There is a belief called football

Chapter 257 A Call from an Old Friend

The reason why Queiroz called Stan is because he is also worried about the warm-up match now. It is really difficult to find a warm-up match opponent in the World Cup year.

Because of the World Cup, the leagues of various countries generally have to end early, and the season is very compressed. Neither the players nor the coaches want to fly to other continents to play warm-up matches. Even the warm-up matches of strong teams like Brazil and Argentina are arranged in neutral countries like Switzerland as much as possible.

Therefore, Asian teams wanting to find a suitable warm-up match opponent is like buying a lottery ticket. It can only rely on luck. Queiroz has also tried many times, but the last warm-up match opponent cannot be finalized.

*****
"Haha, look, I forgot to congratulate you on leading the team to the World Cup," Stan said on the phone.

In fact, a person like Stan would not even watch a team that has no stake in him. Stan knew that apart from the Asian Cup in 2015, China and Iran would not have any chances to fight each other, so how could Iran and Queiroz be in Stan's mind?

"It's okay, I forgot too," Queiroz said.

"What are you looking for me for?"Stan said.

"So direct"?Queiroz thought.

Stan is a man who is never polite to people he considers insignificant.

"Stan, do you remember the two weeks we were training for the Top 10 last year at XZ"?
"of course I remember",
"I have a plan to tell you, I wonder if you would like to listen to it"?
Stan guessed it, and Queiroz probably couldn't find an opponent in the warm-up match, or he was not so kind.

"Tell me",
"There are still 6 months until the start of the World Cup in June next year. During these 6 months, there will be 6 national team match days. There are two weeks before and after each match day that can be provided to the national team. If there is no warm-up match, then these two weeks can be used up."
After talking for a long time, Queiroz still didn't get to the point, but Stan has already heard a little bit.

"Keep talking",
Queiroz didn't want to put on a posture that seemed to be begging for help, so before he said the key, he talked about him left and right.

"Stan, have you found your warm-up opponent?"
"Does this matter?"
"Of course, if you find it, then I don't need to go on,"
Stan is an old fox, he must not hand over his cards.

"Found it, France and Ireland, but I still want to hear your opinion",
Queiroz was disappointed at first after hearing Stan's words, but then he thought that people like Stan might not tell the truth so thoroughly. If Stan was really ready for everything, he wouldn't sit there and listen to his nonsense.

"Well, my plan is to have three national team match days. Each time our two teams—China and Iran—go to XZ for special training, but this time I hope it will be our joint special training. You can call my players, and I can call yours. You can imagine that there are two head coaches like the previous Swedish team. Of course, in the end we can have a real friendly match to test the results."

After listening to Queiroz's words, Stan slapped his thigh and thought: "This Queiroz is really a genius. This way, I can kill two birds with one stone. On the one hand, I don't have to beg for nothing to warm up with myself. On the other hand, the effect of the high-altitude special training is good. I have already tasted the sweetness last time."

Stan was YYing in his head, Queiroz didn't hear Stan's echo, and thought Stan was unwilling.

"I said earlier, since you have found an opponent in the warm-up match, there is no need for me to continue."

"No, your plan is great, I like it".

"Oh, is it so"?Queiroz looked surprised.

"But I want to say my opinion",
"certainly",
"Let's not go to XZ this time",
Queiroz was a little puzzled, "why"?
"The altitude of XZ is enough, but XZ is a tourist city, the football training conditions there are not good, there is not even a piece of natural lawn, this time I think...",
Queiroz guessed it, Stan probably wants to come to Tehran for training, okay, I will be the host this time.

But unexpectedly, Stan's creativity far exceeded his imagination.

"We're going to Bolivia for training," Stein said.

Queiroz was taken aback for a moment, then smiled. He began to admire Stan at this time. Bolivia is not only high in altitude, but also a football powerhouse. The stadium conditions there must be much better than other high-altitude places.

"Stan, you can really play",
Stan laughed, "Since we want special training, let's go to the originator of plateau football for special training."

If the two were face to face now, Queiroz would really like to give Stan a thumbs up.

"Okay, I promise you first, but I have to discuss the specifics with the football team, and I will give you the final answer tomorrow."

"Okay, don't make France wait in a hurry, they are still in a hurry to finalize the details of the warm-up match with me."

"Hehe, Stan, the biggest advantage of you is that you are too cunning. I think the French have rejected you long ago."

