On the road of China's football development, we always preached to learn from Europe's advanced football concepts and tactics, such as Germany, Spain, and even South America's Brazil, Argentina, and other strong teams.
But we seemed to lack a full understanding of our own strength.
What we learned was the advanced football strength that could please fans all over the world.
However, China lacked both the free and romantic superb individual strength of South America and the rigorous and orderly technical and tactical execution ability and accomplishment of Europe.
The core of the problem was clear at a glance: we did not have the capital to learn those advanced football that could please the world.
Therefore, Qin Xiong's suggestion to Ali Khan was based on the most realistic interests of the field. If we really wanted to learn from someone, then Italy was the one we should learn from.
A firm defensive philosophy, based on defensive counterattack, even if it could not achieve the steel-like cold defensive effect of chain defense, it had to be tried.
Because defense was actually simpler than offense, even if the individual strength was not enough, they could hoard more troops to defend.
This was not Qin Xiong's idea, but a suggestion for the long-term development of the national team.
Ali Khan was ambitious, but he did not expect the World Cup to be a bad start. In the first game, they were completely suppressed by the opponent. The so-called "characteristics" of the China team were not only not played out on the World Cup stage, but were even vulnerable.
Qin Xiong's suggestion was adopted. The master and apprentice of the national team talked for a long time. Although the game against Portugal was imminent, today's conversation almost set the development trend of Qin Xiong's national team era.
The China team, which was later evaluated by history as "Qin Xiong + 10 defensive players," and the "Asian Utilitarian King," the China team began to shape during this period.
.....
Bad news came. The China team lost 1: 3 to the Mexican team in the first game. Later in the same group game, the Portuguese team defeated the Angola team 1: 0 with the help of Bouleta's lightning goal. Although the Portuguese team did not show the domineering dominance of a strong European team, they did get three points.
After the first round of the group stage, the China team was at the bottom of the group.
After a day's rest, the China team left Nuremberg for Frankfurt.
Qin Xiong was in a stable state when he trained with his teammates. He did not show any regret or frustration. He had already forgotten about the game against Mexico. After two years of playing in the top league, his professionalism had also improved. If he brooded about the game in the past, it would not help him in the future.
The China fans who visited the China team's training were slightly pessimistic. The battle with Mexico made them realize the reality.
After all, Qin Xiong was a human being, not a god.
Just like what the media said, even if Zidane, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaka, and other players were placed in the China team to replace Qin Xiong, would they be able to lead the China team to defeat an opponent who was obviously stronger than them?
If someone thought that it was possible, it could only be said that he did not understand football as a team sport.
The pressure within the team seemed to be increasing as they were about to face Portugal.
After the team held a preparation meeting the day before the game, Qin Xiong held an internal meeting of the players in the locker room.
Qin Xiong, who was only wearing a pair of shorts, sat in his seat. His teammates surrounded him as he spoke with an indifferent expression.
"I know that losing to Mexico has put everyone in a bad mood, and so have I. It seems that our World Cup is over before it has even started.
But what I want to tell you is that the World Cup does not belong to us alone.
It belongs to our teammates and the countless fans who support us.
It still belongs to our country.
I don't want to leave the World Cup with regrets.
Do you regret losing to Mexico?
No!
I don't regret it.
Mexico's overall strength is stronger than ours, they played better than us, and they also showed that they were better than us in terms of skills and tactics.
We worked hard, so why should we regret it?
It's not necessary to feel regret after losing the game.
The most important thing is to have a clear conscience.
But if we are in our current state, with great pressure, fear whether the media will label us as a disgrace, and endlessly fantasize that the fans will attack the national team because of great disappointment.
So, how can we play well in the next two games?
If we can't play our strength, it means that we didn't do our best. In that case, it will be a pity and I will blame myself.
So, please don't think about those things.
This is our World Cup!
It's a precious experience for us to recall our careers in the future.
We should be excited and proud that we will play against the star-studded Portugal tomorrow.
This is the glorious moment of our lives!
Lose? I'm not afraid.
I'm afraid that I will kneel down to the opponent before the game! "
Qin Xiong's words made his teammates nod repeatedly, and then everyone gathered together to cheer each other on.
As the captain, Qin Xiong did not like to stir up trouble and show off. He did his best to enlighten and encourage his teammates, hoping to relieve their inner pressure and remove their ideological baggage.
The next day, the first game in Group D was between Mexico and Angola.
After 90 minutes of the game, the Angola team tied with the Mexican team, and the two teams shook hands and made up.
This put the China team in a desperate situation.
Because Mexico had already gotten four points.
The China team still had two games. Unless they won all of them, even if they tied with Portugal, they might still be eliminated. Because in the case of the same points in the group, the priority was to compare wins and losses. In the first game, the China team lost to Mexico!
In the sunny afternoon at the World Cup stadium in Frankfurt.
The stands were packed with people, and there were no empty seats.
The Portuguese and China teams, as well as the German fans, were looking forward to seeing the star players compete in this game.
It was full of gimmicks.
Qin Xiong vs Figo, Deco, Ronaldo, and other famous football players.
Moreover, Qin Xiong and many players in the Portuguese team really had a lot of "new and old grudges."
Because two years ago in the Champions League final, Qin Xiong represented Ajax to defeat Porto. Many of Porto's players were the main force of the national team at that time.
For example, Carvalho, Valente, Maniche, Costinha, and Deco. Oh, Deco played against Qin Xiong for the second time in the Champions League final a month ago, and it also ended in failure.
In addition, Qin Xiong and Ronaldo were supernovas of the same generation in the English Premier League. Qin Xiong's rapid growth obviously overshadowed Ronaldo's limelight, which made this game very interesting.
In fact, 99% of the eyes focused on the China team were focused on Qin Xiong.
Before the game started, in the players' tunnel, Qin Xiong and Figo stood side by side at the front of the team.
Many of the Portuguese players stared diagonally ahead, looking at Qin Xiong's silhouette or back.
They could not imagine how much pressure they would be under if Qin Xiong was in a world-class team from Europe or South America.
But fortunately, Qin Xiong was the captain of the China team.
This made them feel relieved, and at the same time, a slightly brutal excitement rose in their hearts.
Crush the China team!
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