Martin. Abelani is a mixed-race boy who is the best-looking player in the Colombian squad. Monaco, who now play in Ligue 1, is the main midfielder in the team and is considered to be the number one star in the current Colombian national team. But he doesn't have the slightest star frame, and many times he is even very shy.

On the contrary, his good friend, a good partner in the national team, striker John. Jones was indeed a fiery temper, typical of an Indian. Brown skin, dark hair is tied in braids and tied back of the head. Jones loved his braids and liked to shake his head and let the braids flick back and forth.

Colombian football was silent for a long time, until two years ago in the South American Youth Football Championship, when they defeated Argentina and Brazil to win the title. A year later, they finished runner-up at the World Youth Football Championship, creating a yellow whirlwind in world football. It was at that World Junior Championships that Abelani performed well and was then spotted by Monaco. Jones, on the other hand, has been observed by countless European teams for a year due to his younger age, and this World Cup is their last chance to observe this teenager, and if he performs well, there will definitely be many teams vying for him.

Right now, Jones is in his hotel room, playing the PS4 that Abelani brought back from France, and the game in it is the classic "Pro Evolution Soccer", which is now "Pro Evolution Soccer 09/10".

Jones played in the World Cup, and the team he used was naturally his home country Colombia, and the first opponent happened to be the Chinese team.

"Wow~ Why is my speed 88 and acceleration 91, and the tension speed is 93, and the acceleration is 97! It's so unfair! Jones shouted.

Abelani, who had come out of the bathroom after washing her hair, leaned in and took a look. Not only is the difference in speed, in terms of other quality data, Zhang Jun and Jones are not players of the same level at all. He patted Jones on the shoulder, "Where did I put my coat?" ”

Jones casually pointed to his bed.

Abelani put on her coat and sat next to watch Jones play. "It's normal, he is the main scorer of the Triple Crown, and he has won all the individual and collective honors this season, how can you compare with him?"

As soon as the game began, the Chinese team relied on Yang Pan's personal skills to force a corner kick, which was taken by Li Yongle, the core of their midfield. The corner kick is taken, and there is chaos in the penalty area, and then I see a man jumping high and heading the ball! The football went in, and Colombia's goalkeeper Cazotti didn't react!

"Who?" Jones asked rhetorically, and instead of cutting out the players celebrating, he waited to see who scored.

Subtitles are typed at the bottom of the screen: China, CF Zhang Jun, No. 11, 28 years old, 183cm.

"......" Jones was speechless for a long time, and he turned his head to look at Abelani beside him.

Abelani shrugged at him: "I told you, you are not a striker of the same grade. ”

Jones grinned, cut off the goal replay and continued playing.

The gap between his personal data and Zhang Jun was vividly demonstrated in the game. Zhang Jun can rampage through Colombia's backline with the ball, as if he was in no man's land. And when he is used to pulling to the right side of the field, the opponent's No. 13 defender will stick to him, so that his speed cannot be used at all.

"Don't go to the right side, although you like that place. But Xiang Tao's speed is not much worse than yours, try to rush from the left, their left-back is not very good. "Abelani gave him guidance.

"Don't rush to get the ball from the back, transition in midfield, transition! I don't even need you, let me take the ball to organize! I'm so good that I can get by, and you don't have any chance like this! Seeing that Jones's Colombia has always been at a disadvantage, Abelani became more and more anxious.

"Don't be noisy, a long pass can give full play to my ability!" Naturally, Jones was not to be outdone.

"Shovel him! Don't let him into the penalty area! ”

"I'll be sent off with a red card for tackling someone in the back!"

"Afraid of what? It's better than being scored! ”

Jones still pressed the tackle button, and the referee blew a whistle and pointed to the penalty spot!

"Look, stupid, you're late!"

It was still Zhang Jun who chose the penalty kick by the computer.

Jones gripped the handle tightly and muttered, "Look, look! I'm going to pounce! I'm a striker and I know where he's going to play......"

He did get the right direction. However, Zhang Jun's shot angle was too awkward, and the football drilled into the goal against the goalpost. Colombia is 2-0 down.

