Netherlands!

Because it is the national team break, Ajax's training ground is a little deserted, and Vermaelen, who has no national team match tasks, is training with the players of the reserve team, under the guidance of the assistant coach.

Days like this have been going on for days, and Wilma is tired of training with a group of young reserve players.

At this time, looking at the teammates around him, one by one, they packed their bags and went to their respective national teams to report, how could Vermaelen not be envious, but there are some things that cannot be envied.

Vermaelen has been with Ajax for three and a half years, and in three and a half years he has grown from a fledgling hairy boy to captain Ajax.

When he first arrived in the Netherlands, Vermaelen was a complete rookie, only getting one appearance in his first season, only to be sent out on loan at the start of the second season, and after Waalwijk scored two goals in 13 league games, Ajax boss Blind noticed the improvement of the rising star and re-called Vermaelen to Ajax in the second half of the season and cultivated him as a regular in the team.

The following season, Vermaelen made 24 appearances at Ajax, and due to the long-term injury absence of the left-back at the time, Vermaelen also got the opportunity to work on the left side, and his height of 182cm often made fans mistakenly believe that he was originally a full-back.

In fact, although they don't have a height advantage, Vermaelen is a recognized marker in the team, and they are not behind in the battle for headers against the big guys.

Towards the end, Vermaelen's role in the team became increasingly important, with former Manchester United star Stam returning to Ajax to form a centre-back partnership with him.

Stam has identified Vermaelen as the best young defender in Europe with a bright career ahead of him. Stam's prediction was not wrong, but Vermaelen were slow to win the Dutch league title with Ajax.

Vermaelen is also looking to make a leap forward with the team in the new season, with manager Blind believing in Vermaelen's ability and even passing the captain's armband to the young man who is not yet 22 years old after Van der Vaart's move away from Ajax.

Vermaelen is satisfied with his current situation at the club, but he is a little frustrated by the delay in not being called up to the national team.

Just when Vermaelen was venting with the football, the head coach Blind came, and he was very grateful to Blind, Vermaelen was very grateful, if Blind hadn't found out about him, maybe his career would still be struggling.

"Thomas! I think it's time for you to leave! Blinder put his hands behind his back and smiled on his face.

Vermaelen was stunned, he didn't understand what Blinder meant, leave? Could it be that Ajax doesn't need him? Where can he go? Now the summer transfer period is over!

"Coach! I don't understand! ”

Blind smiled and stretched out his hand behind his back, holding a piece of paper in his hand, his eyes were full of love, he was very fond of Vermaelen, a young Belgian with a mature heart that did not match his age at all, and Vermaelen had always been the best of the young players he had come into contact with.

"Congratulations! Thomas! Your excellent performance at Ajax has caught the attention of the Belgian national team and they have now sent you straight to Lisbon to join the big team, I'm so happy for you, Thomas! ”

Vermaelen was stunned for a moment, looking at the requisition letter that Blinder handed him in front of him, he didn't even forget to pick it up, just stood stunned, a little at a loss.

Blind smiled: "What? Thomas! Don't you want to go? Of course, I also really want to see you every day, if I want to help you refuse! ”

Rebuff!?

What an international joke!

Vermaelenke had been waiting for this opportunity for several years, and he quickly snatched the letter of requisition in his hand, and looked at it carefully, before he was convinced that Blind was not joking with him.

I'm really going to the national team!

Vermaelen felt like his heart was going to explode, and he almost fainted with great joy.

Since Belgium's brilliant record in the 2006 Shijie Cup under the leadership of Degan, Vermaelen has always dreamed that one day he will be able to wear the shirt of the Red Devils and charge for the Belgian national team, but this opportunity has not yet come, and now that the opportunity has come, he can't believe that it is all true.

Blind was also rejoicing for Vermaelen: "Thomas! Get ready, I have a hunch that this time you might be able to be a regular player and play as a main player! ”

Main!?

Vermaelen didn't believe it, as long as he could be included in the squad, he would die happily, where would he dare to hope to be the main force.

