Chapter 1 Destiny Can Be Ruthless, But Not Unfair

The first match was a 3-0 away victory against South Korea, and the second was a 9-1 home rout of Malaysia. The Chinese team had already become the top team in this group, replacing South Korea as the number one favorite to qualify. Everything was going well, but at this time, Zhang Jun heard the news of Roberto Baggio's retirement.

"I've considered it for a long time, and making this decision was very difficult, after all, Brescia gave me a lot. But I'm already thirty-seven years old, and I think it's time to say goodbye. So I want to say that I've decided to officially retire after this season. For me, there's nothing more to pursue in football."

Baggio said calmly in front of the television camera, but people could still see something in his eyes shining in the reporters' flashing lights.

Zhang Jun learned of this shocking news by watching "Sports News" on CCTV5. He could hardly believe what he was seeing and hearing.

The captain he was training with last year was now saying he was retiring. No wonder he said: "It's a great pity that I didn't have the chance to play with him..." It wasn't that he was worried about Zhang Jun not being able to return to Serie A, but that he was worried he wouldn't last until that day – he had already made up his mind to retire.

A little at a loss, Zhang Jun called Baggio, hoping that this respected senior would take back his decision. After all, he was the last poetry of Italian football.

But Baggio smiled and said to him, "Since I announced my retirement, many people have called me, hoping that I would reconsider my decision. But I know my own situation. Long-term injuries have affected my form, and I don't want to embarrass myself on the field. Ending now is already a good choice. I'm a greedy person, only thinking about retiring at the age of thirty-seven..."

Baggio didn't continue. In fact, Zhang Jun knew that Robi was unwilling, really unwilling, when he said those words in front of the television camera. In his life, the blue of the Mediterranean Sea had become a permanent attachment he couldn't let go of. Zhang Jun, as a foreigner, didn't want to judge what kind of person Trapattoni was. He could only sigh deeply for Robi and bury his regret in his heart. In just over two months, he would no longer be able to see this man play football. A ten-year-long dream was finally about to come to an end.

What else could he do besides sigh?

But Baggio instead tried to reassure Zhang Jun, "Don't worry about it, metabolism is normal..."

Zhang Jun recalled a saying: The back waves of the Yangtze River push the front waves, and the front waves die on the beach. It was indeed a normal natural phenomenon, but it was also really cruel.

"...We are still friends, don't think too much about it. Your recent form is good, keep it up!"

"Thank you, Robi."

"But be careful, your recent form is too good, and you're attracting too much attention. You'll become a thorn in the side of all the defenders, and they won't be polite to you. The coach will also specifically instruct the players to go hard on you. You have to learn to protect yourself, and give up some balls that you should give up."

"Hehe, Robi. I don't know if I should say this or not, but this doesn't sound like something you would say. Otherwise, you wouldn't have dragged a half-leg to play football for twenty years, right?" Zhang Jun laughed.

Baggio was stunned. What Zhang Jun said made some sense. He and Zhang Jun were really somewhat similar, otherwise he wouldn't have been the first to help Zhang Jun in Brescia and become good friends with him. Eyes, yes, eyes, but not melancholic eyes, but eyes that never give up in the face of every opportunity on the field.

As long as he still had those eyes, he would succeed. But danger would always accompany him.

Zhang Jun had the same temperament as Baggio, but Baggio didn't want Zhang Jun to have the same ending as him.

Zhang Jun put down the phone, his mood no longer the shock he felt when he first heard the news, but more complicated. He didn't want Robi to retire, but he couldn't not let him retire, after all, since the age of seventeen, Baggio had been fighting on the field with a half-leg. Sixteen surgeries had made his football life not as happy as ordinary people imagined. Every match, every training session was like a major exam testing his body and will.

In ninety-four in America, that summer when he first met Robi, he witnessed the birth of a great star. The role of a superstar for a team was perfectly embodied in Robi. But Zhang Jun couldn't say for sure whether Robi became the Robi respected by thousands of people now because of his repeated one-man shows, or because of that penalty kick that flew over the crossbar?

In ninety-four, he was still a primary school student who didn't understand anything. His daily pursuit was to play football with Yang Pan, and he never thought that one day he could go to Europe to play football, let alone that he could become friends with Robi, wearing the Chinese Olympic team's jersey to fight for the country. Ten years, a full ten years, he had grown from a naive teenager into a rising star, met many friends, and met Sophie, with countless stories to recall. Zhang Jun suddenly thought, was his reluctance for Robi to retire because he had inadvertently linked Robi with his own experiences over the past ten years? Whenever he thought of Robi's career, he couldn't help but think of his own past ten years, and many people had already left him or were leaving him. Robi's retirement also meant that Zhang Jun's ten years of time were leaving him. Knowing it was futile, he still wanted to hold on tight with both hands.

