World Cup of Great Powers

Chapter 278 Lazio's Centennial Celebration
New year, new goals.

As soon as Zeng Zheng returned to China, the fans focused their attention on the new national football roster.

Experienced two Asian Youth Championships, an Olympic bronze medal, a World Cup, and an Asian Cup champion.

So many players have fought side by side with Zeng Zheng.

Will there be a new "lucky guy" selected for Zeng Zheng's national team in this year's world preliminaries?
In the work report held by Zhu Xie, Zeng Zheng was dressed in formal attire and a pair of brown glasses.

Just like an old school style.

But when Zeng Zheng was speaking, both the media below and the leaders above all sat solemnly.

The scene also fell silent.

". Leaders and comrades, with the joint efforts of all colleagues and under the correct command of the leaders, we have had a fruitful year."

".As the head coach of the national team, in the new year, I will do my best to lead the Chinese national men's football team to the finals of the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea."

After a long opening speech that was necessary but without much content, Zeng Zheng first made a brief summary of the results of football teams of all ages in 2000.

Then he made it clear that in the new year, he will focus on the national football team.

This also means that because of the conflict between the World Youth Championship and the Confederations Cup, Zeng Zheng will not lead the team to Argentina in the mid-year World Youth Championship.

Immediately afterwards, Zhu Xie announced that the head coach of the China Youth Team would be temporarily taken over by Chen Jingang.

This decision has also been recognized and understood by the majority of fans.

After all, the senior team's game is the most important.

The next day after the meeting, Zhuxie announced a new batch of national team training lists.

This is the first issue of the list in 2001. Everyone is discussing who can last until the last issue.

Head Coach: Zeng Zheng.

Coaches: Shen Xiangfu, Chi Shangbin, Jin Zhiyang, Xu Tao;
Advisor: Ladd

Goalkeepers: Ou Chuliang (Jianglong), Fu Bing (Chongqing Lifan), Gao Jianbin (Sichuan Quanxing);

Defenders: Zhang Yanhua (Grimsby), Wu Chengying (Shenhua), Li Weifeng (Jianglong), Sun Jihai (Manchester City), General Fan (Crystal Palace), Zheng Zhi (PSV Eindhoven) ), Xu Yunlong (Beijing Guoan);

Midfielders: Li Tie (Sevilla), Li Jinyu (Turin), Zhang Xiaorui (Benfica), Ma Mingyu (Peruggia), Qi Hong, Shen Si (Shenhua), Shao Jiayi (Monchengladbach ), Zhang Ran (Brazil International);
Forwards: Yang Chen (Frankfurt), Xie Hui (Aachen), Zhang Yuxie (Liaozu), Li Yi (Morocco), Qu Bo (Benfica).

Judging from the training list this time, Zeng Zheng has recruited almost all overseas players.

Zeng Zheng's explanation is also very reasonable.

It’s hard to come across the winter vacation, everyone is free, of course, we must try our best to gather these overseas players to get together and communicate more.

In addition, Zeng Zheng certainly has other careful thoughts.

People like Li Yi and Qu Bo started working after their physical examination after finishing the Super Cup.

Zhang Ran, Ma Mingyu, and Zhang Yanhua are all on temporary loan for the World Cup.

There are also Zheng Zhi and Shao Jiayi, although they have been in the new club for a while, but they can't always be the main players.

Given this situation, of course Zeng Zheng wanted to give these disciples a hand.

And this visit to Italy is an opportunity.

On January 1, a group of thirty or so people flew to Rome, Italy.

Now, Han Tao and Li Huajun's coaching certificates are both qualified to coach a first-tier team.

But both of them decided unanimously that they must not miss the world preliminaries and the World Cup.

Even if you fly solo, you have to do it after the World Cup.

Although not formally "compiled".

But as soon as the camera shoots to the sidelines, you can see the two people behind Zeng Zheng.

Don't look at the real name, but the club owner is not a fool, he will still buy it.

"Coach Zeng, how about this match?"

On the plane, several coaches discussed the trip to Italy with Zeng Zheng.

"You can't win, and you can't even draw!"

Zeng Zheng gave a straightforward answer.

However, upon hearing this weird answer, all the coaches present nodded in agreement.

"That's right, after all, it's their centennial celebration, and it's not appropriate for us to win in the past."

"Yeah, if we really win, people might think we're trying to mess things up!"

"But Coach Zeng, why can't Ping work?"

Facing the questions from several colleagues, Zeng Zheng smiled.

