World Cup of Great Powers

Chapter 132 The Game of 0.5

Since Xu Fang fell ill suddenly in 96, he has resigned from all positions in the AFC.

The Chinese team has no right to speak in the AFC.

It was not until the second half of this year that Zhang Jilong successfully ran for the deputy seat of the AFC, which allowed the AFC to "accept" Chinese football again.

"Boycott the World Cup? What's going on?"

Hearing Zhang Jilong's speech, Zeng Zheng and other coaches were stunned.

Is the AFC going against the sky?
Or are they planning to engage in the "World Cup" themselves?
Looking at the coaches with question marks on their faces, Zhang Jilong continued.

"Presumably everyone already knows that the next World Cup will be jointly hosted by Japan and South Korea?"

"Because of this, both the AFC and the Oceania Football Association voted against the decision made by FIFA in Zurich at the beginning of the month."

After Zhang Jilong's explanation, Zeng Zhengcai suddenly realized.

Since the next World Cup will be jointly organized by Japan and South Korea, three teams will automatically advance to the World Cup finals, namely Japan, South Korea and the previous champion France.

The remaining 29 places will be divided among continents.

As a result, Asia, which had 3.5 seats in the last World Cup, only got 2 places in the end.

This result naturally caused the dissatisfaction of the AFC.

According to FIFA's explanation, there were only 98 places in Asia in 3.5, but in the next session including Japan and South Korea, they actually accounted for a total of 4 places.

From 3.5 to 4, this has given enough benefits to Asia.

However, the chairman of the AFC, Verapan, said that it is illogical for more than 40 Asian countries and regions to compete for two places.

What's more, in 98, in fact, 4 teams in Asia had already qualified.

In other words, these 4 seats are what Asia deserves, not the "reward" of FIFA.

That being the case, the Asian seats for the next World Cup should be based on 4 and increase upwards.

According to Verapan's meaning, Asia must obtain at least 5 participating seats.

If Asia wants five, FIFA will naturally not agree.

In their view, Asia is a "lion opening its mouth".

In the end, the focus of the debate between the two parties shifted to South America, the direct beneficiary of this allocation.

South America is the direct beneficiary of this distribution plan.

They have risen from 4 seats last year to 4.5 seats next year.

In addition to the automatic qualification of 4 teams, they will also compete with Oceania for a place in the competition.

Because the 0.5 places in Oceania have been competing with Asian teams before.

Now the opponent has become a South American team, which undoubtedly makes the Oceania team's hope of qualifying even more elusive.

To some extent, Oceania and Asia share the same disease, and both played the role of "victim" this time.

After the FIFA meeting was over, the AFC returned home, and the members of the AFC closed their doors and held meetings continuously.

Since the places are only tentative, there is still a chance to change.

The meetings held by the AFC these days have always revolved around two things.

[-]. Whether it is possible to force FIFA to revise the distribution plan through continuous appeal negotiations, boycotts or other peaceful means to show determination;

[-]. Discuss the merger of the Oceania Football Association into the AFC, so that Asian teams and Oceania teams can participate in the World Cup qualifiers together.

As long as these two points are resolved, Asia can benefit from this distribution plan.

Faced with the two plans of the AFC, Zhang Jilong expressed strong opposition to the second one.

".In my opinion, even if all the teams in Oceania are merged into the AFC, it will not change the size of the overall cake, and it will not solve the fundamental problem of insufficient places in Asia as a whole."

"And Australia and New Zealand are not weak teams. After they join the AFC, they have a great chance to pose a threat to other member countries that have a chance to qualify."

"So merging teams from Oceania into the AFC is actually drinking poison to quench thirst."

Zhang Jilong's sonorous and powerful speech made everyone in the audience nod frequently.

Australia is not a weak team.

If it really joins the AFC, it will definitely lure wolves into the house!
On this point, the interests of East Asian and West Asian countries are the same.

"So we unanimously decided to renegotiate with the FIFA Executive Committee in March next year to discuss the issue of increasing the number of Asian teams participating."

"And during this period, we AFC countries will unite to boycott the World Cup and put pressure on FIFA."

"The leaders of this boycott are jointly led by myself, the President of the Olympic Council of Asia, and the President of the Kuwait Football Federation, Mr. Fahd."

"I hope everyone here understands the AFC's collective decision and sets an example to support our boycott!"

"If the meeting passes next year, it will be a victory for our Asian football!"

After Zhang Jilong finished speaking, there was a round of applause from the audience.

"Old Zhang, just tell them what to do next." Wang Junsheng said at the right time.

"it is good."

Zhang Jilong nodded, then stretched out four fingers.

"In all upcoming men's and women's football games, all players will make this gesture before the game."

As he spoke, Zhang Jilong put "4" in front of him and shook it.

"Do this gesture continuously for 1 minute before starting the game."

Everyone nodded when they saw this.

This gesture is easy to understand and does not involve some other problems, so it is easy to achieve.

"Okay, there is nothing else, let's end the meeting." Wang Junsheng announced the end of the meeting, "After going back, talk to the players carefully, don't underestimate the 0.5 or 1 quota, maybe we will be short of this next time 0.5 can't get out of the line."

"This is a big deal, and it's the first big thing Zhang Zhuxi has done since he took office in the AFC. We must give our full support, understand?"

Everyone nodded and then dispersed.

As soon as they left the house, the big guys got together in twos and threes, discussing in low voices.

"See, this is the game of great powers!"

"Zhang Zhuxi is really not in vain!"

"Fortunately, Zhang Zhuxi went up. There is no one in the AFC, so we have no confidence to speak!"

"Tsk tsk tsk, it seems that the Asian Cup will be held in Beijing in 04."