Robi was still going to retire, and he himself had not retained anything.

Ten years ago, Robi was in his prime, turning the tide in America and becoming an idol to thousands. But ten years later, the little boy who sat in front of the TV late at night had started his professional football journey and was gradually becoming an idol of Chinese football, but Robi was old and about to retire.

At the same time, many fans around the world were calling for Baggio to withdraw his retirement decision, and many people even cried when they heard the news. Was this sadness entirely due to the regret of no longer being able to appreciate Baggio's performance? Perhaps it was more of a feeling of helplessness in the face of the rapidly passing river of time?

Qiu Suhui noticed that in the extra practice after the end of training, Zhang Jun had increased the number of free kick practices again. He practiced free kicks, and Sima Hongxin silently accompanied him, goalkeeping for him.

Thinking of the upcoming China-Iran match, Hu Li wanted to remind Zhang Jun to pay attention to rest. But he was stopped by Qiu Suhui, who shook his head and then turned and left the training ground.

In the setting sun, on the golden training ground, Zhang Jun placed the ball, retreated, ran, swung his leg, and the football flew past the moving wall towards the goal. Whether the ball went in or not, he always tried to keep his waist as straight as possible.

This was what Robi had taught him, his best free kick, like a relay baton, he had a responsibility to run faster, even faster.

The Wuhan Sports Center was bustling with noise, the clamor shaking the sky. The Chinese Olympic team, with its increasingly good results, was being treated like world champions in Wuhan. The stands, which could accommodate more than 60,000 spectators, were packed. The five-star red flag was rolling in the stands, like huge waves, impacting the poor Iranian Olympic team.

The big screen showed that the match had been going on for thirty minutes, and the score was 1:0, with China leading. In the first half, Zhao Pengyu forcibly broke through and was brought down by Iranian defender Ebrahimi after entering the penalty area. The referee unhesitatingly awarded a penalty. Zhang Jun took the penalty, using a relaxed and elegant "spoon" chip to deceive Iranian goalkeeper Talebloo, 1:0.

This twenty-first minute penalty ignited the atmosphere of the Wuhan Sports Center. Countless five-star red flags were like flames surging from a volcano. Zhang Jun had seen the Dutch volcano in the Amsterdam Arena, and he believed that this Chinese volcano would not be much different.

The huge home advantage was not only in the number of spectators. It was said that, learning from the work lessons of the previous match against Malaysia, the Chinese Football Association paid very, very close attention to the reception work of the referee of this match.

After taking the lead, the Chinese team played with ease. The Iranian national team had humiliated the Chinese team twice in the 1997 top ten matches, scoring four goals in each match. I believe many people still remember such a scene, Iranian fans held out four fingers to the Chinese CCTV camera, this was a disgrace to Chinese football. But all of this had nothing to do with the current Olympic team, they were winning not for revenge, but to qualify as soon as possible.

Zhang Jun was knocked to the ground by his opponent again, this was the seventh time he had been fouled in this match. It had only been going on for thirty minutes, which showed how nervous Iran was about him. The fans expressed their dissatisfaction with the Iranian team with huge boos. Zhang Jun was now more valuable than a giant panda. If anything happened to him, the Iranian team probably wouldn't be able to leave the Wuhan Sports Center tonight.

Zhang Jun got up a little slowly, which was not his usual style - he used to jump up immediately to show that he was okay - it seemed that he was tidying up his shin guards and socks.

The referee awarded the Chinese team a direct free kick from twenty-seven meters. The Iranian team was busy setting up a wall, they also knew how powerful Zhang Jun's direct free kick was.

Zhang Jun really stood in front of the ball, but so did Li Yongle, the college midfielder who had quickly become popular in the last two matches.

"Maybe it will be a tactic. Li Yongle's long-range shooting skills are not weak, and either of them is very threatening," said Wang Jianxiang. "The distance is a bit far, maybe Li Yongle will take it."

Zhang Jun walked to Li Yongle and whispered to him, "What we're saying now is actually just for show, especially for Iran to see. I'll still take it later, you cover for me. You stay closer to the ball, I'll be further away, you run and I'll run too, okay?"

Li Yongle put his hands on his hips and nodded, "Okay."

The referee's whistle blew, Li Yongle ran up, and Zhang Jun also started running at the same time. Li Yongle was from right to left, and Zhang Jun was the opposite. Because the running distance was different, it avoided the possibility of a collision. Li Yongle stepped beside the ball, raised his left leg, and was about to shoot!

"It's Li Yongle!"

But at the critical moment, Li Yongle's leg didn't swing down, but the wall had already jumped up. The ball didn't go over, they were fooled!

At this time, Zhang Jun had just arrived, he stretched out his arms to maintain balance, trying to straighten his upper body as much as possible, and shot with the instep of his right foot! The football just quickly passed over the heads of the wall that had just landed, flying directly towards the near bottom corner!