"Alright! I got it. Abelani pushed Jones away, took the handle, and the first step was to pause the game, adjust the formation and make substitutions. Jones was in a hurry to achieve quick success, and only arranged three people in the midfield, playing a 433 formation. Abelani switched to 451, which is the default formation of the system and the most commonly used formation in Colombia in reality. Jones burst forward alone, with Abelani behind him, and could both organise the attack and shoot back.

Two strikers were replaced, two wing-backs were replaced.

Soon, Colombia moved back a goal, and it was Jones who scored, he received a direct pass from Abelani, and then relied on his speed to shake off Li Suisheng in the middle, and single-handedly faced Anke, scoring the ball easily.

Abelani just flicked his fist lightly, while Jones spread his arms and cheered in the room.

"It's just a game, so no matter how powerful the enemy's data is, as long as you do it well and have a good awareness, there is no computer that we can't defeat."

As he spoke, Jones allowed himself to score another goal himself, dribbling past several Chinese defenders in midfield before slotting home from distance.

"Yay! Equalized! Jones exclaimed excitedly.

Watching the game stabilize, Jones also chatted with Abellani.

"Martin, you play in Ligue 1, do you have a chance to play against Zhang Jun?"

Abelani shook his head: "No, we are not in the same group in the Champions Cup, and we lost in the first round of the knockout round and did not meet them. ”

Jones muttered, "It's a shame ......"

"There's nothing to be sorry for, we lost even more when we met them......" Abelani's hand shook suddenly, and the ball was lost. At this time, the game was almost injured and stoppage time, and he didn't dare to be careless, so he shoveled when he made a substitution.

It's a pity that Crewe deceived him with a feint, and then suddenly split sides. Yang Pantao caught up with the side, and then crossed directly without stopping the ball!

Due to the sudden loss of the ball, the defense in the penalty area was not tight, Zhang Jun easily jumped up without being marked, and scored with a header! Take the score ahead again, 3:2!

The two looked at each other speechlessly. Then Abelani laughed at himself and said: "Look, I'm right, if our club had met Fiorentina in reality, we would have lost even more, but luckily it's just a game." ”

Jones reminded him: "We played the Chinese team in the first game of the World Cup. ”

"......," Abelani threw away the handle, "no more, no more." ”

Jones picked up the handle and kicked the remaining minutes to the end, then watched the post-match replay and chatted with Abelani about their opponents.

"Martin, how much do you know about this Chinese team?"

Abelani thought, "It's not much, but it's not a lot." Many of them play in the first team of the first league in Europe, and the national team often comes to Europe to play warm-up games, so they are very strong. It's not for nothing that FIFA has set them as a second-tier team. ”

"So, this group is Italy and they qualify?"

"You can't say the same, we still have a chance. Two years ago, who would have thought that we could beat Argentina, eliminate Brazil and win the championship? ”

Jones scratched his head: "No one thought about it, not even we believed in ......"

"Yes, football is round, strength is not everything, especially in a game like the World Cup, we will have a lot of opportunities."

"But...... Zhang is strong, strong......" Jones shook his head.

Abelani patted Jones on the shoulder: "Don't worry, with me, we are the best partners, and I will create scoring opportunities for you." Although Zhang Jun is powerful, you don't have to face him, all you need to face is the slow turning defenders of the Chinese team. Moreover, a game is a game after all, and the data in it does not represent your real level. You have to have faith, it's all up to you to attack. ”

Jones saw that Abelani was a little worried about himself, and hurriedly grinned: "Lied to you, how could I not have faith?" Zhang is my target, I must defeat him! ”

※※※

Tomorrow is the game, and before the last tactical lesson before the game, Qiu Suhui said to his assistant Hu Li: "For the past two years, we have been playing two formations, 442 and 352. It's because we lack a very good right wing-back. We weren't allowed to sway like this anymore in the World Cup, but there was still no suitable person to reassure me at right-back, so I decided to play 352 in the World Cup. ”

Hu Li didn't speak, but he supported and approved of Qiu Suhui.

"In this way, when attacking, our midfield has an absolute advantage of strength, and when defending, Yang Pan and Zhao Pengyu can quickly return to defense and participate in the side defense. It's just that this formation is very demanding for full-backs......"

"Don't worry, Yang Pan and Zhao Pengyu will have no problem."

