There is a belief called football

Chapter 246 Before the game starts

At the last press conference before the game, Stan was walking quickly on the way to the press hall, when a staff member stopped Stan.

"Coach Stan",
"What's up"?
The staff pointed to the T-shirts in their hands, "These are the T-shirts prepared for qualifying for the World Cup. Are they distributed to the players now or to Pekovic first?"
Stan thought for a while and said, "Leave it to me".

"Yes." The staff wanted to say, aren't you going to the release hall?
Stan smiles at the staff and takes the T-shirt from him.

*****
When I came to the press conference, all the seats were already occupied, and there was only one vacant seat next to Cui Kangxi on the stage, and that was Stan's seat.

Stan trotted a few steps to his place, "Sorry, I went to get something just now."

A sharp-eyed reporter immediately asked, "Coach Stan, are you planning to switch to selling T-shirts?"
Stan smiled slightly, "No, these are the ones to be worn after the game." After speaking, Stan unfolded a show for everyone to see.

Obviously, this is a commemorative T-shirt prepared to celebrate the team's promotion. This is normal. In fact, the Koreans should have prepared it too, but it should be displayed in such a high-profile way before the game. This should be the first time in history.

Cui Kangxi on the side had already experienced Stan's "stunning" skills in the last round, so he calmed down a lot this time, just smiling and saying nothing.

"Coach Stan, are you so confident that the team will advance?"
Stan shook his head, "But the T-shirt must be ready first, I think the Korean team is the same." After speaking, Stan looked at Cui Kangxi.

Cui Kangxi placed the drink provided by the sponsor in front of him, but still said nothing.

"just in case..",
"You mean what to do with the T-shirts if we lose"?
The reporter smiled and did not continue to ask questions.

"Then I can only use this "dozen" T-shirts to wipe my tears." After speaking, Stan made a movement of wiping tears.

This cute gesture amused the reporters at the scene, and even Cui Kangxi almost couldn't help laughing.

After Stan finished speaking, it was Cui Kangxi's turn. Cui Kangxi was very cautious. He only said that according to the contract, this was his last game coaching the Korean team. After that, he would no longer be the head coach of the Korean team regardless of whether the Korean team advanced or not.

Stan feels the same about this. Even though being the head coach of the national team does not have many games, the pressure is much greater than being the head coach of the club. Every game of the national team is very important, and one cannot afford to lose. Cui Kangxi retired bravely, and Stan also admired him a little.

So this time Stan stopped joking, and he took the initiative to applaud Cui Kangxi, "No matter what the result is, I will give you applause."

*****
On the night of June 6th, the Shanghai Hongkou Football Stadium was filled with red. The organizers had prepared fireworks for the post-match celebration. Although the Chinese team and the South Korean team were at an absolute disadvantage in terms of confrontation records, most fans believed that the Chinese team would be able to qualify tonight.

The commentators for this game are Duan Xuan and Xu Yang.

"The seats in the commentary booth for this game are very tight, and the audience friends may not know it, because the live camera will not shoot the commentary booth, but the two of us are already crowded, and we both have to curl up," Duan Xuan said.

"I heard that although we are the host, CCTV has to draw lots to get a commentary seat," Xu Yang said.

"Because there are only 30 commentary seats, but all members of the AFC have applied for the broadcast of this game, so there are not enough seats, and we can only draw lots to decide who can get it," Duan Xuan said.

"I remember that this kind of competition for commentary seats has only happened in the World Cup," Xu Yang said.

"No, such scenes only happen in the knockout stage of the World Cup, and generally not in the group stage," Duan Xuan said.

"Duan Xuan, why does your voice sound strange?"
"Nervous, I'm really nervous. You know, last time in Milu's match, the Chinese team was the best. There was basically no suspense after 8 games. But this time, I was really nervous. What about you, Xu Yang?"

"I am also nervous. The only thing that can be compared is the 2004 Asian Cup final, when the Chinese team played against Japan. After we drew 1-1, I was also very nervous."

"We have now got the starting list of both sides",
"Actually, I think the list you get online should be similar to ours, but I still want to introduce it again,"
"For the Chinese team, the goalkeeper "Yang Zhi",
The defense line from left to right is: Sun Jihai, Zhou Dun, Wei Xiao, Chen Fei.

The midfielders are: Hao Junmin, Zheng Zhi, Zhang Xizhe.

The forward line is: Lin Zhijian, Ding Mu, Li Qiao.

It's still a 433 formation."

"Although there are some changes in this starting lineup, it is not unexpected," Duan Xuan said.

"Yes, this is the strongest lineup that the Chinese team can field," Xu Yang said.

"Then let me introduce the Korean team," Duan Xuan said.

"Goalkeeper: Jin Longda

Defense line: Cha Duli, Hong Zhenghao, Kim Jin-kyu, Park Joo-ho.

