After the Chinese media learned that Atletico Madrid would participate in the International Champions Cup and knew the specific schedule, the attention of the China division of this year's International Champions Cup immediately skyrocketed. Wen Zhihao returned to Tianhe to fight against his old master, but this highlight alone made the tickets for the match between Atletico Madrid and Guangzhou Evergrande sold out a week in advance.

Although the International Champions Cup China has been in existence for three years, this is also the first time that Guangzhou Evergrande has represented a Chinese team in such a star-studded event. Although Guangzhou Evergrande's Chinese Super League season has just reached the second half of the season, and the championship competition between them and their old rival Shanghai SIPG is in full swing, head coach Cannavaro previously told the media that they will still send their main team to play in the International Champions Cup. The Chinese Football Association has also made it convenient, and Evergrande's next two rounds of league games have been postponed.

"The squad is full at the moment, and even if we participate in this cup competition, we are confident that it will not have a negative impact on the league title, not to mention that playing against a new Champions League champion like Atletico Madrid is a rare opportunity to learn and improve, so all the main players will play."

Cannavaro's statement gave the media every reason to look forward to what kind of sparks would emerge from the collision between Wen Zhihao and these former Evergrande teammates, as well as the current teammates of the national team.

In terms of the schedule, the organizing committee also took care of everyone's emotions, and the match between Evergrande and Atletico Madrid was scheduled for the first match day in China, and since there are only three teams in China, Chelsea has a bye this round.

Compared with the hype of this game in the Chinese media, the Atletico Madrid players came to the competition with a very relaxed mentality. After all, except for Wen Zhihao, the host, only Griezmann has been to China when he participated in the China Cup with the French team in March this year, and he went to Nanning at that time, and everyone else is here for the first time in a first-tier city like Guangzhou. Of course, Wen Zhihao is familiar with the city, and there are wonderful memories of his career.

"It's really beautiful! Wen, you have to show us around after the game. Griezmann said.

Wen Zhihao just wanted to answer, but when he looked up, he and Simone who was staring back at him collided with each other, Wen Zhihao quickly swallowed the thought answer back into his stomach, and changed his words: "I don't count if I say it, or you can get the head done, as long as he agrees, I am happy." ”

Antoine Griezmann had not yet spoken, and Simeone said flatly: "It's really good here, but you are players, unless you show me that you are fully prepared for the Super Cup, it is better to understand what you do." ”

Simeone didn't say completely dead, Griezmann's eyes lit up slightly, and he immediately asked, "Boss, how can you be considered ready?" How do we prove it? ”

Simeone paused, turned around and said: "Give your best until I think you're pretty much sure of hitting the UEFA Super Cup, and I'll consider giving you half a day of free time after two games." This is for Wen's sake, I give you such an opportunity, whether you can seize it depends on your own efforts. ”

Griezmann immediately winked at Wen Zhihao, and Wen Zhihao understood.

……

Atletico Madrid came to Guangzhou with only one day to prepare, and the next night, they will usher in the first match of the International Champions Cup China Division against Guangzhou Evergrande.

An hour before the game, the official starting lineup submitted by Atletico Madrid and Guangzhou Evergrande showed that both sides were playing with full force!

On Atletico Madrid's side, the CG combination plus Gabi and Godin, who basically didn't play much in the first stop, started one after another. Gabi has been following Spain to participate in the World Cup finals, plus the age factor, there is a big problem with physical fitness, while Godin is because of the tendon strain in the last game of the World Cup group stage, and has been in a state of recovery, the last game against Arsenal, Simeone only let him play for fifteen minutes, his performance is still satisfied with Simeone, so this time he went directly back to the starting central defender.

On the side of Guangzhou Evergrande, Cannavaro is a man of his word and has fulfilled his promise to the media. Veteran Zheng Zhi led a group of local internationals, plus Kim Young-kwon, Goulart, Alan and Serbian international Gudel all played.

The Chinese media put a very good posture before the game, the result of this game is not important, what is enjoyed is the process.

This is true, and it is also a rare time for the Chinese media to openly advertise that they do not take any position in a game in which a Chinese team participates. Whether it is Evergrande's upset or Wen Zhihao leading Atletico to a big victory, they will all send applause.

