Champion’s Heart

When Mark and Zhou Yi finished their day's training, they got into the car driven by their father and returned home.

Mark found an envelope in the passenger seat.

In the past, there was nothing clean here, and their training backpacks were all placed in the trunk of the car.

What's this, Dad? Mark asked strangely.

Open it and have a look. Old Wagner said without explaining.

Mark opened the envelope, and four sets of tickets appeared in front of him.

This... Mark didn't understand.

Tomorrow night, we will watch Dortmund's home game against Werder Bremen. Old Wagner simply answered his son while driving.

Mark froze for a moment, then screamed suddenly, startling Zhou Yi next to him.

Just when Zhou Yi looked at Mark strangely, Mark's eyes were about to overflow with tears, and he said excitedly to Zhou Yi: Zhou Yi, Zhou Yi, I'm going to the South Stand to watch the game!

Only then did Zhou Yi understand: Westphalia's... South Stand?

Mark nodded vigorously, but he was too excited to speak, and then tears came out of his eyes and flowed down his cheeks.

Zhou Yi was still intimidated by Mark, he just went to watch a match... As for it?

Back home, Mrs. Wagner confirmed the news to Mark and Zhou Yi, and told Zhou Yi that he was going too.

Have my ticket?

Mrs. Wagner held up the package of four midweek tickets: It was originally for our family of four. Not long after Cortana was born, we registered her as a member of the Dortmund Club and gave her a gift every year. But unfortunately, Cortana doesn't seem to like football. She was only taken to the South Stand to watch the game when she was very young. Later, when she grew up and became sensible, she never Been there.

Zhou Yi thought of Cortana's appearance, and felt that she was indeed the one who did this kind of thing.

So you're using Cortana's package.

But... this is her name, can I use it too? Zhou Yi asked, pointing to the package ticket.

sure,

Tickets purchased with package tickets are transferable. Mrs. Wagner explained. But in fact, very few people transfer tickets. Even if they have something to do and can't go, they will not transfer Nankan Billiards tickets easily. You know, that's a ticket for the South Stand!

Speaking of the South Stand, Mrs. Wagner's tone was very proud.

As a fan of the South Stand of the Westfalenstadion, Zhou Yi has been famous for a long time. But for a long time, he has only learned about this stand through news reports, knowing that it is a gathering place for Dortmund's diehard fans, and the hot atmosphere there is an important factor for Westfalen to become the home of the Devil.

Zhou Yi didn't expect that he would also have the opportunity to go to the South Stand to watch the game. This should be the highest courtesy a Dortmund fan can give him, right?

The South Stand of the Westfalenstadion is not a place where you can go if you want.

※※※

The Dortmund youths had only half a day of training the next day, which is normal, not every day.

Today's training is scheduled in the morning.

After training in the morning, Zhou Yi did not practice for half an hour for the first time, but went home with Mark.

They had to finish their lunch in a hurry, and then go to the stadium to watch the game together.

The game is a Bundesliga match, with Borussia Dortmund playing Werder Bremen at home.

If it was six or seven years ago, the meeting between these two teams could still be regarded as a strong dialogue. At that time, Dortmund had just won the league title every two years, and Werder Bremen was competing for the league title.

Now, Werder Bremen have fallen a little bit, ranking eleventh so far this season.

And Dortmund's ranking is not high, ranking ninth.

But their game can be regarded as a contest between direct competitors. Because the two teams are only four points apart, if Werder Bremen can beat Dortmund away, they will be close to their opponents in the standings, and if Dortmund can beat Werder Bremen, the league ranking is expected to go further one to go.

So this game can be regarded as a high-profile game.

Especially in the minds of Dortmund fans.

The Mark family and Zhou Yi who went to watch the game did not choose to drive, because Mrs. Wagner said that on the game day, the roads around the stadium were very congested. If you drive, you will not be able to go home for a long time. The best way is to choose public transportation. the train goes.

Zhou Yi doesn't care, he also wants to experience how ordinary Dortmund fans watch the game. He has been in Dortmund for so long, and it is the first time to watch Dortmund's home game.

