There is a belief called football

Chapter 256 World Cup Draw ([-])
Mateus pulled out the small ball in the glass jar in front of him. He unscrewed the small ball, took out the small note and looked at it.

"Wow, I don't think they like me very much," Mateus said to himself.

As soon as this remark came out, all the guests laughed, because everyone knew the result. Among the remaining 4 teams, the one who didn't like the Germans was England.

In the last World Cup, the Germans eliminated the English by virtue of the goal line injustice.Coupled with decades of feud between the two countries, the Anglo-German war between Germany and England has always been cut and messed up every time.

As a result, Mateus turned the little note around and said: "England".

The hostess also teased: "I wonder if the English should thank you for drawing them in Group E this time."

Because the Brazilian hostess glanced at the situation in Group E-Belgium, Nigeria, China, and England, she felt that this group is not difficult for Belgium and England, and it should be considered a walk.

But Mateus doesn't see it that way. Italy, the defending champion of the last World Cup in South Africa, was eliminated in a weak group. Mateus understands that football is round, and everything is possible.

"Not necessarily, maybe China will qualify," Mateus said.

As soon as this remark came out, the guests laughed even more. They thought that the Germans are really bad, and they would tease the English whenever they had the opportunity. If the English in such a group cannot qualify, then they will not come to the World Cup next time.

The hostess smiled, "Forget it, I'm still more concerned about who in Group A can qualify."

"That must be Brazil," Mateus said on the scene.

After that, Mateus drew the last team from the remaining three groups. Ukraine, which Li Qiao cared about, was assigned to Group F, along with Uruguay, Algeria, and the United States.

"It's a good thing we're not in the same group as Ukraine," Li Qiao thought.

Immediately, Li Qiao turned his eyes and looked at the Ukrainian delegation. At this moment, there was a person looking at the Chinese delegation. He was Corbin. As a result, Li Qiao and Corbin's eyes met, and both of them found that the other was looking at them.

"Why is that guy looking at me"?Li Qiao thought.

But in an instant, Li Qiao understood why Corbin looked at him, because after the group draw, the Chinese team was in Group E, and Ukraine was in the adjacent Group F. That is to say, if the Chinese team won the second place in the group and the Ukraine team won the first place in the group, then the two teams would meet in the quarter-finals.

Although the possibility of the two teams meeting is not too great, as two adjacent groups, this possibility does exist.

"Korbin should have regarded the Chinese team as a potential opponent in advance," Li Qiao thought.

*****
After the lottery was over, Prahimi called Li Qiao immediately.

"Joe, what do you think of the grouping situation?"
"not bad",
"Are you confident that you will qualify as second in the group?"
"Xiao Hei, I don't like to hear your words. Why do you think we can only compete for the second place in the group?"
"Because we will get the first place in the group, then we can meet in the quarter-finals for a while."

Li Qiao chuckled, "Bragging, your opponents are very strong. Uruguay was the top four in the last World Cup, Algeria ranked first in Africa, and the United States is also good. It would be great if you can get the third place in the group."

"Joe, don't you watch the World Cup qualifiers? Ukraine is different now. We are in the same group as the Netherlands. In the end we pushed the Dutch into the play-offs. Don't you know?"
Of course, Li Qiao knows that after Li Qiao’s youth training talents have grown up, they have now become the pillars of the Ukrainian national team. The current Ukrainian team is indeed different. It is youthful and energetic, and there are stars like Selke, Corbin, and Brahimi. The strength is indeed a quasi-first-class team in Europe.

"Well, I admit that the current Ukrainian team is very strong, but don't underestimate the Chinese team. The current Chinese team is different. If we really meet in the quarter-finals, we don't know who will eliminate who."

"Haha, Joe, I just like your tone. To be honest, the person I want to defend the most is you. If I can mark you in the World Cup, it must be very interesting."

"Okay, when the time comes, I will definitely kick you back from Barcelona to Guangzhou Tianbao",
"Wow, so ruthless"?
"Remember when I got your ass kicked as a kid"?Li Qiao asked.

"You said not to mention the past",
"Hahaha, well, let's not talk about it, I will return to China tomorrow, what about you?"
"I'm going back to Spain today, and I still have competition tasks",
"Okay, then.. see you next year in Brazil".

*****
As soon as the lottery group situation came out, Stan received a call from Milu.

"Congratulations, Stan",
"Ha ha, what happened"?
"The group situation is good",
"Why can't I see it"?
"Hehe, come on, let's have fun in your heart",
In fact, Stan is really satisfied in his heart. Of course, after entering the World Cup, you can't expect to encounter any weak teams. After all, there are 32 best teams in the world gathered here. As long as you can avoid the top teams, then it is considered a good situation.

