Godfather of national football

Chapter 142
June 2009 was a black month for the teams participating in the Asian Top 6, because on the 10th, 6th, and 6th, there will be two final rounds of competition in just 10 days.

One year, 8 games, and finally who can go to South Africa will be decided in June. The winner will be very happy, and the losing team will have to wait another 6 years. For some veterans, there may never be a chance.

The Chinese team in Group A has already qualified ahead of schedule. This is because Iran and South Korea still have matches in the last two rounds, and they must have only one team that can go to South Africa. It is precisely because of this that the Chinese team got the qualifying spot ahead of schedule.

Group B Australia and Japan have also qualified ahead of schedule. It can be said that Group B is relatively boring, and the advantages of the top two cannot be shaken.

The Chinese team's schedule in June is to play Iran at home on the 6th, the UAE away on the 6th, and then have a bye in the final round.

Before the Chinese team played Iran at home, a large number of South Korean journalists flocked to Shanghai. This is because this game is directly related to South Korea’s qualifying. If the Chinese team beats Iran at home, then the Koreans can qualify for the final game as long as they beat Iran in Seoul.

And if the Chinese team loses to Iran at home, then South Korea must beat Iran by a big score in the final round in order to rely on goal difference to PK Iran.

Every time the qualifiers come to this time, the details are counted. Li Guo remembers that in the 2013 Brazil World Cup qualifiers, in the last round, South Korea lost to Iran at home, and Uzbekistan beat Qatar away, but they were still a few goals away, and finally they were squeezed out of the World Cup by South Korea.

At this time, the performance of the Chinese team will directly determine the fate of the other two teams in the group, so this relationship is actually quite delicate.

It is foreseeable that at the press conference before the game, the question of whether the Chinese team will play well must be the focus.

*****
In the pre-match press conference, after a few months, Li Guo returned to this position, which still felt a little special.

"Long time no see," Li Guo said.

Everyone welcomed Li Guo's return with applause.

"The last match was also against Iran. I said something I shouldn't have said, but I was suspended. As you know, I respect the wise decision of the AFC."

There was rustling laughter from the audience, it seemed that Li Guo had learned his lesson, otherwise the next suspension would be the World Cup, and the loss would be huge.

The first question was from an Iranian reporter, "The Chinese team has already qualified. We saw that some of the main players of the Chinese team did not come back this time. Will your team show mercy to Iran?"

"Why should I show mercy to you guys, you got me suspended and fined,"

The scene laughed again.

Then Li Guo said: "My games are arranged according to the situation of the Chinese team, and I will not consider other teams. As for whether it is Iran or South Korea going to South Africa, I don't care."

Then Li Guo changed the subject, "Also, don't underestimate my substitutes. It's still unknown who will go to South Africa, that is, they also have the opportunity to compete for the places to go to South Africa, so I'm not worried that they will let go."

After the Iranian reporter, it was time for South Korean reporters to ask questions. "First of all, as a Korean, I implore the Chinese team to try their best to beat Iran by a big score."

"I'll do my best," Li Guo replied with a smile.

Then the face of the South Korean reporter changed, "If the Chinese team has a negative game in the game, the Korean Football Association will definitely appeal to the AFC, and it will be bad for football in both countries."

Fuck me, as soon as this remark came out, the Chinese reporters at the scene were a little angry. Bangzi is a threat from Chiguoguo, and it is still at our home court.

Li Guo still smiled: "I don't think I have a say in things like manipulating the game, and neither do you. Do you know who has the most say?"

"Who?"

"Ecuadorian Moreno,"

"Pfft," the reporters at the scene couldn't hold back.

Moreno was the referee who enforced the Korea-Japan World Cup quarter-final match between South Korea and Italy. That match was also the most controversial match in the history of the World Cup.

Although the Korea-Japan World Cup has been over for so many years, rumors about Koreans bribing referees have never stopped, so Li Guo said Moreno's name at this time, the meaning couldn't be more obvious.

The South Korean reporter's face was dark, and he wanted to say something, but he couldn't say anything. The press officer at the scene understood, and immediately gave the opportunity to the next reporter to ask questions.

This is a Chinese reporter.

"Director Li, have you considered the World Cup yet?"

"No, I'm only paying attention to the top 10 games now, and we'll talk about next year's events next year."

"Will the Olympic champion bring pressure to the team?"

"No, because the World Cup and the Olympics are completely different. Everyone in this football circle knows that Olympic champions can't prove anything. We are still newcomers in the World Cup."

"Then can you please talk about your vision for the future of Chinese football?"

"There is no great idea, I just hope that every child who likes football can play football happily."

On the day of the game, Li Guo invited 10 students who played football from Shanghai primary schools to the team's bench to watch the game. This is Li Guo's consistent thinking, that is, he must do everything possible to make children like football.

Because of Li Guo's return, the 8-person stadium in Shanghai was full. This was also the last home game for the Chinese team in the Top 10 match. Slogans were put up on the spot——Thank you Li Guo, thank you national football players.

Li Guo feels that Chinese fans are becoming more and more professional. In addition to the slogan, he also plays TiFo. On the screen, Li Guo looks into the distance with a telescope, which is probably South Africa.

Iran is playing with all the main force this time. They are now climbing on the edge of the cliff with one hand, and they must go all out in the game against the Chinese team.

But now the Chinese team is very mature and can easily deal with it in Asia. The starting center forward arranged by Li Guo in this game is Ji Ke. This is a return to the traditional Chinese football style.

The score of the final match was 1 to 1. It was Ji Ke who scored the goal for the Chinese team, and Hashemian scored the goal for the Iranian side.

In this way, the Chinese team's top 10 home games are 4 draws and 3 win, and the only victory is the home game against South Korea.

After the game, the Koreans scolded Li Guo again. This draw made the Koreans miserable, but they couldn’t say anything. After all, the Chinese team’s performance on the court was normal. In short, after the top 10 match, the relationship between Li Guo and the Koreans will never be resolved.

(End of this chapter)