Regarding this point, Mrs. Wagner also explained to Zhou Yi. In fact, it stands to reason that when Zhou Yi first arrived at their home, they should have brought Zhou Yi to watch the game. However, during that time, because Mrs. Wagner had just recovered from a serious illness and her health was not particularly good, the doctor did not recommend her to go to the stadium, especially the South Stand to watch the game.

...The doctor said that if I must go to the game, I should buy a seat ticket and stay away from the South Stand... Mrs. Wagner said to Zhou Yi as she walked, What the hell! I went to the game to watch the game Standing on the South Stand, if I can’t go to the South Stand, why should I go? So I didn’t go to the game during that time. Later, Mark played the game, and there were some conflicts in time. It's been delayed...

It's okay, Mrs. Wagner. Zhou Yi didn't have the nerve to say that he didn't want to go to the Dortmund game at all before. He was afraid that Mrs. Wagner would be angry...

He raised the brim of his peaked cap and looked around. Now they had come out of the train station and followed the large group towards the Westfalenstadion. All around him were Dortmund fans in yellow or black. He stood on tiptoe and tried to look back. He could not see the end at a glance. It is estimated that the line stretched all the way to the train station. Jumping up and looking ahead, there is a yellow-black ocean outside the Westfalenstadion, where countless yellow-black rivers converge, and Zhou Yi is only one of them.

This scene is really spectacular.

※※※

Outside the Westfalenstadion, Zhou Yi already felt that the scene he saw was spectacular.

But when he entered the stadium, he realized that he still knew too little...

After the Wagners went to the ticket window to pick up the tickets, the four of them came to the security checkpoint.

The buttons of the Westfalen Stadium are not strict. Mobile phones, cameras, wallets, coins, and flagpoles can all be brought in, but food and drinks are not allowed. This is to ensure the sales of food stores in the stadium.

Zhou Yi and the others went through the security check and went up the stairs. They first passed the store area, where there were shops selling hot dogs and various drinks. Many fans lined up here to buy meat dogs or hamburgers. These people came here without having lunch.

Zhou Yi and the others had lunch, so naturally they didn't need to buy food, but drinks were always needed.

The Wagners bought a liter of beer for themselves, a glass of fruit juice for their son Mark, who is not yet eighteen years old, and a glass of beer for Zhou Yi...

Football and beer are indispensable. Seeing Zhou Yi hesitated, Mrs. Wagner smiled. It's okay, it doesn't matter if you drink once in a while.

Only then did Zhou Yi take the beer mug with the portrait of Dortmund captain Kyle on it.

By the way, Zhou Yi. Do you want to go to the bathroom? Mark asked beside him.

I'm...well now. Zhou Yi's urge to urinate was not very strong.

Mark shook his head: I suggest you go with me for the last time, otherwise you won't be able to come after the game starts.

Zhou Yi understands this, just like watching a movie, who wants to go to the toilet in an intense movie? What if the kung fu hero and heroine who went to the bathroom fucked the bed? What a pity.

Watching the game is the same, it is a pity to go to the bathroom and miss the goal...

So Zhou Yi gave the drink to Mrs. Wagner again, and went to the bathroom with Mark. There were quite a few people who went to the toilet before the game, so there was a queue at the door of several toilets, and they had to wait for a while before they were able to enter and solve the problem.

After coming out with drinks, the four of them walked up again. When Zhou Yi stepped up to the last step, the first thing that caught the eye was the green stadium and the stands opposite. Then he turned around and saw the steep... south stand behind him.

Not a single plastic seat, just concrete steps and railings to the South Stand.

Zhou Yi's first impression when he saw the South Stand was... why is this stand so steep!

From below, it looks like the audience on the top floor is about to fall from the top if they are not careful. And this is not Zhou Yi's illusion, because there are many railings several meters long and half a person's height in the South Stand, which are densely packed and placed on each floor of the South Stand, which are not just used as handrails for Dortmund fans.

A lot of people have gathered in the South Stand, and most of them are dressed the same as the Mark family, with scarves around their necks and wrists, wearing Dortmund jerseys or yellow and black coats—some Many of them are in a uniform style, which should be the uniforms of various fan organizations. Zhou Yi and Mark's family also wore the same style of uniforms, and Zhou Yi guessed that the Mark family should also belong to a certain fan organization.

Those railings were full of scarves and flags, signs, banners. People are chatting in their respective positions, or scurrying around to say hello to people they know well.