The two midfielders are: Ji Chengyong and Ju Zizhe.

The avant-garde line is: Lee Chung-yong, Park Joo-young, Son Heung-min.

The single striker is: Ji Dongyuan,

4231 formation".

"The Korean team's starting lineup this time has changed quite a bit from the last time," Xu Yang said.

"I think Cui Kangxi has worked hard to study the Chinese team carefully. Just look at Park Zhouyong retreating to play the midfielder and Chi Dongyuan playing the starting forward. This trick shows that Cui Kangxi has good intentions."

"Indeed, the reason why Park Joo-young did not do well at Arsenal is that he is too refined to play football. This player has top-notch skills, but physical confrontation is his weakness. If he plays as a center forward like in the last game, he will be very uncomfortable in front of Wei Xiao and Zhou Dun of the Chinese team," Xu Yang said.

"Now he retreats to play the attacking midfielder and gives up the center forward to Chi Dongyuan, who is in better shape and younger, which can be said to kill two birds with one stone," Duan Xuan said.

"No, it kills three birds with one stone. Park Joo-young retreats and plays the attacking midfielder, so Ki Sung-yong can return to the defensive midfielder position he is good at. He played as a defensive midfielder at Swansea. He used Ha Dae-sung in the last game. For example, if Ha Dae-sung is a Hyundai car, then Ki Sung-yong is a BMW car. The double midfielder formed by him and Koo Ja-cheol can be said to be at the Premier League level," Xu Yang said.

"The Koreans have spent a lot of money, and they also worked hard in this game," Duan Xuan said.

"A few people in the back line, except for Jin Yingquan who is injured and unable to play, the others are also the absolute main force",
"Yes, the difference from the last game is that the South Korean team has changed to a right back. In the previous games, the main right back of the South Korean team has always been Yoon Suk-young, and Cha Do-ri is the starting player in this game," said Duan Xuan.

"At critical moments, we still rely on veterans, just like Italy, whether it is Montolivo or Marchisio, they are all good, but the real key games still rely on Pirlo, this is the same reason."

"Yes, the opponent has no retreat, and we still have the next game," Duan Xuan said.

"No, we also have no way out, Stan is right, this is also a decisive battle for us," Xu Yang said.

"So what about the Chinese team, how do you look at it, there are some changes."
"I'm really looking forward to the right defender Chen Fei. I watched the Chinese team's public training a few days ago. I have a deep impression on Chen Fei. The little guy's assists are very characteristic. I think he can pose a great threat to the left side of the Korean team," Xu Yang said.

"What about Ding Mu, Xu Yang, what do you think?"
"Duan Xuan, can I ask you a question?"
"what"?
"Why don't you call me Director Xu today, but call me by my name",
Duan Xuan laughed loudly, "Since I explained to Stan once last year, I am not used to asking for guidance."

Of course Xu Yang was also joking, "Well, the name really sounds more comfortable."

"Ding Mu performed very poorly in the game against Uzbekistan, and suddenly lost his spirituality, but the last game was mainly due to the poor performance of the Chinese team. I hope he can play better in this game. His position is too important for the Chinese team."

"So, Xu Yang, what do you think of the score of this game?"
"Oh, I refuse to predict",
"Why",
"Every time Pele predicts the score of the Brazilian team, nothing good happens, so I decided not to say anything",
Duan Xuan chuckled and had no choice but to let go.

*****
Players from both sides stood together before the game. This is a small ceremony held by the AFC. It is an event calling for fair play. Players from both sides stand together and take a photo in front of the FIFA fair play flag. It may be the intention of the AFC to perform such a ceremony before such an important game.

The referee of this game has also been temporarily replaced. It was originally Hassan, but now it is replaced by Irmatov. Because Uzbekistan has already been eliminated in advance, so the Uzbek referee for this game does not have the problem of impure motives.

Irmatov called Zheng Zhi, the captain of the Chinese team, and Ji Chengyong, the South Korean team, to the middle circle to "choose sides".

After guessing the coin, the Chinese team kicked off first in the first half.

At the end of the side selection, the referee team led by Irmatov took a group photo with Zheng Zhi and Ji Chengyong. Everyone put on bright smiles, but after the camera flash ended, the two put away their smiles and ran to their own half.

The fans at the scene began to shout, and the referee was "checking the watch" with the linesman to confirm that all the equipment was normal. These are the most normal routine actions, but today the players always feel that time passes very slowly.

Now the players' minds seem to be muted. They see the enthusiasm of the scene, but their ears seem to be unable to hear anything.

With a "hush", the referee blew the whistle to start the first half, and the players, like sprinters, quickly switched their body mode to high-speed mode, and the game began.

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(End of this chapter)