……

In the pre-match locker room, Wen Zhihao saw at a glance the Evergrande No. 15 jersey locked in the honor cabinet with his name printed on it (as the club's honor publicity, the away team's locker room is the same. He didn't have any special feelings in his heart, after all, his honor is not small now, and he is not a person who sleeps on the merit book, so naturally he doesn't care too much about the past honors, but Griezmann and Saul glanced at him, and the meaning in their eyes is very clear: Sure enough, he is a person who is destined to be a leader wherever he goes.

When the two sides entered, under the attention of the camera, Wen Zhihao walked towards Cannavaro, and the two came to a long-lost reunion hug, Cannavaro looked at the former disciples whose muscles were obviously stronger than the original more than one circle, with a relieved expression on his face, and said: "Yes, it is even better than my original estimate of you." ”

Wen Zhihao raised his eyebrows and said, "Fabio, I'm sorry, I have an agreement with the coach, so I won't show mercy today." ”

Cannavaro stretched out his hands and made a nonchalant expression: "I didn't expect to win, so let me see how strong you really are." ”

At the beginning, Evergrande players showed great devotion, especially the veteran Zheng Zhi, who was alert to judge Gabi's cross in the midfield, and cleverly made a long pass to the speed striker Alan in the front court after cleverly breaking the ball, Guangzhou Evergrande's first attack actually hit the Atletico Madrid penalty area, forcing Oblak to attack and pick up the ball, and the fans of Tianhe Sports Center suddenly burst into cheers. Applaud the positive input of the home team.

In successive seasons against European giants in the summer warm-up matches, Evergrande's record is actually not weak, and there have been victories in Tianhe's 6:2 victory over Hamburg and a penalty kick victory over Bayern. However, a closer look at these records is based on the premise that these five major league teams have not gone all out.

And this game of Atletico Madrid is different, the players in order to fight for Simeone's half-day vacation, and then think that after going back, they will immediately prepare for two Super Cups and various pre-season warm-ups, the holidays will be pitiful, and in this game they will try to bring out the highest level available, although it is not the best state for the time being, but at least eighty percent.

The European champions and Asian teams are not a dimension in terms of strength, and Atletico Madrid's normal level is enough to occupy an absolute advantage on the field.

Perhaps considering the demand for watching commercial events, or maybe he doesn't pay much attention to winning or losing, Cannavaro is not conservative about this game, the formation is not deliberately recycled, and even in order to pursue the overall defensive effect, Cannavaro did not have any particularly targeted man-to-man defensive arrangements for Wen Zhihao.

For Cannavaro, this is a smart approach. The difference in strength between the two sides is not one or two points, but all-round. If you pay too much attention to Wen Zhihao, you may lose sight of one or the other.

Cannavaro obviously also hopes to play some positive factors in this game, after Evergrande won the ball in the first half of the game, the long pass counterattack played very resolutely, although in the face of Atletico Madrid, it is conceivable that the effect is certainly not ideal, but because of this, the scene is very open, the conversion of the ball between the two sides is very fast, often Evergrande side of a long pass to play over, followed by Wen Zhihao with the ball to quickly push Atletico Madrid's counterattack attack.

As the first top defender to win the World Footballer of the Year, Cannavaro certainly understands that it is most dangerous for his side to be knocked back by his opponent if he fails to counter-attack. Therefore, at the first time when Wen Zhihao took the ball, Cannavaro's arrangement was to let Goodley, who had a body and confrontation, be close to him for the first time, and at the same time, the players who were nearby around him quickly approached to help the defense.

Wen Zhihao smiled very calmly in the face of several national team teammates, and then started his performance under everyone's attention.

In the face of the menacing traditional European back Gudeli who advocates confrontation, Wen Zhihao did not choose to hit hard, but first turned his back to ensure that the ball was protected, Gudelli was happy, thinking that he had successfully prevented the continuation of Atletico Madrid's attack, but he immediately heard Zheng Zhi shouting behind him: "Be careful of his crotch!" ”

Goodley was stunned for a moment, his body movements stagnated for a second, and Wen Zhihao took advantage of this gap to flick the ball to the right back with his heel, Goodley suddenly felt that something crossed between his legs, and he didn't have to think that he knew that it was the ball!

Damn, it's really crotched!

Goodley was angry in his heart, but his instinctive first reaction was not slow, and he subconsciously wanted to turn around and block in the middle, separating Wen Zhihao from the ball, but Wen Zhihao had already thought about the next move when he wore the crotch and knocked the ball, and turned a small half arc in one go, touching the ball one step earlier than Goodley.

