World Cup of Great Powers

Chapter 325 The Iranian Team’s Smoke Bomb

The home game against Iran is on September [-]th.

It's all over, and there is less than a week left.

"Five days is really short, but we will make full use of these five days to defeat our opponents with all our strength!"

This is the promise Zeng Zheng made to the fans before the game.

Because this is the last group match of the first stage of the Chinese team, the team will take a week off after the game.

And the opponent is the strongest opponent in the group, the Iranian team. Zeng Zheng called back almost all the overseas players this time.

and tell them.

If this game can be won, maybe the remaining top ten games can be really used for training.

With Zeng Zheng's "promise", those European clubs that are already on the right track for the new season have to choose to let go.

For this matter, Zeng Zheng also received calls from Juventus, Liverpool, Sevilla and other European clubs, asking if what he said was true.

These clubs do not buy Chinese players to let them sit on the bench and watch the show.

"I don't need to say anything about this game. Everyone must know the importance of it."

"Just by reading these newspapers and news, you can tell that this group of media has already turned upside down."

After the morning training, the players returned to the locker room one after another.

Zeng Zheng and the coaching staff came to the meeting room.

After returning to Shenyang, Zeng Zheng changed his "laziness" in Doha.

I am immersed in work almost every day.

"Boss Zeng, here are the data from the first two games of the Iranian team."

Zeng Zheng nodded and posted it on the small blackboard behind him.

Iran's opponents in the first two games were Qatar and Thailand.

Qatar 2-0 at home, Thailand 1-0 away.

Especially the game against Qatar.

Iran's ball possession rate has not reached the level they should have, only about 52.

There were less than 10 shots in the game, and only 4 shots were on target.

"What does this mean?"

Facing Zeng Zheng's inquiry, the room was completely silent.

Later, Zeng Zheng announced the answer himself.

"This shows that Blazevic is also preserving his strength."

"Look at their level in the first stage of qualifiers, I won't say much about this."

As he spoke, Zeng Zheng slapped a stack of documents on the table.

"They, like us, are almost crushed."

"But it will become weaker in the top ten?"

"Obviously not."

"So it is certain that the Iranian team is also accumulating strength and preparing to surprise us in the away game."

"What I'm most worried about right now is actually this guy."

As he said that, Zeng Zheng flipped the information of the Iranian team to a photo of a person.

It's Aziz.

"This guy was substituted in the 63rd minute against Thailand due to injury."

"Injured?" Several other coaches were a little surprised.

"Who knows!"

Zeng Zheng spread his hands, "When people say they are injured, they are injured."

"As for the injury and what kind of injury, the Iranian team kept the secrecy very strict."

"Even the media in their country doesn't know about it."

"So all of this will be revealed after they come to Shenyang."

"In my opinion, whenever that Aziz is on the training ground, it's a smokescreen."

Some teaching assistants at the scene heard this and quickly recorded it in their notebooks.

They are not only Zhuxie's monitors, but also Zeng Zheng's microphones.

What Zeng Zheng said here today will reach Zhuxie in a few hours.

When the Iranian team arrives in Shenyang tomorrow, there will be a large group of journalists who have been assigned "tasks" to investigate for Zeng Zheng.

In the latest FIFA rankings, the Iranian team has 610 points, ranking 38th in the world and fourth in Asia.

The Chinese team ranks first in Asia and 15th in the world with 695 points.

There seems to be no comparison.

But there is a problem in it. Since Zeng Zheng coached the Chinese team, the Chinese team has never met the Iranian team in a major competition.

Like the Ancient Civilization Cup at the beginning of this year and the Asian Games the year before last, the nature of these games is more like a friendly match, to find out the depth of the opponent.

Just like the last world preliminaries.

The Chinese team basically ignored the Iranian team before the game, and even played a 2-0 spurt in the first half.

But what happened?
In the second half, Madavikia's ecstatic kick almost kicked Ou Chuliang out of his psychological shadow.

"Except for Aziz, every Iranian player like Ali Daei, Bagheri, and Madavikia needs to be paid close attention to."

Zeng Zheng briefly explained the characteristics, strengths, strengths and weaknesses of these opponents, and the teaching assistants had two reasons in mind.

"In general, after being trained by Blazevic, this Iranian team has been formed for a long time and is also very capable."

"It's okay if it's Saudi Arabia. We still have traces to follow in the last few competitions."

"But in the case of Iran, the Ancient Nations Cup game at the beginning of the year has no reference value."

"If you are still immersed in the victory of that game, you may repeat the same mistakes that Golden State made in a few days."

"In my opinion, the Iranian team currently has no obvious weaknesses or shortcomings. The combination of wing and center is very good, and the combination of old, middle and young is also very reasonable."

