Godfather of national football

Chapter 170 Bonus Gate

After training, Eriksson received a call from the president of the Ivorian Football Association.

"Good job. We drew with France in the first game, and we have already seized the advantage. As long as we can draw with Argentina in the last game, or lose a little less, we may qualify."

It seems that in the hearts of the Ivorians, the Chinese team can be ignored.

Eriksson said: "There is nothing wrong in theory, and we have to get enough goal difference from the Chinese team."

"I don't think there is a problem with this. We still have a great advantage against Asian teams,"

Both laughed, but then Eriksson faltered.

"that……"

"Say it, just tell me if you need anything, as I said, Côte d'Ivoire fully supports your work."

"It's about the World Cup bonus. The players and I asked to cash out part of it after the match with the Chinese team."

"Of course,"

"It's cash,"

As soon as the words came out, there was silence on the other end of the phone, "Cash? Don't you trust the Football Association?"

Eriksson chuckled, "Mr. Chairman, you know, what credit does the African Football Association have? Ghana and Nigeria have both defaulted on players' World Cup bonuses. I don't want to take this risk."

Eriksson estimated that he would definitely win the game against the Chinese team, and it would be more natural to split the money after a victory.

"Sven, you know the law and order in South Africa. Driving on the streets of Cape Town with millions of dollars in cash, isn't that equivalent to asking someone to rob you?"

Eriksson and his players knew that even if they win the Chinese team, the team will face Argentina in the final game, and the situation of qualifying will be very unfavorable. Once the team is eliminated, the rogue African Football Association will definitely take the World Cup prize money given by FIFA. This kind of thing happened in Ghana.

Although Eriksson is a football coach, he is shrewd when it comes to money. Any contract income in his career must be written as "after tax". He will not argue with any government, and that belongs to the Football Association.

"Sir, it's not my point, it's the players' point, without the cash, they won't want to play."

The chairman of the Ivorian Football Association on the other end of the phone was already furious, but he didn't dare to explode. Eriksson was obviously threatening. If it was 20 years ago, he really wanted to kill Eriksson, but it is a pity that he can't do it now.

"Yes, but after the game against Argentina, cash is cash," said the chairman and hung up the phone.

Eriksson looked blank. Compared with well-behaved Europeans, this gang of niggers is really difficult to deal with.

*****
Kolo Touré was very upset when he heard this result. He has two identities in the Côte d'Ivoire national team. First, he is the brother of Yaya Touré, and second, he is the captain of Côte d'Ivoire.

He doesn't worry about bonuses for himself. Kolo Touré, who plays for Manchester City, can be said to be not short of money, but there are still many people in the Ivory Coast team who are mixed. The World Cup bonus of tens of thousands of dollars is very important to them.

"We fought for our country. We deserve it. Why don't they give it to us? They wear suits, sit in offices, drink coffee, and take our bonuses."

Eriksson said: "The chairman's attitude is like this. After the game against Argentina, the cash will go directly to the stadium. If you reach the knockout round, the bonus will be discussed later."

Kolo Toure knows that the most important thing for a captain is to keep his word. Since he has stood up for everyone, then this matter cannot be counted as such.

"No, I promised everyone. If this is the case, then I should stop being the captain."

Eriksson spread his hands, "It seems that we are in big trouble. Is Côte d'Ivoire going to strike? It's the first time in the World Cup. I'm famous!" After finishing speaking, Eriksson smiled wryly.

Kolo Touré knows that a strike is impossible. If those bastards don’t pay, the game will still have to be played, but man, if there is no result for what he said, it’s really worse than anything. “Will they really give us cash after the game against Argentina?”

As soon as this remark came out, Eriksson knew that Kolo Touré had softened, so he quickly said: "Of course, you are the heroes of Côte d'Ivoire. I don't think they dare to break the appointment."

*****
The German "Bild" broke the news - "Ivory Coast players are going to strike because of World Cup bonuses."

Some people may ask, how did this kind of news leak out, hehe, it may be from the Football Association, or it may be leaked by the Ivorian players themselves. In short, it is expensive to sell the news to the famous media.

When Chen An got the pictorial, he was very excited. Li Guo was so goddamned, almost a half-immortal, that he could predict that there would be problems in Côte d'Ivoire.

Of course, Eriksson and the Ivorian Football Association held an emergency press conference and angrily denounced the reporter for spreading rumors. The Ivorian also hinted at the press conference that the "Bild" reporter had accepted the benefits of the Chinese team.

"We know that our second opponent is the Chinese team, and the head coach of the Chinese team, Li Guo, has been working in Germany for a long time. Maybe he knows some German friends."

Li Guo didn't respond, because there was nothing to respond to these pretentious things, and it was not the first time African players threatened to strike, but in the end it didn't really matter. It's not worth it for such a little money, and the influence of the World Cup is great.

But Li Guo was still not ready to let this matter go. He thought of a person, Li Zibing, and after telling the story, Li Zibing said, "Let me hype the topic for you on Weibo?"

"Yup,"

"Don't you have a Tahitian girlfriend, let her hype you up,"

"Hey, you still have a boyfriend in Zimbabwe. I'm a single nobleman. Don't blame me."

"Shameless and rascal," Li Zibing said angrily and funny.

"Let me tell you this, this matter is related to the righteousness of the nation, and you must help me."

"Damn, Li Guo, you majored in extortion in college, right? This matter has something to do with national justice."

"Think about it, the more passive Côte d'Ivoire is, the more proactive we are. The national football team is winning, and the whole of China is happy. Isn't this a national righteousness?"

If the two were face to face now, Li Zibing really wanted to throw the phone in Li Guo's face, "Then I'll help you hype, what good will you do me?"

Li Guo thought for a while, "I personally made a certificate of three good journalists and presented it to you."

"I pooh your face!"

Li Guo chuckled, "Then let me treat you to dinner when I come back, the most expensive one."

Li Zibing chuckled, "That's about the same."

(End of this chapter)