Godfather of national football

Chapter 555
"Is Leo okay," Martino asked the team doctor.

"Leo's legs are swollen, to be honest, Leo is too tired."

Martino nodded. Of course he knew Messi's physical condition. He was the main force in Barcelona. After the season ended, he would come to the national team to report and lead Argentina to the final. As the head coach, he really couldn't blame Messi.

"Okay, thanks for your hard work, I'll go and see Leo."

Walking into Messi's room, Messi smiled and said hello, "Herrador, why are you here?"

"I came to see you, you are our most important player."

"Come on, sit down."

Martino used to sit next to Messi, "Leo, you don't really need to care what the outside world says, your body is the most important thing, you've done enough, tell me how you feel."

"very good."

"truth?"

"of course."

Martino understands Messi's temper very well. The final is just around the corner. As long as he doesn't break his leg or something, Messi will definitely stick to it.

"Well, I won't bother you anymore."

"Herrador?"

Martino stopped, "What?"

"Don't worry, I will definitely win the championship this time. Let's lift the trophy together in Buenos Aires. I want them to see that I can win the championship in the national team."

Martino smiled knowingly, "It's been a long time since there was a carnival in Buenos Aires. It's been a long time."

*****
ESPN, Vidal and Sanchez are being interviewed by the host, and the final is approaching. As the winner of the last America's Cup, the Chilean team has of course become the focus of attention from the outside world.

"Where did you win last year?" the host asked.

Vidal smiled slightly: "I think the most important thing is at home. Our fans are so enthusiastic. They are our No.12 players."

"Yes, the home field advantage is still very strong," Sanchez continued.

"So this time it's in America, and you guys made it to the final, why?"

"Unity," Vidal said.

"Our team is like a big family, we eat together, we train together, we pray, we cooperate with each other on the pitch, that's why Chilean football is strong."

The host was noncommittal, "I think any team is like this, can you talk about some Chilean characteristics?"

Vidal thought for a while, "Pay attention to young people. Chilean football is very scientific in training young people. Do you know Zhou Dun of the Chinese team? He completed his youth training in Chile."

The host nodded, this is still a reasonable answer, what unity?That's ridiculous, because which one of the teams standing on the stage of the America's Cup will not be united?
"Well then, are you still confident of winning the championship this time?"

In this regard, Vidal and Sanchez are the same, they are very cautious. They have also watched the previous games of Argentina, and they are very strong. This year, Chile has no advantage in front of Argentina.

"Do your best," Vidal said.

"You know, it's really difficult to win the Copa America two years in a row, but we will try," Sanchez said.

*****
After Li Lai came to New York, he immediately became the focus of the media. This should be Li Guo's last appearance in the America's Cup.

"Li Guo, Li Guo, who do you predict will win the America's Cup? Will it be your Argentina team or Colombia's Chilean team?"

"I do not know."

"You have to know, give us a forecast, please."

The atmosphere at the scene was a bit funny, Li Guo said with a smile: "Argentina, I hope they can win the Copa America."

"Li Guo, what is your biggest achievement in this America's Cup?"

"Made a lot of new friends."

"for example?"

"For example, you, you fat man, I remember you, you appeared at the door of Chen Gelin's parents' house, right?"

The fat man was taken aback, "I haven't, I've never been to Chen Gelin's parents' house."

Li Guo was stunned for a moment, he probably made a mistake, he just thought that all big fat people in America look similar, "Well then, anyway, I'm glad to meet you, please don't write about me in the future."

"Will not."

"Really? Generally, those who say they don't know how to write are the most ruthless."

Everyone smiled.

*****
On the day of the finals, the Metropolitan Stadium in New York was full of people. The United States attaches great importance to this event. The big names in New York came, as did the Knicks and Yankees. These are the two most famous professional teams in New York.

There have been too many ups and downs in the [-]-year America's Cup. Before the game started, frozen photos flashed on the big screen of the stadium.

Starting with black and white, then blurry color photos, and now high-definition photos.

Starting from Pele and Franciscoli, to Batistuta, Romario, and now Messi and Sanchez.

What is on the big screen is history, but what is in the stadium is the present. Messi glanced at the big screen. Maybe decades later, he will appear on the big screen. It may be the 150th year of the Copa America.

Li Guo in the stands was also happy, and said to Chen An next to him, "Fortunately, we were eliminated, otherwise it would be too embarrassing."

"Hahaha, yes, those on the screen are not our ancestors."

"Yeah, like Francescoli, I really haven't seen him play football."

"Broadcasting technology was still very poor at that time."

"Well, I guess I couldn't make much money playing football at that time."

"By the 150th year of the America's Cup, I guess it will be broadcast in VR. Sitting in the living room of your own home is like watching the game live, and everyone can chat online in real time, just like hundreds of millions of people watching the game in the stadium at the same time."

Li Guo chuckled, "At that time, the tickets for a game can be sold to hundreds of millions of people. By then, the annual income of the stars is estimated to start at [-] million."

Chen An was also happy, "Will we still be there then?"

"It should be. Anyway, when technology develops, I will live to be 200 years old. I want to see what a football game will be like in 100 years."

"Haha, greedy."

Just as Li Guo was chatting with Chen An, the Chilean national anthem sounded in the stadium, and the audience stood up and fell silent.

The camera panned across the players' faces, and the Chilean players were still very excited. Bravo's chest rose and fell, and he looked very passionate.

Then came the Argentine national anthem. The camera started from Romero and scanned the Argentine players one by one. Argentina’s starting lineup in this game was exactly the same as that of the last semi-final. As the camera progressed, the last one was Messi. He looked at the national flag and hummed the national anthem earnestly. No one knew what he was thinking at this time.

After the national anthems of both sides were played, the audience burst into cheers, Messi and Higuain stood in front of the ball, and the game was about to begin.

(End of this chapter)