Someone from the Mark family also greeted them. When they came to their places, everyone around them was amazed.

Old Wagner!? A fat man with a bald head and a ring of thick hair around it, who looked like a big fat man in a brown straw hat, shouted after seeing them. Didn't I see a ghost? He rubbed his eyes exaggeratedly.

Then he laughed and gave old Wagner a hug. Welcome home!

Are you feeling better, Amy? Then he hugged Mrs. Wagner again.

Thank you for your concern, Bruno 'Father'. Much better, otherwise how could I come to the South Stand? Mrs. Wagner. When I first recovered, the doctor didn't allow me to come to the South Stand to watch the game. He told me that if I must watch the game, I should buy a seat...

Hearing Mrs. Wagner's words, Bruno, the bald fat man, waved his hand: Don't listen to the doctors' nonsense, they are always good at exaggerating. Sitting down and watching the game will lose your spine!

Yes! We are all from the South Stand! Mrs. Wagner agrees with this point of view very much, watching the game is to stand and watch the whole time.

Bruno smiled and came up to hug Mark: Ah, Mark, when was the last time you came to the South Stand? Has it been a year? Are you still U17?

Daddy Bruno, I'm in U19 now. Mark said with a smile.

Zhou Yi can feel the changes in Mark. Since he came to the South Stand, Mark has become less confident than usual, and the way he looks forward to himself is different. With a confident smile on his face, he has a this is his place feeling, he is like returning to his own home... no, more relaxed than returning to his own home.

U19? Oh! God! Then I can see you playing in the South Stand soon? Bruno's tone, expression, and movements were all exaggerated.

I've just been promoted to U19, Bruno Daddy, and I haven't even played a game. Mark said.

That doesn't matter, Mark. As long as you get promoted to the U19s, you have a chance to be a Dortmund first-team player. If you can play for the first team by then, 'Daddy' I'm here to lead our 'black gold' people Shout your name! Like this...

As Bruno spoke, he opened his posture, took a deep breath, and then waved his arms and shouted: Mark Wagner! Mark Wagner! Mark Wagner! I watched him grow up——!

The people around him who wore the same uniform as them laughed, and Mark laughed too, a little shyly. This may be the first time he heard his name being called out in the form of cheering slogans from fans...

While everyone was still laughing, Bruno had already shifted his gaze to Zhou Yi next to Mark, and he looked at Mrs. Wagner with some doubts.

Ah. Mrs. Wagner quickly stood next to Zhou Yi, grabbed his shoulders, and said to Bruno and the surrounding Black Gold fans association members. I would like to introduce this grandly. He is our Dortmund U19 talented player, from China...Zhou Yi!

Zhou Yi quickly waved to everyone: Hi, everyone. Mark and I are teammates and... roommates.

Yes, Zhou Yi lives in our house and is a good friend of Mark.

Hearing what his mother said, Mark nodded beside him as proof.

Since he is a good friend of Mark and still lives in Wagner's house, other fans association members greeted Zhou Yi one after another.

A U19 player? Bruno was a little hesitant when he heard Mrs. Wagner's introduction, because looking at Zhou Yi's body, he didn't look like someone who could play at the U19 level. However, he quickly suppressed his doubts about Zhou Yi in his heart, and gave Zhou Yi a warm hug: Welcome, Chinese boy. This is your first time to come to the South Stand, right? I hope you won't be scared by then. ,Ha ha!

I'm responsible for maintaining the order in our area. You have to listen to me in a while. In order for everyone to watch the game better, there must always be some order. They all call me 'Daddy', don't mind what you say , you can call me that. Haha!

Bruno loves to laugh, and he laughs loudly and heartily, which gave Zhou Yi a good first impression, so Zhou Yi also smiled and nodded: No problem, I'll listen to you, 'Daddy'!

Seeing Zhou Yi say this, Bruno patted him on the shoulder happily: Get ready to enjoy football!

※※※

The first thing Zhou Yi enjoyed was not football, but the chorus of fans in the South Stand.

After they took their seats, the south stand was quickly filled. Soon, Zhou Yi was surrounded by people, so crowded that he had to stand slightly sideways, otherwise he couldn't even pull out his arms.

