Godfather of national football

Chapter 494
The Spring Festival is over, everything is recovering, and the World Cup cycle has begun again!

Yes, the 2014 World Cup in Brazil just ended last year, but the 2018 Russia cycle has already begun.

The top 40 competition in Asia will start in June this year.For the Chinese team, there is no pressure in the first stage of the game, but in terms of rules, this is the official start of the World Cup cycle, so the Football Association still pays more attention to it.

According to the usual practice, Li Guo went to the Football Association meeting again.

As soon as we met, Cai Hua chuckled, "Director Li, you are the head coach of the national football team who has been in office for the longest time, but you are also the head coach who has visited the football association building the least."

Li Guo immediately stood up, "Boss, I will definitely come to drink coffee often in the future."

Cai Hua signaled Li Guo to sit down, "That's fine, just do your job well. By the way, have you read the latest FIFA rankings?"

Of course Li Guo knows this, because the grouping of the top 40 in Asia needs to determine the seed team, that is, the top 8 in Asia, so this FIFA ranking is needed. In fact, the biggest role of this ranking is here.

Cai Hua stretched out both hands excitedly, making a "two" with his left hand and a "five" with his right hand, "25th place!"

The expression on Cai Hua's face is already too cool, this is the highest FIFA ranking in the history of the national football team.

"I remember when you first came, we were ranked 69. At that time, I couldn't imagine so many things that happened later."

"Boss, thank you for your trust."

"Sincere?"

"Of course it's sincere," Li Guo chuckled.

"By the way, boss, you came to me today because of the World Cup qualifiers, right?"

"Yes, the first match in Bhutan, what do you think?"

"I don't really look at it, I just do whatever I want."

But Cai Hua obviously didn’t see it that way, “Li Guo, you know, Bhutan is the least developed region in the world, and their stadium was built with artificial turf aided by FIFA.”

Li Guo couldn't understand, what does it matter to me?

"Boss, I don't understand what you have to say."

"Okay, what I mean is, can we cooperate with the football poverty alleviation plan of the Asian Cup and do some local activities."

Li Guo vaguely understood that it was impossible for Cai Hua to have such thoughts, and Zhang Jilong probably hinted at something.

"Then how? I listen to you."

Cai Hua laughed, "Bringing back all the main players is like a friendly match. As for whether to play or not, it's up to you, just to show off."

Li Guo understood that this is the same reason that domestic charity organizations like to find Yao Ming, borrowing the influence of celebrities.

"Okay, I know Boss, you want Zhou Dun to come back, right?"

"Hey, you ghost spirit," Cai Hua said with a smile.

"Don't worry, there's no problem. The first match will be in June, and Zhou Dun will be on vacation at that time. But Bhutan has artificial turf, so I dare not let the main players play."

Cai Hua nodded. He had never played football before, so he asked curiously, "Is the difference between artificial turf and natural turf really that big?"

Li Guo nodded, "It's nothing for amateur players, but for professional players, it's a world of difference, the foot feel is different."

Cai Hua was thoughtful, "Forget it, I'll leave the professional matters to you, and I won't interfere."

"okay."

*****
A few months passed in a flash. After the Asian Cup, there was a gap period for the national football team, so Li Guo spent most of his time at the National Olympics, with Magath. For Magath, next year's Olympic Games is a big test.

Four years ago, when the Chinese Olympic Games were defeated in London, Li Guo recommended Magath to take office, of course he hoped to make a difference in Rio.

Between training sessions, the two were drinking coffee.

Li Guo said: "Felix, the Olympic qualifiers are at the beginning of next year, and your exam is coming."

Magath was full of confidence and said with a smile: "No problem."

Li Guo asked curiously: "Really? Tell me."

"Li Guo, first of all, thank you for bringing me this job. I found that I really like being with young people, just like when I was in Stuttgart, I seemed to see Ram, Hildebrand, Schinkel..."

Li Guo knew that Magath was a great coach, but he was too confident. "Felix, do you look down on Asian football? If so, that's not good. Asian football has been improving."

Magath shook his head, "Of course not. I respect Asian football very much. I have been to the Korean Olympic team. I just like the young people under me too much."

Li Guo nodded. He also felt this himself. Young players are relatively simple and have strong plasticity.

"Then do you have a goal?"

"Take a card," Magath said.

Li Guo chuckled, it could only be a blessing, Li Guo couldn't help with the rest of the matter, not only that, the purpose of Li Guo's coming to the National Olympics was also to poach the wall, to see if there were any good players who could be transferred to the national team in the future.

In Li Guo's mind, the performance of the national team is still the most important, and the Olympic Games serve the national team.

"By the way, the Chinese team's World Cup qualifiers are about to start."

"Yes."

"The first game was in Bhutan, where the altitude is high," Magath said.

Magath is a sports-loving person. He is a marathon enthusiast and a climber. He has been to Bhutan.

"you've been to?"

"Yes, it has been more than 10 years. It is a Buddhist country with many temples."

"Haha, do you still believe in Buddhism?"

"Hehe, I respect this belief. By the way, when you go to Bhutan, please help me burn a stick of incense."

"What do you want? To win a gold medal in the Olympics?" Li Guo chuckled.

"You know."

Football coaches are superstitious, so Li Guo didn't say anything, and nodded, "Okay, I will help you if there is a chance."

As time went by, Li Guo and Magath trained during the day and chatted at night, and they also felt very happy, but one day, Li Guo's phone rang, and it was Li Zibing.

As soon as he picked up the phone, Li Guo panicked, because Li Zibing was crying on the other end of the phone.

"What's wrong? Have you met any bad guys?"

"No."

"What's the matter, tell me." Li Guo yelled out in a panic.

Over there, Li Zibing cried and said, "My mother suffered a heart attack and was sent to the hospital."

Li Guo was also surprised, "Don't worry, I'll be there right away, send me the address, hurry up."

After hanging up the phone, Li Guo drove there overnight. When he arrived at the hospital, his eyes were dazzled, and he saw Li Zibing in a daze.

She rushed over, Li Guo hugged her and comforted her: "It's okay, it's okay, I'm here."

(End of this chapter)