Three days after China's arrival in Sochi, three other teams in Group F, Sweden, Mexico and Germany, arrived.

The gates of the Chinese team's base are still crowded every day, and reporters who have come to Sochi to cover the four teams in Group F have chosen to focus on defending champions Germany and China. Needless to say, the defending champions deserve to attract the attention of the media, no matter how much they win the attention of the media. And the reason for paying attention to the Chinese team is also very simple, the Chinese team, which has missed three World Cups, has a mysterious color on the world stage.

Except for Wen Zhihao and Liang Xin, as well as Zheng Zhi, who has experience in the Premier League, the world's mainstream media does not have a clear understanding of the abilities of other Chinese team players.

It is important to note here that although the Chinese Super League has been broadcast in dozens of countries in Europe and South America since last season, the audience is actually limited. Of course, the time difference is an important factor, but more importantly, how many fans who have watched the big five leagues will have this interest in watching the Asian league? It's the same as the Chinese have always scoffed at European table tennis matches. The level is too lo.

The world's mainstream media will only focus on which world-class stars will play in China during the transfer window, but that's about it. Perhaps these media will pay attention to Wen Zhihao's performance, but it does not mean that they are optimistic about the prospects of the Chinese team. Both the media and the bookmaker's odds unanimously regard Germany and Mexico as favourites to qualify from this group.

In terms of strength, it is true that these two teams are superior, but there is still an emotion in the hearts of Chinese fans and the media, looking forward to the emergence of "what ifs......

Before the first match, the Chinese Football Association had previously contacted a local Russian second-tier league team in Sochi to conduct an internal teaching match to test the status of the gun.

Although it is not open to the internal teaching game that is not broadcast without broadcasting, Lippi also sent all the main forces, the formation is still 4-3-3, Wen Zhihao, Liang Xin and Zheng Zhi are the three partners in the midfield, Gao Lin as the forward arrow, not surprisingly, this is also the main configuration of the front court in the first game of the Chinese team.

The opponent is a team in the middle of the Russian second league, and the Chinese team certainly has a clear advantage in terms of strength. Less than 20 minutes into the first half, Wen Zhihao used a penetrating through ball behind the opponent's central defender, and Gao Lin was alert to break the deadlock with a push into the far corner.

However, before the end of the first half, Zhang Linpeng was not resolute enough to play the ball on the back line, and was tackled by the opponent's striker and equalized with a long shot.

Lippi didn't react to the Chinese team's goal before, but seeing this lost goal, Lippi suddenly stood on the sidelines, frowning slightly, although his face did not change much, but he was very dissatisfied.

Wen Zhihao is also very angry in his heart, such a mistake, if it appears in the first game with the Swedish team, the consequences are likely to be irreparable.

But Wen Zhihao still enlightened Zhang Linpeng on the surface: "Did you think that you were going to play in the World Cup, and you were very nervous?" ”

"Kind of it." Zhang Linpeng is generous and honest.

Wen Zhihao smiled, patted his shoulder, and said, "It's not the World Cup yet, take a deep breath and relax." Just like you play in China, your nickname is Zhang Mosi, it's a gentleman, don't be cowardly! ”

……

In the second half, Wen Zhihao once again contributed a pass and a shot, the Chinese team expanded the score to 3:1 in 70 minutes, the Chinese team still showed a very strong control in the midfield today, Lippi took into account Zheng Zhi's age and physical fitness after 60 minutes, and replaced him with Hao Junmin, but with Wen Zhihao in the midfield control, it is basically impossible for the other party to find the mistake like in the first half.

Although he won the goal in the end, Lippi was not satisfied with the inexplicable goal conceded, and used this mistake to knock the whole team: "Although this is not an official World Cup match, you should know that it is a very serious mistake to lose a goal due to a mistake like this, and I don't think it should happen to the national team players. It's an inconsequential game we can win, but in a few days we don't have that many chances. ”

The atmosphere instantly became serious, and everyone knew that Lippi usually didn't directly reprimand everyone in a stern tone, but once he did, it was time for him to think that the problem was so serious that the situation waited for no one.

After a while, Lippi's face softened slightly, and he admonished everyone: "I don't mean to undermine everyone's confidence, you are the best professional players in China, but you have no experience in the World Cup, I want to tell you what the world's highest level of competition is like, on this stage, any hesitation and flaws can be infinitely magnified." ”

Several players discussed in private: "I feel that Old Man Pi is so serious, are we going to go to the knife mountain or go to the sea of fire?" ”

Zheng Zhi made a joke next to him: "I was already playing drums in my heart, but when I said this, I felt that I couldn't do it." ”

Wen Zhihao sat down behind him and answered, "Won't it? Brother Zhi, you old rivers and lakes, you are all nervous, then we are really here to play the role of soy sauce this time. ”

Zheng Zhi turned his head and replied: "Although I have been playing football for 20 years, the World Cup is the first time like everyone else, how can it be possible to say that I have no ideas?" Of course, you're different, you won the Champions League, and I guess these games are trivial to you. ”

Wen Zhihao smiled: "I just don't think it's as serious as Old Man Pi said, at least I don't want to get a boxed lunch after the group stage!" ”

Everyone else was stunned, and then Liang Xin spoke: "Zhihao, it's good to have confidence, but you don't really think we can win Mexico, right?" Not to mention Germany. Removing these two opponents, what chance do we have? ”

"No, no, no, Liang Xin, I'm not as pessimistic as you." Wen Zhihao swept everyone in the room at this time and said, "I really think that we have a chance, which is much better than the outside world expected." ”

Everyone's attention is focused,

Wen Zhihao continued: "Our three opponents. In the first game against Sweden, I thought it was a good chance. Like us, they have also missed two or three times, and after Ibrahimovic withdrew from the national team, I didn't know of any particularly capable stars, and this new group of people is just like us, and they are all new recruits to the World Cup. As a joke, rookies peck each other, don't you have confidence? ”

"The second opponent, Mexico, well, is stronger. But everyone should know more or less that American players are more emotional, and they can't stop when they go crazy, so let's strive to fight strong against strong, and raise the intensity of confrontation to prevent them from going crazy, at least there is still hope for a draw. ”

"The last opponent Germany...... Theoretically, we don't have to think about it, if others seriously fight us, there is no chance at all. But by the time we play them, chances are Germany have already qualified, and with their quality, they are likely to secure the top spot in the group. Wouldn't they have rested their main players for the knockout rounds at that time? I don't think it's possible. You know, the Germans are very shrewd. If we defend with all our might, we might be lucky enough to get a draw. ”

After Wen Zhihao finished speaking, everyone fell into deep thought, digesting Wen Zhihao's words. After a few moments, some of the players' eyes lit up.

They had never thought of it that way, and it sounded like a good idea!