In fact, if Goodley chose not to watch the ball just now, it would be right to choose to put down Wen Zhihao at the first time when he was crotched. It's a pity that Goodley wants to show his ability in front of Wen Zhihao, when he was still playing for Ajax two seasons ago, Wen Zhihao was still the core of Vitesse's midfield, and he and Wen Zhihao suffered many times in the opposite position, so today he held back his strength.

However, it turns out that the midfielder must always focus on the overall situation, and it is better not to have his own small ideas, and practicality is the last word.

For example, this time, Goodley was directly passed, and there was only one Zheng Zhi left in the back position, and Atletico Madrid instantly formed a four-on-four counterattack situation in the frontcourt.

Zheng Zhi had already moved towards Wen Zhihao, and seeing Wen Zhihao getting up, he directly grabbed the jersey with all his strength. He knew very well what the consequences would be once Wen Zhihao's speed rushed up.

Zheng Zhi added a lot of resistance in the back, Wen Zhihao's center of gravity was unstable, and the whole body fell backwards, but in the process of leaning back, Wen Zhihao found that Costa on the front line had attracted the attention of two central defenders, and Griezmann was running at high speed at the far end!

Wen Zhihao felt that this opportunity could not be wasted, so he still twisted his right foot as much as possible when his body was out of balance, and took advantage of the momentum of the ball rolling, and did his best to push the right side of the outside of his right foot to the top of the penalty area.

Wen Zhihao's passing position was just two steps past the arc of the middle circle, and the distance of this pass was more than 30 meters, and he only made a full pass and did his best, because his power was not enough, the ball speed was not fast, and he was not sure whether Griezmann could successfully get the ball.

However, football games are often a competition between offensive and defensive players for their imagination and control, Guangzhou Evergrande right central defender Feng Xiaoting did not expect Wen Zhihao to pass the ball to his side when his body has lost his center of gravity, as the first central defender in China, he actually committed the taboo of the central defender at this time, the defense was distracted, and did not keep focused.

Feng Xiaoting felt completely shocked by Wen Zhihao! And this kind of operation?

Feng Xiaoting was stunned, although Griezmann was also shocked in his heart, but the professional instinct of the top striker made him not stop, because as a striker, he remembered a principle: on the field, there can only be a position for the ball in his heart!

Wherever the ball is, you have to run and you can't stop running until you hit the ball into goal.

It is this gap in consciousness that makes the offensive and defensive sides make a judgment in this competition for the ball, Feng Xiaoting was stunned for a second and then started, it was too late.

Competitive sports are just as brutal as war, and every minute and every second is enough to determine the outcome of the overall situation.

The audience saw Griezmann insert the ball and continue to rush forward, and at the same time let out a burst of amazement, He Wei said: "Wen Zhihao's outstanding vision and footwork are pale in any language, but as a commentator, I still have to say that this is a kind of enjoyment, a kind of enjoyment to appreciate the beauty of the midfield artist's interpretation of the greenery." ”

Griezmann competes with Feng Xiaoting in terms of speed, of course, he has an absolute advantage, this gap is like Ferrari and Santana drag racing, the power system is fundamentally different, and there is no suspense in an instant.

And Zeng Cheng, who abandoned the door to attack, also knew that he couldn't stop Griezmann at all, but his attack showed an attitude.

……

In the twentieth minute, Atletico Madrid had the advantage in the score and led 1:0.

The fans of Tianhe Sports Center also applauded and cheered, of course, these applause were given to Wen Zhihao before the goal of the coquettish pass, although Wen Zhihao returned to Tianhe to send the first meeting gift to the home team brought a blow, but in the end he is also a Chinese player, is the pride of this stadium, to give him such applause, everyone does not feel that there is anything wrong.

After Wen Zhihao and his teammates celebrated, seeing Zheng Zhi's helplessness with a wry smile on his face, he approached and whispered: "Brother Zhi, you have to use both hands and feet, it's useless to just pull me, haha!" ”

Zheng Zhiyi patted Wen Zhihao on the shoulder, he finally knew why so many world teams attached so much importance to Wen Zhihao during the World Cup, not only because of the shadow of the famous tree, but only when he was a teammate and an opponent did he know the contrast.

A player like that, who is reliable as a teammate and an opponent, will immediately know that he is terrible.

Paulinho should have a deeper understanding of this point than Zheng Zhi!