"Then you analyze it for me," Stan said.

"Are you sure you want to use up my consulting opportunity now?"
"Can't you give it away once?"
"Of course not",
"Then what are you calling for?"
In fact, Milu has always been very concerned about the Chinese team. Although he is no longer the head coach of the Chinese team, the fate 11 years ago is still there.

"Can't I care about you?"Milou said.

"Are you afraid that I will lead the team to qualify for the group stage and overshadow your limelight back then?"
"Pooh",
Stan laughed, "Okay, no kidding, come to Brazil next year to watch football, if you want, you can join the team."

"Going to Brazil is sure, but I will not accept your invitation",
"Okay, whatever you want, I know that every time it's a World Cup year you're going to make money everywhere",
"You don't need to worry about it, but I will never forget the agreement with you. If you have any questions during the World Cup, please call me."
"Don't worry, I won't waste it."

*****
Although it was early in the morning in China when the World Cup draw was made, Chinese fans were already chatting online, and everyone was giving advice and analyzing the situation.

Thinking about it, thinking about it, everyone thinks that they may still be able to compete with Nigeria, but it will be difficult for the Chinese team to face England, Belgium, and China.

Some football commentators also hold the same opinion. It is very possible for the Chinese team to win Nigeria and achieve zero breakthrough in the World Cup. You must know that it took the South Korean team more than 40 years to win the World Cup for the first time. If the Chinese team can win a victory in the second World Cup, it will be a great victory.

In short, no matter how you calculate, one thing is for sure, that is, even the most optimistic fans can't believe that the Chinese team can qualify for the group stage.

*****
Two days later, the Chinese delegation returned to China, and Stan, Li Qiao, and Li Weifeng immediately received an interview invitation from Snow Flakes.

Li Qiao and Li Weifeng have no right to be interviewed privately to talk about the national team, so everyone's last eyes are on Stan.

This time Stan was unexpectedly generous. He decided to accept a joint interview, but the questions were limited and only one question was allowed.

On December 12, Stan was interviewed in his office via video link. After full consideration, the reporter had only one question—what is the goal of the Chinese team for the World Cup?
This time, Stan dared not speak big words. No matter which of the three opponents in the group stage, Stan dared not say that he could win 3%. Even Nigeria, which seems to be the weakest, has a long history of participating in the World Cup. In 100, Spain was kept out of the top 98.

"If I say my goal is to win the Hercules Cup, you will laugh at me. If I say my goal is to score a goal, then you will still laugh at me. I have a goal in my heart, but I don't want to say it too early to put pressure on the players."
Stan paused, and continued: "If you must have an answer for today's interview, then I can give you one, that is, I will try to win a game."

After the reporter got Stan's answer, although he didn't feel it was enough, because Stan didn't talk as much as before, but it was still good enough.

*****
After dealing with the media, Stan's next biggest task is to arrange the warm-up match. Now that the group stage has been divided into groups, then this is not difficult. In order to ensure that he can find an opponent for the warm-up match, Stan will delineate two candidates in advance, one for the positive selection and one for the backup.

The first opponent of the Chinese team is Belgium. Stein's opponent for the warm-up match is the main selection of the Netherlands and the backup of France.

The second opponent is Nigeria. Stan's delineated opponent is Ghana and Cameroon.

The third opponent is England, with Ireland as the main choice and Scotland as the backup.

Stan's selection arrangement is to choose a team with a similar style as possible to warm up the Chinese team.

After making up his mind, Stan immediately asked the staff in the team responsible for contacting the opponents in the warm-up match to get these things done. The World Cup is half a year away, and Stan knew that the opponents in the warm-up match would be more and more sought.

Stan was ready to be rejected, but the news that finally came back still surprised Stan-no team was willing to accept the invitation of the Chinese team.

After detailed understanding, the specific reasons are also varied. Some teams have already arranged their opponents for the warm-up match, and there is no vacancy, such as Ireland.

Some teams are unwilling to warm up with the Chinese team, such as France, and some teams want money, such as Ghana.

This situation makes Stan worry. These teams are like this, and other teams are similar. It seems that in the World Cup year, it is really not easy for a team like the Chinese team that "grandma doesn't love, uncle doesn't love" to find a suitable opponent for the warm-up match.

Just when Stan was at a loss, he suddenly received a call from an old friend. The person on the other end of the phone was Queiroz. It was this call that made Stan's frown furrow.

　ask for support
　　
　
(End of this chapter)