"Well, in this way, we can arrange two midfielders in midfield, Li Yongle and Wang Yu are in good shape, and it is a waste to let one of them sit on the bench. And the two can also complement each other in the back position, the two can not stand in parallel, and they must stagger back and forth to increase the depth of defense. For a long time, Li Yongle's air defense capability has been a headache for me, and now that Wang Yu is here, there is no problem. ”

"Well, did you tell the players? This change of yours. ”

"I've been practicing 352 in the past few days of training, and I'm sure they should know it in their hearts."

"To be on the safe side, I think you'd better talk to them."

"Okay." Qiu Suhui pushed open the door and walked in with Hu Li. After everyone had calmed down, he spoke about the change in tactics and formation.

To his surprise, in Hu Li's expectation, there was an uproar in the conference room: "What? We call 352? ”

"Haven't we been playing 442?"

"Could it be true that you've been contacting 352 for the past few days? I thought it was for spies......"

Hu Li glanced at Qiu Suhui, Qiu Suhui was embarrassed now.

"That's it! Give me all the quiet! Calm down! There was a loud roar, and everyone shut up. Then Qiu Suhui repeated what he had said to Hu Li.

"Tomorrow's game, we are 352, two wing-backs, and we need to work harder when we play. Colombia will certainly continue the 451 formation they have used since the start of the World Youth Championship, with five midfielders on both sides, and we cannot reduce the number of midfielders. Although, in terms of strength analysis, we are much better than this Colombia team, but it is a red flag and I don't want my players to think that they have won before the game, which can lead to terrible consequences. I want you to play Colombia in the yellow jersey as if it were Brazil! ”

Looking at the players, no one took his words seriously. Only then did he nod with satisfaction, and then said to the players: "Rest early today, the game is in the afternoon, stay energetic and vigorous." Meeting! ”

The tactical class before the game is always the shortest, Qiu Suhui doesn't want to bring additional psychological burden to the players, although some people in the team have so many nerves that they don't know what tension is, and some people are used to seeing big scenes, but Qiu Suhui's habit is still maintained, which is still developed since he just took over the national Olympic team.

One by one, the players said goodbye to the two coaches and walked out of the conference room. Looking at the backs of these people, Qiu Suhui waved his hand, from 2003 to 2010, seven years, in a flick of his fingers.

The hairy boys who had never seen anything in the world back then have become men who are used to seeing big scenes. The Chinese team has also changed from the previous world ranking of 60 to the current 19th.

And he himself, too, is old.

When there were only two people in the huge conference room, he and Hu Li, Qiu Suhui sighed: "Old Hu, no matter what the results of the Chinese team in this World Cup are, this is also the last time I will coach the national team to participate in international competitions." ”

Hu Li was a little surprised, he had never heard Qiu Suhui mention this before. "Why? You are doing a good job now, and there are many people in China who support you, and it is no longer the situation that it was difficult to move an inch in the past. ”

"Tired." Qiu Suhui sighed again, "Being the head coach is tiring, being the head coach of the national team is even more tiring, and being the head coach of the Chinese national team is the most tiring." And, Lao Hu, you only see the surface, and now China is not as good as you think. Even the hot-blooded Chen Wei at the beginning is slowly changing, what else remains the same? It's a pool of mixed water, it was, it is, and I don't know if it will be in the future...... I plan to resign after the World Cup, and then go home to accompany my wife, since I got married, I haven't stayed with her for half a month, I'm sorry for her. ”

"What about the national team?" Hu Li was stunned by Qiu Suhui's words.

"If the Chinese team leaves me nothing, then it means that this team has no future. There are other people who will come to replace me, but I advise you, Lao Hu, don't be a bird, don't be the coach of the national team, if I retire, you will also return to the original club, I believe the salary will not be low. The reform of the professional league has been successful in recent years, and the club has a very promising future. ”

Hu Li is still a little difficult to accept Qiu Suhui's decision: "Old Qiu, you can say enthusiastically that you want to change Chinese football and bring hope to Chinese football, why do you retreat now?" ”

"I don't think it's a good thing for a coach to stay in the same position for a long time, and if I leave, maybe it will be more helpful to Chinese football. Now Chinese football has a group of talented players, and the golden generation can make a name for itself in international football, but what about when they retire? Back to pre-liberation levels? Yes, over the years, our reforms have been very successful and have yielded many results. But in my opinion, we are still far from the real professional football, from the professional football that I idealize, and this reform is not something that can be done by one or two people, one or two terms, one or two generations. ”

Hu Li knew that it was impossible for him to persuade Qiu Suhui, "So is this the last World Cup before you say goodbye to football completely?" ”

"No, no." Qiu Suhui shook his head. "I just wanted to take a break and didn't say goodbye to football. When I've rested enough, maybe I'll come out and coach a club. ”

"Did you talk to the players?"