"Haha, I like you more and more. If one day you stop working in Iran, come to me, we can cooperate, and you can treat me as Ferguson."

Queiroz still chuckled and hung up the phone.

*****
Stan marked the three months of 2014 with a red pen on the calendar, which are January, March, and May. There will be international competition days in these three months.

There are 2 opportunities during the season, in January and March, and the one in May is already after the end of the European season (except for the Champions League final).

So after the last special training, the whole team will fly directly to Brazil. Stan suddenly thought of Bolivia as the reason. Bolivia and Brazil are both in South America. Stan’s plan kills three birds with one stone. There is one more thing Stan didn’t say, that is, the special training in Bolivia can adapt to the jet lag and the climate of South America in advance.

After thinking about it, Stan told the staff who contacted the warm-up match to finish their work, and then held a meeting, the whole team held a meeting to discuss, and the most important thing was to listen to the opinion of the team doctor Dong Zhou.

Unsurprisingly, when everyone first heard about Stan’s plan, everyone thought Stan was too crazy. The last time he went to XZ, Stan was already beyond the limit of many people’s imagination.

"Stan, last time at XZ, if something happened, we could fly to Chengdu right away, you know? Bolivia is a country with an average altitude of over 3000 meters. If the players don't adapt, we don't even have a chance to save lives."
Stan nodded, he didn't immediately explain his plan to everyone.

"Dong Zhou, what do you think, you are a medical expert, your opinion is the most precious, I want to hear it",
In fact, Stan is not afraid of others saying that he is a maverick and finds troubles for nothing. He is most worried about the players' bodies. Stan loves soldiers like his son. He really treats every player like his son.

"Actually, this time is much safer than the last time I went to XZ," Dong Zhou said.

Dong Zhou's first sentence made clear his position, and it also confused many people.

"Bolivia has participated in the Copa Libertadores for decades, and has participated in the World Cup qualifiers for a long time, but no player has ever died because of playing at home in Bolivia's plateau. On the contrary, the last time I went to XZ was indeed pioneered by Stan, and no one has ever tried it before."
Stan laughed dryly, "Dr. Dong, don't mention what happened last time, let's talk about going to Bolivia now."

"I think it's good, and we can adapt to the jet lag in advance. Our time in China and Brazil happens to be reversed day and night. When we play in Brazil, it happens to be early in the morning on our side. It is the most tiring time of the day for the Chinese. If we don't adapt early, our players will be easily tired when the game comes."

"Dong Zhou who knows me," Stan thought.

Dong Zhou continued: "In fact, human beings are very adaptable. As long as there is a scientific training plan, there will be no danger."

Dong Zhou's words are well-founded, and those who have opinions can only swallow their words in their stomachs.

Stan patted the table: "That's it."

*****
The next day, news from Queiroz also came. The Iranian team agreed with Stan's plan and would communicate with Stan before each expedition.

After finalizing, Stan immediately sent "spies" to Bolivia to inspect hotels, training grounds, competition venues, and most importantly, traffic conditions.

January 1th is the match day for the national team. Because there is no warm-up match, Stan does not need to care about the FIFA standards for how many people he recruits. So he called up 20 players for inspection and training this time.

When going to South America, most of the Asian countries go to Europe or the United States first, and then transfer. The route arranged by Stan is to fly to Brussels in Belgium first, and after meeting with the Iranian team, they charter a flight to Bolivia together.

When the "China-Iran" joint charter plane flew over the vast Atlantic Ocean, Stan himself felt that he was really a "lunatic".

Stan said to Queiroz next to him: "Are we the two craziest coaches in the top 32 of the World Cup?"

Queiroz smiled and said: "No, not the top 32 in the World Cup. Looking at the whole world, except for Jose Mourinho, both of us should be considered the craziest."

"Hehe, how did you convince the Iranian Football Association?"
"It's very simple, every time they disagree with my proposal, I pretend to resign",
Stan nodded and gave a thumbs up.

"how about you"?
"Me? Oh, because I have a good character, the Football Association believes in me."

"Fuck you Stan, do you have the truth out of your mouth"?
Stan laughed, "Actually, we are all the same as football coaches, just two words - grades, I think if you don't qualify for the World Cup, you don't need to threaten to resign, they will let you go."

This is the point, Queiroz was silent, he looked at the vast ocean outside the porthole, which was their destination this time - Bolivia.

　Evergrande played against Barcelona today, I think Evergrande’s back is hard now, and it can fight Barcelona

　　
　
(End of this chapter)