"Xiao Zeng, wait a minute."

Zeng Zheng was about to leave with the crowd when he heard someone calling him from behind.

"Zhang bamboo mat." Zeng Zheng greeted politely.

Only Zhang Jilong, Wang Junsheng, and Zeng Zheng were left in the room, and Zhang Jilong was no longer as majestic as before.

"Okay, there are no outsiders now, just call me Uncle Zhang."

"Uncle Zhang." Zeng Zheng quickly changed his words.

"Xiao Zeng, I also want to thank you for talking about it." Zhang Jilong smiled and patted Zeng Zheng on the shoulder.

After taking two shots, he seemed to think of something again, and immediately changed his words, "Don't say it's me, even the entire AFC has to thank you."

"Hey! Uncle Zhang, I can't bear what you said, I can't bear it!"

Zeng Zheng shrinks back again and again.

With this top hat off, I can't stand it.

"What? Do you think I'm flattering you on purpose?" Zhang Jilong smiled.

"Do you know? When I heard in Zurich that there were only two places in the AFC, Verapan slapped the table on the spot and quit."

"The first sentence he said when he got up stopped Blatter."

"Do you know what he said?"

"Say what?" Wang Junsheng also looked curious.

"Verapan said: 'Why are we given places? We in Asia don't make up the numbers! Don't forget that the Chinese team has reached the top 16!'"

"Hahaha~~~"

After Zhang Jilong finished speaking, he clapped his hands and laughed.

Once upon a time, the Chinese team even became the capital of the game between the AFC and FIFA.

"Xiao Zeng, let me tell you, if the AFC succeeds this time, those West Asian countries will have to thank us!" Zhang Jilong puffed out his chest proudly.

"It's still outside."

"As for internal affairs. If you hadn't done so well in this World Cup, do you think those guys in West Asia would agree with me to be the leader of this boycott? Even if you agree on the surface, you will have to trip us up behind your back! "

"But it's different now."

"We are the top 16, better than Japan, South Korea and Iran!"

"In March next year, maybe I have to replace the AFC and fight for another spot from FIFA!"

"You said, do we people in the AFC have to thank you?"

Zeng Zheng opened his mouth wide in surprise.

He never thought of this.

"Competitive sports, results are our confidence!" Zhang Jilong clenched his fists.

"For a long time, the countries in West Asia have united to fight against us in East Asia; and Little Life and South Korea have disagreements with us in East Asia."

"Only when we are strong can we gain more say in such a national game and seek our own interests."

"Xiao Zeng, I'm here to say something from the bottom of my heart."

"In the future, whether we can speak up in the AFC or FIFA, and whether people can talk to us, depends on the hard work of you young people."

On December 12th, at the Supracharasai National Stadium in Bangkok, the national football team faced the last opponent in the second stage of the group stage and the first strong enemy encountered in this Asian Games-Iran team!

The strength of participating countries in this Asian Games is uneven.

There are not only strong teams like Iran, Japan and South Korea that have participated in the World Cup, but also the Mongolian team that was poured 26 goals in the first round.

At this stage of the game, the attendance rate has gradually improved.

Before the start of the game, China and Iran made boycott gestures in accordance with the previous agreement.

Convey the determination of Asian football to the whole world.

Iran was swept by Oman 2-4, and South Korea was defeated by Turkmenistan 2-3, which is the biggest upset of this Asian Games.

Unlike China and South Korea training for the Olympics, the Iranian team's lineup is based on the French World Cup lineup, with all the elites.

This battle is another last stand, and it must be won.So at the beginning of the game, all of them pressed on and tried to control the game.

But newborn calves are not afraid of tigers.

In the 10th minute, Zhang Xiaorui, who had played against the Iranian team in the top ten match, took a long shot before going in, causing the Iranian goalkeeper to drop his hand.

Li Jinyu, who had been looking for opportunities in the penalty area, jumped in alertly, and a supplementary shot in front of the goal opened the scoring for the national football team.

Iran, already in a desperate situation, fought back desperately.

In the 27th minute, Ali Dayi shot a cold arrow at the front of the penalty area and was saved by Li Jian desperately. Bagheri, who was suspected of being offside, calmly pushed the shot against Li Jian who got up and rushed to equalize the score.

In the 29th minute, Li Weifeng fouled with a tackle in front of the penalty area.

Iranian captain No. 5 Nader took a free kick, Ali Daei headed forward and scored, completely reversing the situation within 2 minutes.

In the second half, the Chinese team, which was one goal behind, began to play steadily under the command of Zeng Zheng, building a defense line from the midfield.

Even so, these young and aggressive players can only use fouls and yellow cards to stop the opponent's attack in the face of the Iranian senior team.

In the 76th minute, Zheng Zhi was sent off with a red card for a tackle foul in the penalty area.

Madavikia, who made the point, made a hit by himself, rewriting the score to 3 to 1.

Seeing that the Iranian team had already started to celebrate the victory ahead of schedule, Zeng Zheng elbowed Ou Chuliang who was dazed aside.

"Brother Ou, why is your face so ugly?"

Ou Chuliang trembled all over, then shook his head: "It's okay, it's okay."

Seeming to see what Ou Chuliang was thinking, Zeng Zheng smiled slightly, leaned into Ou Chuliang's ear and said, "Let's do it."

"Let the Iranian team go first today."

"If we can still meet it in the knockout round"

"How about I try it on you instead?"

Ou Chuliang was refreshed when he heard the words, and shook his head again the next second.

"Forget it, let's give young people more opportunities."

Although Ou Chuliang said so, his trembling legs and hands that had nowhere to rest revealed his true inner thoughts.

(End of this chapter)