Although Talebloo tried his best to save it, he was shaken by Li Yongle's movement just now. When he turned back and tried to save again, he couldn't do anything. The football brushed past his hand and hit the net!

"The ball is in again! It's Zhang Jun again! It's a free kick again! It's amazing! Zhang Jun's form is amazing!" Wang Jianxiang shouted hoarsely.

Zhang Jun smiled and high-fived Li Yongle beside him, this goal seemed a little easier for him.

"The Dutch call Zhang Jun's free kick 'Smile'. Now it seems that it is indeed a very appropriate name."

At the end of the first half, relying on Zhang Jun's two set pieces, the Chinese Olympic team led the Iranian Olympic team 2:0. This was undoubtedly an exciting score, so during the half-time break, fans from all over the country fully displayed their local characteristics. The stands of the Wuhan Sports Center on March 27th were like a grand carnival of national fans.

"Wow! Well done!" Zhao Pengyu howled as soon as he entered the locker room. His breakthrough today created a penalty, which was also an assist, so he was in a very good mood. "What is Iran? What is Iran? We'll score two more goals against them in the second half, and next time we see them, we'll hold out four fingers to greet them!"

"Why not five?" Wang Yu asked back.

"Five? How about ten?" Zhao Pengyu asked back, and everyone laughed. The atmosphere during this half-time break was as good as the last one, no, it was even better, because no one was complaining about the referee.

"Hey! Zhang Ge, take a break in the second half, it's our turn to perform!" Someone shouted.

Zhang Jun just smiled, and then he sat down on a chair and gasped for breath. Returning from Europe and playing three Olympic games, his stamina was getting less and less. The stamina he had stored during the winter break was almost used up. It seemed that he had to discuss with the old man about playing less in the league, otherwise it was really worrying how far Volendam could go in the Dutch Cup. After this match, he would have to rush to Beijing the next day, and then take a plane to Amsterdam. There would be a club car waiting for him there, and then he would be sent directly to Nijmegen, where he would join the team for three days of training before playing in the Dutch Cup quarter-final. Non-stop, really non-stop. He had to grit his teeth and persevere during this time. Maybe if he kept winning and qualified early, he wouldn't have to participate in the last meaningless match against Malaysia. That way, he could at least rest for two more days. For the tired Zhang Jun, two days of rest might even be a luxury.

A big hand was placed on his shoulder: "If you're tired, you don't have to work too hard, just wait in front, I'll pass the ball to you." Li Yongle said looking at the opposite wall, as if he was still a little stiff, his expression was a little unnatural.

This line seemed like something that Yang Pan would say, Zhang Jun thought. He didn't expect that his long-time opponent Li Yongle would also say these words one day. It was really good to be a teammate, Zhang Jun chuckled.

"What are you laughing at? Don't fall into the opponent's offside trap!"

"Got it, hehe!" Zhang Jun continued to laugh.

Qiu Suhui also saw Zhang Jun's stamina problem, and he was also considering when to substitute him in the second half, but definitely not at the beginning. Iran's counterattack made him a little worried. Kaabi, who was playing right winger with number 13, was very fast. If it wasn't for him making Xiang Tao stay in the backcourt obediently in the first half, this kid Kaabi might have really caused some trouble. Also, Iran's main striker, Bohani with number 20, didn't know why he didn't play, maybe Kohan was waiting for an opportunity. Zhang Jun still had to be on the field, at least he would consider substituting him after the Chinese team led 3:0. Even if he just stood on the field and didn't run, he could still pose a threat to Iran, a psychological threat.

Contrary to the relaxed atmosphere in the Chinese team's locker room, the atmosphere in the Iranian locker room was very depressing. Everyone lowered their heads and didn't say anything, each of them like an eggplant hit by frost. Before the match, coach Kohan repeatedly emphasized to restrain Zhang Jun, not allowing China to calmly advance the attack into the thirty-meter area, but how to defend against that penalty and free kick? Zhang Jun made it very uncomfortable for the Iranian team with two set pieces.

Kohan considered it repeatedly, and finally decided to strike hard.

"Karmeli, you are the captain, you have to take responsibility." He called the center-back Karmeli to the side and said to him, "In the second half, I want you to only be responsible for marking Zhang Jun."

"Just me alone?"

"Yes, one-on-one, man-to-man." Kohan nodded.

"But, Zhang Jun's individual ability is very outstanding, I..."

"I know that too, so I'm not going to let you use regular defensive moves."

"But I've used pushing, pulling, and tripping, and the result was that he got a free kick and scored, coach."

"Those are still regular defensive moves, what I mean is go for the person, don't care about the ball."

Karmeli was a little surprised, he asked with his mouth wide open: "You want to use a damaging tactic?"