"Facing such a team, in addition to fighting hard, home court advantage is a key."

"Everyone knows my plan. Let the last away game against Tehran become completely tasteless, so that the Iranians' home game is completely useless."

"So we have to make good use of our home court today."

Wulihe Stadium.

The autumn wind is cool.

The players played a simple group match on the field.

Han Tao was in charge of blowing the whistle as the referee, and Zeng Zheng watched the game from the sidelines more often with his arms around his shoulders.

Under the sunglasses, Zeng Zheng never frowned.

Hearing Zeng Zheng sigh, Chi Shangbin came over and asked.

"Xiao Zeng, isn't that a good kick? Why are you so angry?"

"Our pass success rate was high, but the intention was too obvious."

Zeng Zheng was dissatisfied, "In this case, the Iranian team will be given more time to react."

"Let the team members pass it on quickly." Jin Zhiyang said.

"It's not a question of speed, it's a question of intention."

Zeng Zheng emphasized again, "Except for Zhang Xiaorui and Li Jinyu, including Sun Jihai, after getting used to this formation, the players have also developed habits."

"If this is found by the opponent, it can be predicted in advance."

"So it has nothing to do with passing fast and slow."

"Then what should we do?" Jin Chi and the two were also a little anxious when they heard this.

"It's also very simple. The last player who is not familiar with Iran can be placed on the ball."

After finishing speaking, Zeng Zheng himself vetoed his own method.

"However, it is also risky to do so."

After Zeng Zheng finished speaking, he pointed to the forwards in front and said, "If our 433 is skilled, we can use the high pressure of the three forwards to force the opponent."

Having said that, Zeng Zheng fell silent.

He tilted his chin and seemed to be thinking.

Seeing this, Jin Chi and the two also called Shen Xiangfu to discuss together.

"Old Jin, what do you think we have a chance of winning when we play against Iran?"

Jin Zhiyang tilted his head, "To tell you the truth, the current team, even if Xiao Zeng is not here, if I lead it, according to his tactics, there is a [-]% chance of winning against Iran."

Chi Shangbin agreed after listening, "I think so too."

Shen Xiangfu nodded even more: "Yes, we are so well prepared, and we are at home, there will always be [-]% to [-]%."

"That's the problem."

After Chi Shangbin finished speaking, he glanced at Zeng Zheng who was not far away.

"Then what is Xiao Zeng thinking about?"

Several people fell silent.

Not far away, Li Huajun heard the discussion among the three, walked over with a smile and said, "According to what I know about Coach Zeng, [-]% to [-]% is still not enough."

"He should be thinking about how to defeat the opponent 100%!"

"100%?!"

When the three of them heard this, their eyes widened immediately.

In a football game, how can there be 100% things?

But seeing Li Huajun's affirmative face and Zeng Zheng's still pensive expression, the three of them had to believe this.

"It seems that Xiao Zeng really wants to win against Iran!"

"That's not true. From the day when the top ten teams were divided into groups, his plan has already been finalized."

"Now that we are about to play against Iran, Xiao Zeng is of course extremely cautious."

"Hey, I was wrong to blame him. I didn't expect him to be so serious when he was lazy in Doha."

"Thinking about it now, he was like this when he first joined the national team three years ago."

Just when several people were feeling emotional, Zeng Zheng raised his head and looked at the sky.

A drop of rain fell on the tip of Zeng Zheng's nose.

It's raining?
Zeng Zheng's eyes lit up.

Will it rain on the day against Iran?
Soon, according to the news from the front, the Iranian team also arrived at Taoxian Airport.

"I heard that Iran came here on a military plane?"

"Tsk tsk tsk, the specification is quite high."

"The standard is high, which means that it is important!"

"Important? If you really value it, why don't you bring some fans over?"

"Putting fans? Stop talking! If Wulihe is not a small place, you think we don't have [-] fans?"

After Zeng Zheng got the news, he asked Aziz immediately.

"After the Iranian team arrived, they took the VIP channel, and none of the reporters blocked them. However, it is said that some fans saw Aziz in the parking lot. If there is no accident, he must have come."

Zeng Zheng nodded after listening.

Now that you are here, you must prepare as you can play.

Speaking of this, Han Tao twitched again: "By the way, Boss Zeng, there is another gossip, do you want to hear it?"

"What gossip?"

"Well, it is said that Bagheri has a cold."

cold?

What is a cold?

Severe cold or simple coughing?

"Then is he here?"

"Here, it is said that he caught a cold on the plane."

After hearing this, Zeng Zheng snorted coldly, "Didn't you catch a cold after getting off the plane?"