"Send the Buddha to the West, what's the point of a draw? How can fans like to watch a draw?"

"If others don't invite us, but invite us, can't that explain this?"

"I just feel that we have international influence, but our strength is not that strong."

"Competing with us, it is reasonable to get any result."

"It's all said and done, if we fight with others, it will be too careless."

Zeng Zheng's explanation was approved by everyone present.

It also set the tone for the first battle of this trip to Italy.

"Then Coach Zeng, what about the next two games?"

"The next two games?"

Zeng Zheng's eyes turned cold, "For the next two rounds, it's going to be a real fight with the opponent."

During this visit to Italy, the national football team has three friendly matches to play.

One is the centennial celebration of No. 9 Lazio.

Because Serie A was broadcast first in China, fans know Serie A best.

In addition, many Italian teams have visited China every summer in recent years, so our relationship with Serie A teams is also closer than other countries.

The tradition of Serie A is that which club will win the Serie A championship when it reaches the century.

Milan so, Lazio so.

think about it.

They just won a Serie A champion last season.

Then you are invited to play a friendly match at the centennial celebration.

If you go up to the box and win someone else, isn’t that looking for draws?
You know, the national football team's trip to Serie A is all paid for by the club where the three friendly matches are held.

This is the first time for the Chinese team.

But as just said.

Can lose against Lazio.

But for the other two friendly matches, he had to save some face.

Otherwise, people would think that you, the newly promoted Asian champion, are full of moisture!
The other two opponents, one is Serie A Torino, and the other is Sampdoria, which was relegated to Serie B.

The former is Li Jinyu's new club, while the latter is an old friend of Chinese fans.

In fact, including the Milan duo, the national football team has received invitations from many Italian teams.

Anyway, one sheep is driven, and two sheep are herded.

Since the national football team has to come to Italy once, let's play a few more games.

However, due to time constraints, Zeng Zheng chose these two carefully.

the reason is simple.

Can pass!
As Li Jinyu's new club, Li Jinyu of the Turin team is still very important.

Zeng Zheng's opposite is also realistic, that is to use a friendly match to stabilize the position of his disciples.

As for the lonely Sampdoria, it has the feelings of the fans of that era.

Due to business reasons, Samp is no longer as brave as it used to be.

This team of Genoa sailors has gradually faded out of the fans' vision recently.

This trip to Italy, Zeng Zheng is also in order to repay his continuous assistance to visit China in those years.

After finalizing the details, several people narrowed their eyes and fell asleep.

Due to the weather, the national football team failed to catch up with the scheduled flight when they transferred at Frankfurt Airport.

After being stranded at Frankfurt Airport for more than 4 hours, he arrived in Rome on the last flight of the day.

After getting off the plane, the group looked very tired.

However, when the coaching team gathered at the airport with the overseas internationals who came from other European regions, the group still seemed very happy.

Facing the interview, Zeng Zheng said some scene words:

"I brought the players out this time, mainly because I hope they can gain some experience."

"Lazio is a strong team. Being invited by Lazio to participate in the closing ceremony of their centenary celebration shows that our strength has been recognized. Of course, this game is also difficult, even the level of Lazio's substitute players is quite high."

"After all, he was the Serie A champion last season!"

"After this trip to Italy, the national team will not be disbanded immediately."

"We're diverting to Iran to play."

"At that time, there will be a wave of new national team players joining the lineup."

"After playing the game in Iran, I have to make another trip to the United States."

"Although troublesome, it is necessary."

"We hope to increase the players' game experience and improve their adaptability by going out."

"Playing more matches with some strong foreign opponents will help players better understand the advanced level of foreign football."

Lazio also attaches great importance to this game.

On the morning of the second day after the arrival of the Chinese team, Zoff, vice chairman of the Lazio club and former head coach of the Italian national team, pointed out in an interview with reporters.

"Chinese football has improved rapidly in the past few years. As an emerging football market, Lazio has always paid close attention to the East Asian football market including China."

"Now China, Japan and South Korea all have players playing football in Italy, which shows that football in the three countries has great potential for development."

"I believe that in the next 5 or 6 years, more Asian players will play in Italy."

Zoff specifically emphasized that it is precisely because the Chinese team is now a representative team in Asian football that it was decided two months ago that Lazio invited the Chinese team to play in Rome.

In response to rumors that Lazio only played a "half game" with the Chinese team on the 9th, Zoff said:
"Absolutely not!"

"It's going to be a full game, and it's a real game, a real game."

