Although the strength of the Brazilian team is not as good as before, this does not mean that the Chinese team can easily win.

In fact, Lippi was well prepared.

On the one hand, it would be nice to be able to solve the battle in regular game time.

On the other hand, it is also necessary to consider what happens if the game is dragged into extra time or a penalty shootout.

Especially penalty shootouts.

Therefore, after entering the knockout round, penalty training has become a reserved program for every training session of the Chinese team.

Penalty kicks are of course a test of mental quality, but at the same time, it is also necessary to improve the ability to shoot penalties through active training. The impact of technique on penalties is often overlooked. The importance of psychological quality does not mean that only good psychological quality is needed, and other aspects of ability are not needed.

If you usually shoot and jerk off, how can you guarantee that you won't jerk off under heavy pressure?

In addition, psychological quality can actually be trained.

Keep practicing penalty kicks, so that the players of the Chinese team are familiar with them, and when they actually face penalties, it will be much better.

After the last training session before the game, Lippi told his players: "We are not afraid of Brazil, but we can't underestimate them, this is their home stadium after all, and don't underestimate their determination to win the title on their home turf." We're going to keep causing them problems in the game, but also be prepared to be under a lot of pressure. It's not going to be an easy game...... In fact, when it comes to the World Cup, there is no game that is easy to play. I'm sure you've learned this through the first three group games. ”

Lippi stood in the middle of the pitch while the Chinese players and staff formed a circle and surrounded him.

Outside the training ground, a large number of media from China set up long guns and short guns to film the last training session of the Chinese team before the game.

"Some people say we met the hosts after we got to the knockout stage, and it was bad luck. But I don't think so, I think it's an absolutely great opportunity for us – what could be more exciting than knocking out the hosts in front of the fans with a fanatical host, and if you do, you'll all be etched in the history of the World Cup forever. I firmly believe that we have this ability, if the outside world does not believe it...... That's just right, let's surprise them. ”

"Rest well tonight, we won't have any more tactical meetings. Everyone should ensure adequate sleep and rest, good physical and mental health. Then get ready for the race. Well, disband!"

※※※

Outside the training ground, Zhou Yi was stopped by reporters, and everyone wanted to hear what prospects or plans he had for tomorrow's game, as the captain of the Chinese team.

'We're going to try to win and it's definitely not going to be our last game at the World Cup. Zhou Yi said very seriously.

The aggressive attitude shown by Zhou Yi surprised the reporters. Most of the time, Zhou Yi, who appears in front of the media camera, is the kind of person who speaks ambiguously, so that you can't find fault with it, but you will also feel that he said a bunch of correct nonsense.

But this time, instead of continuing his usual image in front of the media, he was very aggressive.

The early announcement of victory in such a categorical manner made a few Brazilian media ears a little harsh.

One of the Brazilian reporters asked Zhou Yi in unfluent Mandarin: "I'm sorry, I don't know if I misunderstood, what you just said was that you would eliminate Brazil?"

Zhou Yi spread his hands: "Otherwise, do I want to say that we will be eliminated by Brazil?"

The Brazilian journalist didn't ask any more questions, but instead had an eerie smile on his face.

He didn't seem to believe Zhou Yi's statement.

Of course, his expression was also seen by Zhou Yi, but Zhou Yi didn't say anything more, and smiled at him.

In addition to this question, Zhou Yi also tactfully talked about the referee: "I know that this is Brazil's home stadium, they are the hosts. Why did a lot of people think we lost before the game? Because they know that we have met the hosts, and what are the specific advantages of the hosts, I don't need to say more, right?"

Chinese reporters understand that Zhou Yi is talking about the referee, after all, Brazil is the host, and it is inevitable that the referee will be biased.

Why did Zhou Yi say that?

As the captain of the Chinese national team, he is of course obliged to say these words that may anger the host to remind the referee, create public opinion pressure, and avoid the referee being too partial to the host in the game.

This is a matter that offends people, and it doesn't fit well with Zhou Yi's usual character setting, but at this time, only he stood up and said.

After Zhou Yi left, the media reporters had a heated discussion on Zhou Yi's words and attitude, and some reporters thought that Zhou Yi said this to boost the team's confidence and morale, and it was normal to be cowardly before fighting, right?

But there are also those who disagree on this.

It is true that Zhou Yi rarely says this, but it is not like never. "There is a reporter who reminds everyone. "Just this season, remember what Zhou Yi said to reporters? He said that they would win the league championship. At that time, everyone thought that Zhou Yi was talking about a dream, and some people wondered that Zhou Yi was so aggressive. But the result: Borussia Dortmund won the league and won the Champions League. ”

The journalist spread his hands, and the others fell silent.

