualifying for the play-offs. Uzbekistan's loss to Iran created an opportunity not only for the Chinese team, but also for Syria.
Any team has a dream of playing in the World Cup, and Syria is no exception.
After the Syrian player came into contact with the Chinese team player again, fell to the ground, and the game was blown off, Wu Lei couldn't help it, and he stepped forward to the referee to protest: "Referee, do you think my body can squeeze him?" ”
He patted himself on the shoulder.
Just now, when he was fighting for position with his opponent, there was physical contact, and then the opponent's 1.85-meter-tall central defender, captain Al Saleh, fell to the ground......
Wu Lei is notoriously not good at physical confrontation because he is relatively thin.
As a result, he was able to knock a 1.85 meter big man to the ground so easily......
I have to say that the acting skills of the Syrian players are really good.
Although Wu Lei was very aggrieved, the referee did not change his decision, but insisted on punishing him for a foul and awarded the ball to Syria.
The Chinese fans in front of the TV saw this scene and hated it.
But they couldn't do anything but curse in front of the TV.
That's what makes them angrier.
On the TV screen, Gao Zheng went up and patted Wu Lei, comforted him twice, and then dragged Wu Lei away from the referee.
"Yes, stay calm and don't be provoked by your opponents, otherwise you will fall for them!" He Ping said when he saw this scene.
In fact, he was also very angry, very unhappy, and felt a fire in his heart.
But as a narrator, he must also remain calm and sane.
And he is telling the truth, the more angry he is, the less angry he is, and once he loses his mind, the game is completely over.
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Five minutes later, the Chinese team played the football into the Syrian penalty area, Gao Zheng went to catch the ball, and the opposing captain Al Saleh quickly posted it to stop Gao Zheng.
Gao Zheng was still stuck in front of him, and he pushed it in a hurry, wanting to make Gao Zheng not receive the ball so easily......
But at this moment, he heard Gao Zheng suddenly scream and fell to the ground!
Before Saleh's hand could retract, he encountered such a sudden scene, and he was stunned for about a second, and then raised his hands high, signaling that there was no movement in his hand just now!
But it was too late, the referee's whistle sounded, and he raised his hand and pointed to the penalty spot unwaveringly!