Ulsan, South Korea, 3 June 2002.

Before this World Cup, Jack had no impression of South Korea and Japan, after all, he had never been to East Asia. I only know that the development of South Korea and Japan is very good, and these two countries, including China, these East Asian countries have a high status in the world economy.

That's just it.

Therefore, I have never heard of Ulsan, South Korea. But this time he came to Ulsan, and Jack thought it was good. Especially in organizing this World Cup, Ulsan is quite good.

The stadium here is the Ulsan World Cup Stadium.

It is a stadium that was built just a year ago, and it is a stadium specially built for this World Cup. The stadium has a capacity of about 44,000 people. But the most satisfying thing is that he has a lot of parking lots, with more than 12,000 parking lot locations.

Jack arrived in Ulsan on May 30th. After all, Jack has to adapt to Ulsan and prepare for the game in advance.

And on June 1st, I watched a game. Uruguay vs. Denmark in Group A of the World Cup has already played at the Ulsan World Cup Stadium on the 1st.

Jack also felt the charm of the game.

Today it was finally Jack's turn. Brazil and Turkey are about to play their first match in Group C here.

"It's really hot today."

Jack's team is basically rookies, including Jack, and this is the first time to officiate the World Cup. Even for Jack, he has not officially officiated the League Cup and Champions Cup, and he has already officiated the World Cup.

It can be said that it is very unusual among referees in European football. At present, among the referees of the World Cup, as long as the referees from Europe have officiated the Champions League. At the very least, referees who have officiated in the knockout rounds of the Champions League. Like Jack, he didn't even enforce the League Cup. There is no referee who has come to the World Cup.

Jack was nervous.

Anyway, it's the World Cup. Although Jack can't estimate accurately, the ratings of the World Cup have always been very high. It is claimed that one billion fans watch every World Cup. Although Jack doesn't believe in this number, there should be hundreds of millions of people.

Enforce the game in front of hundreds of millions of people. The pressure on Jack's heart is still quite high.

Plus it's really hot today. Jack has already gotten the current temperature, which is thirty-five degrees Celsius. Ulsan is south of South Korea, and it's June, when the weather is at its hottest.

"Hehe, Jack. Isn't it unaccustomed? ”

"Yes."

You don't need to get too close, but at least it's useful to get to know each other before the end of the game. Answering Jack's call was Singapore's assistant referee Krishnan. Natan.

"I was playing in England and my biggest concern was the weather. I am afraid that it will rain all of a sudden, so when it rains, I always focus on checking the drainage system of the court. It's really never been in such a hot place. ”

Jack is an international referee though. However, he has not officiated such competitions as the League Cup or Champions Cup. As a result, most of the matches are in England. In England only the weather is the biggest problem, and there has never been a game in which the temperature exceeds 30 degrees.

"A lot of the competitions in Asia are not cross-year competitions, but a whole season of the year. Therefore, in many places, the temperature in July and August is in the thirties. ”

"It's a little scary when I think about it."

Jack shrugged.

In the thirties, Jack felt a little out of breath when he was just outside. As soon as the temperature is high, there is some stuffiness, which is completely different from the weather in England.

"It's good to get used to it."

"Yes."

Jack nodded. Become an international referee and officiate a wide variety of world competitions. That's more to adapt to. It's like it's hot. If they meet a Russian team in the Champions League, they will have to go to Russia in November. That's minus 10 degrees, and even if the cold weather comes early, then it's minus 20 degrees.

"We're half an hour before the start of the game. Let's take a look at the problems with the stadium. ”

Before the game, of course, the referee has to inspect the facilities on the field. The goal, the net, the turf on the pitch, and the things on the bench have to be checked. See if there's something wrong. If there is a problem. It needs to be repaired on this side of the stadium.

"Great--Korea! Great - Republic of Korea! ”

Jack had just come out of the referee's lounge when the heat hit his face. It's completely different from the air-conditioned environment in the referee's lounge. It makes people realize that the temperature here is more than 30 degrees.

With Tottenham Hotspur coming to their faces, it was the slogans of the South Korean fans.

Jack was surprised.

Although it was the Korea-Japan World Cup, today's match was clearly a match between Brazil and Turkey. How to look at the past. It seems to be all Korean fans. It's not the South Korean team, and I don't know if it's here to support Brazil. Or came to support Turkey.

Anyway, there was still half an hour before the start of the game, but the stadium was basically full of fans.

"How?"

"Checked. Nothing was a problem. ”

"Okay."

