World Cup of Great Powers

Chapter 17 What is the World Cup

Lao Zhang sat at the back door of Dongfang Building, where the swill trucks entered and exited.

He smoked one cigarette after another, and just like that, quietly ushered in the dawn.

"It's dawn! The team members are about to wake up."

Lao Zhang didn't sleep all night.

There were 31 kitchen staff who stayed up late with him.

These people prepared the ingredients the night before, and started cooking at two o'clock in the morning.

One after another, the dishes have been brought into the restaurant one after another.

The staff carefully keeps each dish warm, and strives to make it still steaming hot when the lid is opened.

After finishing all this, Lao Zhang straightened his bow tie, held a clean white towel, and stood upright at the door of the restaurant.

He kept his eyes fixed on the elevator entrance, waiting for the first person to appear.

With a bun in his mouth and a bottle of mineral water in his hand, Xiao Liu walked quickly to the taxi, opened the door and got in.

"I'm sorry, I didn't have breakfast in the morning because of work."

"It's okay, it's okay." The passenger in the back row waved his hand.

As soon as the car started, the announcer's voice came from the radio.

".Today is the sixth time for the national football team to compete in the World Cup. As long as we win this game, we will be able to watch our country's World Cup at home in 1998."

".The good news of the expedition team led by the new national team coach Zeng came from Saudi Arabia, which once again ignited the hope of the fans in our country for qualifying."

".Today is the last game of the Top Ten Tournament, and the result will determine whether we can get the right to qualify."

".This station will launch the 'World Cup Hotline', please join us in cheering for the national team."

Xiao Liu swallowed the buns in his mouth, and looked at the rearview mirror from time to time.

"Cut, the World Cup? Only a fool will watch it!" The passenger in the back row pouted.

"That's right, that's right, only fools will read it!" Xiao Liu said bitterly.

Although he said this, Xiao Liu inadvertently glanced at the red doll in front of the windshield.

That was the mascot sold exclusively at the Golden State Football Stadium during the war against Qatar a few days ago.

50 yuan a piece.

At 8:[-] in the morning, the first wave of passengers who rushed out of the airport hall was greeted outside Zhoushuizi Airport.

Speaking in obscure local accents, these travelers from all over the world issued a common instruction to the taxi drivers waiting outside the airport.

"Go to Golden State Stadium!"

On the street, in the alley, in the park, in the vegetable market, at the entrance of the alley.
Wherever there are people, the same topic is being discussed - football!
"Can we win this time?"

"Can we qualify this time?"

The voice of the fans is the opinion of the people.

What the people want is what wins.

In the meeting room of Dongfang Building, under the leadership of Wang Junsheng, Zeng Zheng and all the international players solemnly swear to the red flag.

"Don't be a coward, don't be a deserter. For honor, resolutely eat Kuwait."

The same process runs through almost the entire Big Ten.

Except for the away game against Saudi Arabia.

Because at that time everyone felt that the Chinese team had no chance to qualify.

Since there is no hope of qualifying, the process is pure self-deception.

But now, the process has regained meaning.

"Coach Zeng, you can also say a few words."

After a series of leaders' speeches, it was finally the turn of Zeng Zheng, the head coach of the national team.

This head looks pretty, but he is actually the youngest "official" in the team.

In this position, sometimes the head coach even feels that he is not as good as the 10 assistants under him!
Seeing Zeng Zheng walk on the stage, the audience immediately burst into applause.

In just a few days, Zeng Zheng used his strong personal charm and professional ability to convince these international players.

Most of the people present believed that Zeng Zheng would become the most important figure in the history of Chinese football!

"Players, the leaders have said what they should say."

"Here, I just want to ask a question."

"What is the World Cup?"

Hearing this question, everyone was stunned for a moment.

Wang Junsheng whispered to his colleagues beside him: "Coach Xiao Zeng asked a good question!"

What is the World Cup?
Isn't it just a football match organized by FIFA?

What else could it be?
Seeing that no one raised their hands to speak, Zeng Zheng continued to ask: "Or, what do you think the World Cup means to you?"

What does it mean to me, this question is easy to answer.