Seeing that Vermaelen was unimpressed, Blind said mysteriously: "I heard that Kompany is injured, and you are recruited at this time, do you think they will just need a sparring partner?" ”

Kompany injured!

This matter can't be hidden from anyone, and it quickly spread, Belgian fans are naturally mourning, Kompany is the core of the rear, is the team's anchor, he is injured, who will guard the Belgian team's penalty area?

The Portuguese, by contrast, were overjoyed by the news.

While the Portuguese are confident that their side can win a ticket to the European Championship on their home turf, they will have no problem if their opponents are weakened, they will only be happy.

After playing for Fiorentina for one season, Kompany's strength, no one knows, no one knows, if Digan will bring great threat to the Portuguese backline, then Kompany is the biggest obstacle for Portugal to score.

Now that this barrier has been destroyed by the Belgians themselves, who else will be able to stop the attack group led by the Golden Retriever?

The head coach of the Portuguese team, Scolari, smiled crookedly, and expressed his schadenfreude condolences in an interview with reporters.

"It's really unfortunate news, Kompany is a great player, his quality is there, but he is injured at this critical moment, I think he must be very sad, Kompany has good news for us, but I have warned my players that we must not take it lightly, we are not against Kompany alone, but without Kompany, we can win more easily!"

Easier to win?

This old girl is very clear that even if Kompany can play, Portugal can win Zuihou, and now that Kompany can't play, they will win more easily!

The old thing dares to laugh at people!

The reporters couldn't help but get excited when they thought of how angry they would be when they heard Scolari's words, so they hurried to the hotel where the Belgian team was staying and asked to interview Digan himself.

But~~~~~~~~~~~~

They didn't even find a single hair of Degan, and Belgian Football Association officials also said that Degan is not accepting any kind of interview now.

Despite the clamor of the journalists, they have the right to report freely, but they cannot save Degan's "evasive" heart.

Journalists have all but decided that Deegan is timidated by Kompany's injury.

So what exactly is Deegan doing now?

"Let's all get to know each other, this is our new buddy, Thomas, introduce yourself!"

Vermaelen stood beside Degan, he actually felt a little nervous, he had heard a lot of rumors about Degan before, but after meeting, he felt that Degan was not bad, at least he would not bully newcomers.

"Hello everyone! My name is Thomas. Vermaelen, currently playing for Ajax, is a centre-back! ”

Centre-back!?

Some of the veteran players in the team couldn't help but be a little surprised when they heard this, they were all a group of people, and they could naturally guess what Vermaelen was doing in Lisbon.

Digan ignored the expressions of his teammates and continued: "Thomas has a little less introduction, he is now the captain of Ajax, you guessed it right, he is here to replace Vincent!" ”

The Belgian players' expressions were even more exciting, some were unimpressed, some were shocked, and some were depressed, after all, Vermaelen was here to grab the position.

Deegan was a little dissatisfied with the unwarm welcome from his teammates, but he couldn't attack at the moment, so he took the initiative to stretch out his hand to Vermaelen: "Thomas! We welcome you to be a part of the team, I am sure that you can make some changes to this team, and I am even more confident that we can surprise all those who despise us at next year's European Championships! ”

Vermaelen smiled and shook Digan's hand: "I'm looking forward to it too!" ”

The other Belgian players in the room were even more puzzled at this time, who was this kid in front of him, who could make Digan so favored, could he really be a master with extraordinary strength.

It's the mule, it's the horse that always has to be pulled out to make a decision, but now there is no time for Vermaelen to adapt, this afternoon is the race, and the real race can only be used to test Vermaelen's true strength at that time.

The Euro 2008 qualifiers are about to begin, with Belgium and Portugal battling it out at the Stadium of Light in Lisbon for a spot in the first group.

It wasn't until before the start of the game that Degan, who had been silent until now, finally spoke: "That guy seems to think he has won, but I'm here to tell him, don't be happy too soon, when the game is over, everything will have a result, but I believe that it will definitely be Belgium who will celebrate the victory in Lisbon!" ”