"A few years ago, I led the Sampdoria team to play in several cities in China. The Chinese football team is very good."

"So we will go all out in this match against the Chinese national team, and I will also send my best players on the field."

Although the national football team's battle against Lazio has been hyped up in China.

But in fact, in Italy, it is quite calm.

The major media in Italy did not pay much attention to this obvious commercial competition.

"Gazzetta dello Sport", "Gazzetta dello Sport", "Repubblica", "Sports Post" and other famous sports media did not report on this,
"Fuck, what's the situation? Why did you squeeze it into such a small place for us?"

Li Jinyu tossed and turned, and finally found a few words about this report in the corner of "Roma Sport".

This disappointed Li Jinyu, who wanted to show off a wave of Italian.

"Oba, what is written here?"

In order to support Li Jinyu, Li Tie pointed to the largest section of the newspaper and asked.

"Here it is said that Italy will play a friendly match with Uruguay in February, see if there will be any injuries or something."

After Li Jinyu took a look, he was even more disappointed.

For the Italians, they obviously value the friendly matches between the national teams more.

"Fuck, you actually underestimate Lao Tzu so much. I'm so anxious, there are you guys who will look good on the court!"

After playing in Turin for two years, Li Jinyu also played against Lazio several times, and even scored a goal.

So he still has some confidence in saying this.

However, as soon as the words were spoken, he was slapped on the back of the head by General Fan.

"Fuck, don't talk nonsense, have you forgotten Coach Zeng's explanation?"

"Captain, but, but they look down on people too much."

"I underestimate you because you are not strong enough!"

General Fan looked majestic, "If you are capable, you will lead the Turin team to a Serie A championship!"

"Cut! If it hadn't been for them for a hundred years, he would have won the Serie A championship?" Li Jinyu was still a little unconvinced.

But facing General Fan's slap again, he finally chose to keep his mouth shut.

In the middle of the night, there was a loud snoring in the hotel room.

Li Jinyu quietly pinched Li Tie's nose.

"Huff, who is it?!"

"Shh~~ Tiezi, it's me! Keep your voice down!"

"Fuck! You don't sleep in the middle of the night, what are you doing here?"

"Tiezi, I have something to discuss with you."

"What's the matter? Can't talk during the day?"

"It's about the Lazio game."

"Competition? What's the matter? Didn't we agree to lose at least two?"

"Losing two is losing two, but you didn't say how much you won!" Li Jinyu said, "Tiezi, you said we came all the way here, you can't let the Italians take it lightly!"

"It's so far away, you've been in Turin all the time, okay?" Li Tie also woke up now, and complained.

"I've been here all the time, but where's Boss Zeng?"

Li Jinyu moved Zeng Zheng out.

"Boss Zeng came from China, right?"

"And Zeng Tou just won the Asian Youth Championship and the Asian Cup."

"If he loses badly, what will these Italians think of him?"

When it came to Zeng Zheng, Li Tie fell silent.

He can lose.

It can also be looked down upon by others.

But absolutely not allow other people to look down on his Zeng Boss.

Before Li Tie could answer, Zhang Xiaorui on the other side spoke.

"Fuck! If you dare to say that Boss Zeng can't do it, I will be the first to quit!"

"Look, let's see, Zhang Heizi said he disagreed. Tiezi, please express your opinion, do you want these Italians to think that our boss Zeng has no real talents?"

"Of course not!" Li Tie replied immediately.

"That's right!" Li Jinyu chuckled, "So, I have a plan."

"What plan?" the two asked in unison.

"My plan is"

On January 1th, Lazio's centenary celebration.

Rome Olympic Stadium, China VS Lazio.

In fact, this year is the 101st year since Lazio was founded.

But for the celebration, after all, it needs to be prepared, and it must be in the back row. It is impossible to celebrate in advance.

Before warming up, Zeng Zheng asked again.

"Remember my request?"

"Remember!"

Everyone said in unison.

"Qubo, say it again."

The youngest Qu Bo immediately stood up and recited like a text:

"After the opening, it is absolutely not allowed to score first, and the score is not allowed to tie the game, nor is there a crash. At the end of the game, at least two or more losses must be lost."

"Do you remember everything?" Zeng Zheng asked as soon as Qu Bo finished speaking.

"Remember!!!" The team members winked and shouted collectively.

Hearing the team members collectively elongate the end, Zeng Zheng's right eyelid suddenly twitched for no reason.

These bastards won't do anything to me, will they?
(End of this chapter)