Only then did he understand why Mark asked him to unload the inventory before the game. Look at the densely packed crowd below, it is simply impossible to squeeze a way out of it to go to the toilet!

After almost all the fans came, music was played on the stadium radio, which was the official team song of the Dortmund club We are firmly united.

At first not everyone would sing along, until the end of the stanza, Dortmund fans in the South Stand and other stands would wave their arms and sing: Only one, only one - Dortmund will never die!!

The team song was played immediately.

Next, there was another majestic symphony melody in the stadium. This is the music excerpt from the second scene of the second act of Verdi's four-act opera Aida, called Triumph March. Accompanied by the magnificent music and the chorus of Sala la la la la from the fans in the stands, players from both sides ran out to warm up.

Zhou Yi focused his attention on Dortmund's first-team players. Some of these people will be my teammates in the future...

It's a pity that the stands are too high, the person looks very small, and he can't see very clearly. But as soon as he turned his head, he saw a large screen on the side of the stand, which was the TV broadcast signal of the players warming up. Now he can recognize those stars one by one.

Goalkeeper Weidenfeller, full-back Brazilian Dede, center-back Subotic, South Korean full-back Lee Young-pyo, captain Sebastian Kyle, striker Valdés, Dortmund's Turkish talent Nurui. Shaheen, and the excellent defender Schmelzer who was also trained by Dortmund's youth training...

When the players were warming up, the atmosphere in the South Stand was relatively relaxed. Apart from the fact that everyone was standing, Zhou Yi didn't think there was anything special about the legendary South Stand.

But when the warm-up was over, some old black and white photos appeared on the big screen. It was a picture of a player wearing a Dortmund jersey and holding up a salad plate. The broadcast said: All theories are gray. .”

A middle-aged man in yellow appeared on the court with a microphone, followed by a camera lens.

This is the host of the stadium! Mark explained to Zhou Yi who came to watch the game for the first time, because there were too many people and the voice was too noisy, even though he pressed Zhou Yi, he had to speak loudly. Norbert Dikle! We all call him 'Nobby'! He is also a Dortmund club legend. He once scored twice in the 1989 German Cup final, helping us win 4:1 and win the German Cup. Champion! And our opponent at that time was Werder Bremen today! If Nobby is not troubled by injuries, I think he can definitely achieve greater achievements in Dortmund!

Nobby walked to the center of the court, held a microphone and said: Friends, Signal Iduna Park Stadium...

It's Westphalia! A fan around Zhou Yi corrected loudly.

In order to alleviate the financial crisis, the Borussia Dortmund club sold the naming rights of the stadium in exchange for sponsorship money. But Dortmund fans have always been used to calling this stadium Westfalen instead of the awkward Signal Iduna Park Stadium...

Of course, as the official host of the club, Norby must consider the interests of the sponsors. Even if he is emotionally inclined to Westphalia's old name, he cannot say it on this occasion.

He continued: ...to watch the 23rd round of the Bundesliga, our home game against Werder Bremen. First of all, let us say hello to the Werder Bremen fans who came from afar!

He turned to the visiting team's fan area and waved: Hi, welcome to the best stadium in the world!!

He was met with boos from the unconvinced Werder Bremen fans.

Fans around Zhou Yi laughed. Obviously, they all knew that Nobby deliberately emphasized the best stadium in the world in order to anger the fans of Werder Bremen. Before the opening, the host also greeted the fans of the visiting team, looking very friendly? Actually not at all!

And Nobby turned a blind eye to the boos of the fans of the visiting team, turned around and continued: Of course, we also want to dedicate applause to all the yellow and black fans who came to watch the game! Our tickets are sold out again! More than 80,000 spectators at one time! Welcome to the best fans in the league, welcome - Dortmund fans!!

All the Dortmund fans in the stands raised their arms and shouted back.

Zhou Yi followed Mark to do the same.

Good job, Chinese boy. You look like a real Dortmund fan! Behind him, Bruno patted him on the shoulder with satisfaction.

After the welcome speech, Nobby walked to the bottom of the south stand, facing the south stand. At the same time, some changes have taken place in the south stand.

Mark raised his arm while pulling the scarf, and said excitedly: Our ceremony is here, this is our ceremony!