Less than an hour has passed since the Iranian team got off the plane. Even if Bagheri caught a cold, the news would not spread so quickly.

In other words, this may be a smoke bomb voluntarily released by the Iranian side.

Bagheri is 27 years old this year, in his prime, and is the core midfielder of the Iranian team.

Don't say he has a cold.

Even if it was just a little cough, the Iranian team doctor had to stay by his side [-]/[-] to ask about his health.

If he is really ill, the Iranian team's midfield strength will definitely be greatly weakened.

Zeng Zheng couldn't believe such news at this time.

"Which reporter told you this?" Zeng Zheng chuckled, "It's better not to listen to this kind of 'scoop' in the future."

Compared with Bagheri's cold, Zeng Zheng would rather believe that Aziz is really injured and unable to play.

But things often develop in unexpected directions.

During training with the Iranian team the next day.

Although it was a closed training, some reporters still photographed Aziz.

In other words, even if he was injured in the game against Thailand, he has now recovered the ability to play normally.

And Bagheri.

Although he came to Shenyang, he did not appear in the first day of training.

What surprised Zeng Zheng even more was that a reporter said that he saw Bagheri in the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University.

Some media broke the news that Bagheri even took X-ray films.

They also got a chest X-ray of Bagheri.

The rumors became more and more outrageous, and became more and more serious.

In the end, even Zeng Zheng couldn't help but pray that Bagheri had better have a really bad cold.

Thank you Shenyang for the rainy day.

Before kicking it, I caught a cold first.

"Xiao Tao, tell your reporter friend that if Bagheri really didn't play during the game, we will accept an exclusive interview with their media!"

It is Zeng Zheng's consistent principle to maintain good communication and cooperation with the media.

There are many things that Zeng Zheng, as the head coach of the national team, cannot do.

It's like going to the medical university to check the real situation of Bagheri. Villa Ota Zengzheng can't do it, not even bamboo shoes.

The hospital will not disclose it, but the pervasive media has methods and channels.

Only by maintaining good communication and cooperation, and exchanging information with each other, can the interests be maximized.

This is why the media likes Zeng Zheng so much.

It rained for two full days in Shenyang.

The rain is not heavy, nor long, just pattering.

The weather is not cold, there is a touch of coolness.

This kind of weather makes all the players happy, and even the fans are looking forward to the weather on the day of the game.

Judging from the schedule of the two teams, the Chinese team has just returned from West Asia for three games in a row;

The Iranian team has played two games in a row, and it is also a direct transfer from Bangkok to China.

If the Chinese team waits for work with leisure, then only the ability to go to Wulihe Stadium for on-site training has an advantage.

This matchup of the world preliminaries also attracted the attention of Asian bead curtains and international bead curtains.

Even on FIFA's official website, there was a forward-looking report on the game, with the focus on the contest between the Chinese team and the Iranian team.

At this time, the world preliminaries on other continents are also in full swing.

FIFA has time to pay attention to an Asian matchup, which is enough to prove the level of this game.

International Bamboo Curtain said that as the top 16 teams in the world, the Chinese team has the strength to enter the World Cup.

And in the past two away games with one win and one draw, Zeng Zheng once again demonstrated the technical and tactical level of a world-class coach.

Although the results of the first three games of the Chinese team are very encouraging, the Chinese team should be more vigilant about the strength of Iran.

"Although the Iranian team is currently ranked fourth in Asia, even if Japan and South Korea come, they may not necessarily be able to defeat Iran."

On the contrary, the international bead curtain also reminded the Iranian team.

The Chinese team is not what it used to be.

The Asian Cup and Confederations Cup champions made the Chinese team the number one in Asia.

And in the last world preliminaries, the Iranian team ended up falling in the hands of the rising Chinese team.

"The Persians must be wary of the progress of the Chinese team, because this is a fact!"

"And their coach, Zeng, is even more terrifying!"

FIFA also said that this game will be a battle between Zeng Zheng and Blazevic, two famous Asian coaches.

Blazevic is a famous coach of Yugoslavia, and Zeng Zheng is the local coach of the Chinese team.

Although Zeng Zheng has never proved himself outside of the Chinese team, the growth and performance of the Chinese team has allowed Zeng Zheng to prove his strength.

There have been three games in the top ten.

In the Asian region, the head coaches of three teams (Thailand, Iraq, and Qatar) have already dismissed get out of class.

It is enough to see that Asian countries also believe that the performance of the team is closely related to the level of the coach.

"The arrival of Blazevic has brought huge changes to Iran. He led Iran out of the downturn."

"Then how will the Chinese team, once led by the visiting Persian cavalry, respond in the next matchup of the World Cup qualifiers?"

(End of this chapter)