"General Fan, you are the captain, you speak first."

"Honor!" General Fan replied forcefully.

"Okay, what about others?" Zeng Zheng continued to ask.

"A chance to prove your strength!" Ma Mingyu raised his hand and spoke loudly.

"Okay, is there any more?" Zeng Zheng continued to encourage.

With the positive speeches of the two veterans, others became enthusiastic.

Some people said that their wish was fulfilled, while others said it was worthwhile to play football, while others said that the World Cup is a war in a peaceful age.

After everyone finished answering, even Wang Junsheng and other leaders had expectations in their eyes, seeing what answer Zeng Zheng could give.

Zeng Zheng suddenly changed the subject: "The Jianlibao guys, do you still remember that in 94, I took you to the United States to watch football?"

Seeing Zeng Zheng bring up the past, Li Tie and others immediately fell into memory.

In the 94 World Cup, Zeng Zheng spent half a year's savings saved by the whole team, and took 22 Jianlibao students to the United States to watch a quarter-elimination match.

"I remember, when Brazil eliminated the Netherlands 3-2!" Li Jinyu shouted loudly.

"I also remember that it was Romario who scored first, and then Bebeto. Then Bergkamp of the Netherlands pulled one back." Li Tie also said hastily.

"Winter helped the Netherlands equalize in 75 minutes!" Sui Dongliang was not to be outdone.

"In the end, it was Blanco's free kick from a long distance, which directly sealed the victory!" When talking about this ball, Zhang Xiaorui's eyes lit up.

The four Jianlibao students are very fond of that match, and watching the match on the spot has long been engraved in the depths of their souls and has become a memory that will never be erased in their lifetime.

Sun Jihai's eyes were shining in the corner, watching the four young Jianlibao players scrambling to recall the game, his face was full of envy.

After the Four Little Swans subsided, Zeng Zhengcai said: "I don't know how many of you here have watched the World Cup as fans, but as a bystander, I was completely overwhelmed by the passion brought by football. That feeling is still unbearable. forget!"

"If you think about it, as a fan you can feel that way, but as a participant?"

"What will it be like?"

"I once asked a Mexican teaching assistant. He muttered a lot of local slang, and I didn't even understand the words and gestures."

"But I could tell from his expression that it was definitely an indescribable feeling."

"So this time, I want to go to the World Cup to see for myself."

"Look at what celebrities mean when they say 'the World Cup means a lot to everyone involved'."

"Especially for you athletes, think about it, as long as you have participated in the World Cup, you are the best part of the 32 teams in the world!"

"What was that like?"

"Will life be very different in the future?"

"So, what the World Cup is for us, I can't tell you now."

"But I can clearly say that it will be a supreme enjoyment, a process that can sublimate your soul!"

"As for the World Cup, what exactly do you get."

"I think it is more appropriate for you to go to the World Cup to find out."

Speaking of this, Zeng Zheng stretched out his hand and slapped the table hard.

Snapped!
The movement was so earth-shattering that even the leaders in the front row were shaken.

"If you win, you go to France, if you lose, you fuck off and go home!"

"Don't tell me about the play-offs, this time I'm going for the through-train ticket to the first place in the group!"

"If you can't even win against Kuwait at home, you guys might as well go home and sell sweet potatoes!"

"Now tell me, do you have the confidence to go to the World Cup to prove yourself?"

"Yes!" The international players shouted in unison.

"What are you talking about? I can't hear you!"

"Yes!!!" The roar of the international players broke through the sky.

When the enthusiastic national team followed Zeng Zheng and shouted for victory, Wang Junsheng suddenly frowned and tilted his head to the clerk next to him.

"Play-offs? What do you mean by play-offs? Don't we qualify if we win?"

The clerk on the side also quickly opened the notes, searched for a while before saying:

"Team leader, it's like this. We only have 3.5 places in the Asian region. In the top ten, the first two groups will qualify directly, and the second two groups will go to the play-offs to fight for the last qualifying place!"

"Oh, so it is like this! I didn't expect it to be so complicated!"

Then Wang Junsheng thought of something again, and continued to ask: "Then do we have a chance to be the first in the group?"

(End of this chapter)