Immediately after Zhou Yi hadn't reacted, the sound of music accompanied by a chorus sounded.

It's You'll Never Walk Alone!

Although the song is Liverpool's official team anthem, it has also become a universal fan anthem, sung at the club's home ground in many countries around the world.

So far, the atmosphere on the scene has been pushed to the extreme a little bit.

Zhou Yi also followed Mark, holding both ends of the scarf with both hands, raised his arms and pulled them apart, and the scarf was displayed. He sang along while shaking his arms.

At first he was still a little out of shape, but soon he found some feeling in the chorus.

Tens of thousands of people singing a song together is really shocking, and it will cause a critical shock to people's hearts.

He began to integrate into this stand, into those people who are crazy about football, because he is also such a person who loves football...

At this time, the south stand, looking around, is full of yellow and black scarves, like a wall of 100 meters long and 40 meters high made of yellow and black bricks!

A wall of yellow and black!

Flags are fluttering on the wall, the wind is surging, and the singing is shaking the sky. This is the South Stand of Westphalia!

※※※

After the chorus, Nobby began broadcasting Dortmund's starting lineup for the game.

In the past, Zhou Yi always thought that the starting list was played by the live DJ in the studio, but today he found out that he was standing on the court and leading everyone to call out the names of the players.

Number one, goalkeeper, Roman—

Nobby announced the player's name, and the Dortmund fans in the stands shouted the player's last name collectively: Weidenfeller!!

At the same time, photos, names, numbers and other information of the players also appeared on the big screen.

Number four, guard, Nevin—

Subotic!!

Zhou Yi also yelled with everyone, and at the same time, he was looking forward to the day when his name was called out like this...

Number 23, midfielder, Yi—

week!!!

Zhou Yi suddenly felt that the style of painting was wrong when he was very passionate-it seemed to be saying one week, what the hell is one week? He is not used to this kind of inversion of names. It seems that he will remind Nobi in the future. If you want to introduce him, you can call him according to the habits of our Chinese...

After introducing the starters and substitutes, the last person to be grandly introduced is the head coach.

Jurgen—

Klopp!!!

From the shouts of the fans, it can be heard that although Dortmund's current results are not very good, Klopp still has a high status in their hearts. This is not because of the team's results. The love of Klopp is more due to Klopp's own personality charm.

※※※

After the game started, Zhou Yi's ears were filled with all kinds of shouts and songs, and there was never a moment of silence. He even wondered if this voice would linger in his ears for three days...

As the game progressed, Zhou Yi also began to gradually feel the difference in the South Stand.

Because people here are standing to watch the game, and the number of people is extremely large-many teams in the Bundesliga have standing seats at home, but Dortmund's Westfalenstadion has the largest number of standing seats — Twenty-five thousand people.

With so many people gathered together, even if only one syllable is uttered, it is enough to create a huge impact on the stadium.

Not to mention that the south stand is very close to the stadium, with an extremely steep slope, which makes the fans in the bottom row almost bend their legs, and their knees seem to be able to touch the goalkeeper in front.

Werder Bremen goalkeeper Tim Wiese, who stood in front of this stand in the first half, played under this kind of pressure-every attack of Dortmund can attract huge shouts from the south stand, And if Wiese blocked a Dortmund player's shot, boos and curses would immediately be heard against him in the South Stand.

Singing, shouting, booing, cursing... The Dortmund fans standing in the south stand did not let themselves stop for a second. They seemed to be tireless, releasing their emotions to their heart's content, turning the stereotyped impression of Germans on weekdays Tossed to the sky.

Here, unlike seats and regions, there are also identity surprises. As long as you stand on the South Stand, it doesn't matter what your status is outside the stadium, whether it's a university professor, an ordinary worker, a student, or a mother of several children...it doesn't matter.

Here, you are Dortmund's most die-hard and loyal fans, 25,000 people gathered just because of Borussia Dortmund football club. It doesn't matter if these people are Protestant, or Catholic... different religions here, it doesn't matter at this moment, because Dortmund is what they all have in common.

As the fans in the South Stand sang: Our whole life, all our pride and joy, are only for BVB!!

Zhou Yi is in it. If someone asks him how it feels to watch a Dortmund game in the south stand of the Westfalenstadion Stadium, although he can usually talk nonsense, it will be difficult for him to use it now. Words describe this feeling.