Zhou Yi is not the kind of big mouth with a cannon in his mouth, most of the time he is smiling and kind to others. But because of this, when he occasionally shows his fangs, I am afraid that it shows that he is really determined to achieve it.

※※※

On the night before the match, Brazil's major television stations were watching the match between Brazil and China.

Zhou Yi's words in an interview with reporters before the match are naturally the focus of attention.

“...... Zhou Yi, the star of the Chinese national team, said in an interview with this reporter before the game that they will definitely beat the Brazilian team and advance to the quarterfinals...... Our reporter confirmed with him for verification, and he also confirmed this meaning himself. I think that the Chinese team has indeed made history in the games that can reach the knockout stage, but the group stage and the knockout stage are completely different. Maybe it's because the Chinese team has never played the knockout round of the World Cup before, so they have such an idea about the knockout round......"

"The Chinese team, the Brazilian fans must be very unfamiliar, right? But in fact, we have played against them in the World Cup, what was the score of that game? Let me think about it...... Ah, it's 4:0, and of course, the winner is ours...... Now that the two sides meet again in the World Cup, let's relive the history of the confrontation between Brazil and China in the World Cup......"

"Zhou Yi said that they were going to eliminate the host? I'm sorry, let me laugh for a while...... We are hosts and we aim to win the World Cup, not to reach the quarter-finals...... Of course, if it's the Table Tennis World Cup, I'm not surprised to say that as a Chinese...... Then again, does table tennis have a World Cup?"

"In the past season, Zhou Yi performed well, helping Borussia Dortmund win the league title and the Champions League. Maybe it was this honor that made him a little carried away, forgetting that his teammates in Dortmund were completely different from his teammates in the Chinese team, and the strength of the other players in the Chinese team was completely incomparable to the other players in Dortmund......"

"The Chinese team does have several players who play in Europe, and in addition to Zhou Yi, He Ying and Sun Pan are also noteworthy players. But I still don't think that with such a lineup, the Chinese team can compete with our Brazil, we are a football kingdom!"

"We are the hosts, we are a world-class football team...... So, can you imagine a top-notch host stopping at the round of 16?"

"Zhou Yi is still worried about the referee......? We don't need to rely on any referee to help us, and Brazil has never won a match in its history because of the referee's care!"

......

In addition to the Brazilian media, the Chinese media and netizens are also very concerned about this game, and the video of Zhou Yi's interview is not a sensitive video that cannot be put on, everyone can see and know what Zhou Yi said.

This time, both the media and the fans naturally stood by Zhou Yi's side. Although their reasons may vary.

Someone is a brain-dead fan of Zhou Yi, whatever Zhou Yi says, he thinks it is right, and he must support it unreservedly.

Some people think that Zhou Yi, as the captain of the national team, can only say this at this time, maybe he may not agree with his words in his heart, but for the morale and confidence of the team, focusing on the overall situation, he can't casually express his true thoughts in his heart.

But no matter what the reason, this approach is right and normal, and any ridicule and ridicule of Zhou Yi and the national team, as long as it appears on the Internet, will immediately be drowned by the saliva of netizens and fans.

There are indeed such eyeless people, but these people are people who don't usually watch the game, and they are not even "pseudo-fans", so they don't understand what the situation is now. The reason why they participated in the discussion of the World Cup topic was purely to gain popularity and to become popular by unscrupulous means.

In the past, ridiculing the Chinese national men's football team was a sure-fire and risk-free thing, which could not only brush up on popularity, but also get a lot of support.

But now, whoever does it will immediately die a horrible death.

They're really popular, but everyone who mentions their name has to add something like "stupid".

※※※

On the eve of the competition, Zhou Yi played a simulated game in the virtual world for the last time.

He simulated a total of eight games, and in the eight games, the Chinese team won three, drew one, and lost four.

Slightly downwind.

But Zhou Yi didn't think this result was bad.

The ratio is about the same as the results he simulated a few days ago.

This shows that the Chinese team and the current Brazilian team can almost draw each other, and this conclusion is very stable, and there are no ups and downs.

So the Chinese team's winning rate is not as good as Brazil's, does it mean that the Chinese team can't win?

Of course, Zhou Yi doesn't think so.

To determine the outcome of a game, strength is important, on-the-spot performance is also important, and even luck is important.

Zhou Yi has made all the preparations, and the next thing is to play well in the real game.