"Nope. I can't say this now, otherwise it will distract them, and you can help me keep this secret. When the World Cup is over, I'll pick a suitable time to announce it. Qiu Suhui stood up and looked at the national flag in the conference room. On that rainy night in Kunming, he and Chen Wei met for the first time, and the two hit it off at first sight, with the same surname and pursuit, which brought them together and began this great change in Chinese football with mixed reviews in the future.

He is glad that he was born in this era, and that he has personally promoted the development of this era and become a member of the era. But he also felt tired, and after this World Cup, his historical mission will be completed, and he will have to rest well.

Chen Wei is changing, yes, he is no longer the hot-blooded young chairman who dared to work hard for the ideals in his heart. and gradually indulged in political achievements and officialdom.

While the Chinese team continued to succeed, Zhang Jun became a god, Qiu Suhui became a god, and Chen Wei also became a god. There are people who remain calm and sober before the title of God and the worship of the people, just like Zhang Jun. And some people choose to be fluttering, such as Chen Wei.

Although the relationship between the two of them has not broken down, it is still harmonious, but Qiu Suhui doesn't know when it will suddenly break down, he doesn't want that day to come, so he simply retired early and left this pool.

Victory can cover up all the ugliness, and when the Chinese team can no longer win, when Zhang Jun, Yang Pan, Li Yongle and others are approaching the twilight of their careers, then those hidden contradictions will be stimulated. Qiu Suhui can't do anything, so it's better to stay away.

"Let's go back early, there is a game tomorrow, and we need to rest well."

Qiu Suhui said. Hu Li felt that his back was very old, even older than an old man like himself. Is it powerlessness? Helpless? Helpless? Or something else, Hu Li didn't know.

※※※

Hu Li, who got up the next day, found that Qiu Suhui had regained his old spirits, and his eyes were shining in the hotel lobby watching the crowd coming and going, reminding the players to pay attention to the time from time to time.

Yesterday, the old figure was gone, replaced by Qiu Suhui, who was called "the most successful head coach in the history of Chinese football" by the media and quickly worshipped as a "god" by fans.

There was a commotion at the gate, and an interview team rushed in, carrying cameras and indoor lights, rushing to Qiu Suhui and Hu Li.

Qiu Suhui wanted to get angry, but which media was so short-sighted, and suddenly broke in for an interview. He was stunned for a moment when he saw the sign on the microphone that reached his lips, and then the fire went away.

That's the CCTV 1 logo.

Yes, Chen Wei once told him that CCTV1's "News Network" was going to interview and shoot the preparations before their first game, and the "News Network" in the evening would be a great honor for Chinese football, and he would have to actively cooperate with him when the time came.

Qiu Suhui hurriedly showed a smiling face, ready to be interviewed by the other party.

"May I ask Director Qiu, is the Chinese team ready for the afternoon game?" Standard nonsense, but nonsense that allows the respondent to play infinitely.

"Of course." Qiu Suhui smiled with confidence, "We are ready to present a wonderful game for the people of the motherland and strive to play the spirit of the Chinese team." ”

※※※

Ellis Park Stadium was full of people, Chinese students from South Africa, die-hard fans from China, and travel agencies mixed with the fans, all gathered here to build momentum for the Chinese team's game.

In the locker room, the players of the Chinese team have already changed their jerseys and warmed up, and now they are only waiting for the game.

Qiu Suhui was wearing a black trench coat and looked quite stylish. He stood in front of the team with his hands in his pockets.

"I know you've all seen me interviewed, and you all know what I said. But I'm telling you, that's all bullshit. We're not here to play mentally, we're here to win the game! ”

(To be continued)