If he doesn't want to say this has an irresistible attraction to me or this is the close relationship between the fan and the team cliché, he can only suggest that the other party experience it for himself.

If you don't stand here, you will never understand why there are so many South Stand and North Stand where famous die-hard fans gather in the world, but the South Stand in Westphalia is the most famous. It's not just about the large number of people... There is really an invisible force impacting the hearts of everyone standing here.

At least Zhou Yi felt that he was gradually melting in this storm of passion.

He chose Dortmund at the beginning not because he was a Dortmund fan. He played for Dortmund for a different reason than Mark. He just thought that Dortmund valued himself more. Under Klopp, he might have more chances to play. His career is favorable.

This is entirely out of self-interest considerations, objective and rational, but also cold.

But now, after dozens of minutes of roaring and singing with Mark and the others in the South Stand, apart from his hoarse voice, Zhou Yi has gradually gained another kind of emotion-he is willing to wear clothes for these crazy fans. Dortmund's yellow jersey ran with all his strength on this field, sent wonderful passes, helped the team score goals and win, just to hear the fans in the South Stand chanting their names.

When he was still recording the program Heir to the Green, he played against Dortmund U17 in the virtual system for a week, and the venue he chose was this Westfalenstadion. It was full house at the time, and the stadium was extremely noisy during the game, filled with fans singing and cheering.

But after playing so many games in the virtual system, Zhou Yi's knowledge and feelings for this stadium are not as deep as they are now.

Because the system can perfectly simulate the sound in reality, even in decibels. But every person who stands on this stand and makes such a voice, their feelings for Dortmund, and the story behind this feeling cannot be simulated by a perfect system.

※※※

In the 64th minute, Dortmund's starting striker, the Swiss Alexander Frey broke the deadlock for Dortmund with a penalty kick.

When the football flew into the goal, everyone in the South Stand jumped up excitedly, then rushed down and hugged people. Zhou Yi and Mark were pushed down by the excited fans behind them, and they didn't stabilize until they were blocked by the railing.

Only then did Zhou Yi realize that those short railings all over the South Stand were not just for everyone to tie scarves and hang slogans and banners...

In the end, with Frey's penalty, Dortmund defeated Werder Bremen 1-0 at home and achieved a crucial victory.

And Zhou Yi, who watched the Dortmund game live for the first time in the South Stand, is also very difficult to calm down to evaluate the team's performance at this moment. He is still immersed in the atmosphere of the South Stand and has not recovered.

Mark, this is not the first time watching a football in the South Stand, and he is not much better than Zhou Yi.

At the end of the game, he turned his head to look at Zhou Yi, and said to him with tears in his eyes: Zhou Yi, do you know? When I was standing here watching the game, I suddenly remembered my self-defeating behavior a few days ago. You deleted the character you built for me... Now that I think about it, I am such a big idiot! Big idiot!

I've been a fan of this team since I was born. My biggest dream in life is to play for Dortmund at the Westfalenstadion and under the South Stand. I want to be called 'Daddy' by Bruno. I want to help Dortmund lift the salad plate, win the Champions League... these dreams have not yet come true, how could I almost be knocked down by a training session?

I have decided that no matter how difficult or difficult it is, I will realize my dreams! This time I will never be knocked down or crushed by my dreams! Thank you, Zhou Yi, thank you!

Zhou Yi patted him on the shoulder, feeling a little emotional, and then he saw the Wagners who were smiling and watching them behind Mark.

He said: Mark, I think you should thank your parents more. No matter what, they will always support you behind you. Didn't they propose to watch this game?

So Mark turned around and hugged his parents, tears could no longer be held back.

And Mrs. Wagner patted his back lightly, stroked his head, and murmured: Come on, Mark. You will always be my mother's pride...

Old Wagner stood beside him, smiling and nodding to Zhou Yi who was opposite him.

Zhou Yi also smiled and nodded in return.

※※※

PS, a big chapter of 9,000 words!

From collecting data, to sorting out data, to using data, from the important role of this chapter in this episode and even this volume, this book, to the emotional mobilization when writing, I spent a lot of time on this chapter. one day.

I think my efforts and the quality of this chapter are worthy of votes for me (www.. )