Jack nodded, and turned his head to look at the crowd of fans in the stands. In terms of the distribution of fans, there are very few Brazilian fans, and there are also very few Turkish fans. It is said that the current economic situation in Brazil and Turkey is not very good, and it should not be fake.

It can be seen from the situation of the fans.

Jack knows the situation in Turkey. Turkey's economy has been very poor recently, and this time there are only 3,000 Turkish fans who come with the team, which can be said to be a very small number. Compared with Turkish fans, fans from other European countries have poured into South Korea and Japan, even tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands.

As for the situation in Brazil, I have heard about it.

Although South Korea is far away from South America, if Brazil's economy is in good shape, according to the size of Brazil's population, it should not be a big deal to have tens of thousands or more than 100,000 fans. But judging from the current situation on the scene, Brazilian fans are estimated to be around 10,000.

"Jack. Here are the starting line-ups for both sides. ”

"Yes."

Jack from Matos. Carlos had a report on the starting and bench lists for both sides. Matos. Carlos, a 44-year-old veteran Portuguese referee. He was also the fourth referee of the game.

This one has a lot of seniority.

He became an international referee 10 years ago, and most of that time he worked as an assistant referee. I haven't been a referee a few times. Otherwise, this time it wouldn't just be Jack's fourth referee.

Forty-four years old, which means that this is his last tournament. FIFA has a rule that international referees retire at the age of forty-five. Of course, if you have enough quality, you can continue to referee in the domestic league, but international referees must retire at the age of forty-five.

"Gilberto. Silva? Coach Scolari is really bold. ”

Looking at the starting list, Jack was talking to himself. For the Brazilian national team, Jack has done an analysis. Although Emerson was injured and could not make it back to this game, Brazil is not short of midfielders. And Gilberto. Silva is a 25-year-old midfielder. Haven't played a few games with the Brazilian national team at all.

A total of five matches were played against the Brazilian national team, most of which were friendlies.

Unexpectedly, in the first game of the World Cup in Brazil, Scolari actually chose Gilberto. Silva started the game. Sure enough, the choice of world-class coaches is always unexpected.

"Look at the effect. Turkey's strength is not weak either. ”

Matos. Carlos shrugged.

"Go back and prepare."

…………

Brazil vs. Turkey.

Although Jack is in the Premier League, he is used to seeing all kinds of stars. But by policing the Brazilian national team, we can understand why Brazil is the kingdom of football. Take a look at their roster.

Although the Brazilian national team has not achieved good results in the past year, there are really a lot of stars.

There are a lot of stars that Jack is very familiar with.

Alien Ronaldo, this is the ultimate genius who almost ascended to the throne of the ball. Although because of injuries, the limelight in recent years has been stolen by Zidane. But as long as Ronaldo is on the pitch, no team will dare to ignore him.

And Rivaldo.

The buddy who won the European Ballon d'Or at Barcelona. In Spanish football, he is definitely a top superstar who can be compared to Zidane. From Deportivo La Coruna to Barcelona, Rivaldo is one of La Liga's best stars.

There are also two wings in Brazil.

Carlos, who guarded the left side of Real Madrid for seven or eight years, helped Real Madrid win three Champions League titles. Cafu. In Rome, one man dominates the entire right flank.

Of course, not only Brazil, but also Turkey has a lot of good stars.

Including Emre, Hakan. Suker, Basturk, these people are also famous players in European football. They all played in this game.

"Turkey! Turkey! Turkey! ”

"Red! White! Champion Turkey! ”

Jack was baffled by the deafening cheers. With the status of Brazil and Turkey in world football. It should be more Brazilian fans. But I didn't expect how South Korean fans could support Turkey like this.

But this doesn't matter about Jack.

Jack has already started to get into his own work.

"This is the Ulsan World Cup Stadium, and we are here at the Ulsan Stadium to explain the match between Brazil and Turkey. I'm Mortenson. My partner was Gary. Lineker. ”

"Hello everyone, the game is about to start."

"Hello everyone. This is CCTV5, I'm Huang Jianxiang. ”

"Hello everyone............"

A World Cup is a World Cup. A match is broadcast on TV in hundreds of countries, and it is a Brazilian game. The impact that Ronaldo brought to everyone four years ago is still there, and many fans have high expectations for Ronaldo's return from injury.

"Doodoo ......"

Hundreds of national television broadcasts show the impact of the World Cup. Jack looked at his watch and blew the whistle for the start of the game. Jack's first game in the World Cup officially began. (To be continued......)