"Yes. I remembered that Milan laboratory medical examination report about him, go for his left ankle, don't hesitate, we've already lost to South Korea at home, this is the only way to qualify! You have to set an example, my captain. Send Zhang Jun off the field, if it's with a stretcher, I'll reward you."

Karmeli looked at the coach's face, his mouth that he had just opened hadn't had time to close yet.

At the start of the second half, the fans welcomed the Chinese team with the warmest applause, and looked forward to a more exciting second half.

Even commentator Wang Jianxiang could see that Iran had made some adjustments. "Kohan actually used one person to mark Zhang Jun, and gave up the double-teaming tactics of the first half, although it gave Zhang Jun a chance to score, but from the perspective of the entire first half, it was relatively successful. I really don't understand, does he think that the individual ability of number 4 Karmeli is enough to defend against Zhang Jun, who is in good form?"

Karmeli really couldn't defend him. After Zhang Jun got the ball, he felt that the defensive pressure was obviously reduced. He could calmly face a defender, which could be said to be generous for Zhang Jun. Zhang Jun naturally wouldn't be polite. He used a shift in重心 (zhòngxīn - center of gravity) to break through Karmeli and shot, but it was saved by the goalkeeper.

"What are you doing?" Kohan yelled from the sidelines. He was very dissatisfied with Karmeli's "cowardly" performance just now. "Be fierce! What are you being polite for! He's your enemy, do you still want to be humiliated by him?"

The Chinese team's players could all see that, for some reason, Iran had relaxed their defense against Zhang Jun, and the defensive midfielder and the other two central defenders were no longer double-teaming Zhang Jun. This was obviously a good thing for the Chinese team, so the ball was passed to Zhang Jun's feet one after another, and they wanted to make full use of this advantage.

Zhang Jun got the ball, he was preparing to turn around with his back to Karmeli, but Karmeli unhesitatingly tackled... the person! Zhang Jun's body softened and he fell to the ground.

The referee's whistle sounded, he ran over quickly, and then showed Karmeli a yellow card.

Zhang Jun was helped off the field by the team doctor to receive treatment.

Facing the boos of the Chinese fans, Karmeli turned his head and looked at the coaching bench in confusion, but he saw Kohan give him a thumbs up.

After simple and quick treatment, Zhang Jun returned to the field, and the fans greeted him with warm applause, welcoming their hero back to the battlefield.

"Looking at the way he's running, it seems like there's no problem! I think everyone was holding their breath when Zhang Jun fell just now, right?"

Zhang Jun was still raising his hand for the ball, he was unwilling to give up just because the opponent's defensive action was slightly too big, this was not his character, Zhang Jun was very stubborn.

Li Yongle hesitated for a moment, but still passed the ball over. Zhang Jun decided not to give Karmeli a chance to get close, he wanted to get rid of the defense as soon as possible.

"Zhang Jun hooked the ball behind him with his foot, and then quickly turned around! A beautiful dribble! Karmeli had no chance!"

After Zhang Jun broke into the penalty area, he took another step and then shot, but under the interference of the opponent's defender's tackle, he shot high.

Qiu Suhui decided to substitute Zhang Jun, the opponent was obviously using damaging tactics against Zhang Jun, which was very dangerous, leading by two goals should be enough to win. He called Wang Liang to warm up.

The Chinese team attacked to the front again, their offensive was wave after wave, making the Iranian team exhausted. Zhao Pengyu passed the ball to Xiang Tao, who was插上 (chāshàng - surging up from behind), fooling number 13 Kaabi.

"Xiang Tao crosses!"

Zhang Jun looked up at the ball, looking for the landing point, and then he ran towards the predetermined landing point, Karmeli followed him, but didn't stick close, but kept a certain distance, a strange move.

The ball came over, it was indeed looking for Zhang Jun.

Zhang Jun prepared to jump, he sprinted a step, and then jumped!

Karmeli also rushed up, but he didn't jump, but stretched his foot and stomped on Zhang Jun's left ankle!

This was a deliberate injury action!

Karmeli's foot landed firmly and accurately on Zhang Jun's left ankle! At this time, Zhang Jun's body had already lifted into the air, his right foot had already left the ground, but his left foot was firmly踩住 (cǎizhù - stepped on) by Karmeli and nailed to the ground! His left ankle was almost bent into a ninety-degree angle!

The scene was very noisy, but Zhang Jun heard a crisp sound.

The football passed over his head and flew out of bounds. The ball was out of bounds, but no one paid attention anymore.

Zhang Jun fell to the ground like he had lost his bones, he could no longer stand up, and he couldn't protect himself by rolling around, he could only curl up as much as possible, trembling and unable to make a sound.

The big screen was replaying the moment just now.

"This is an obvious injury action! It's a malicious foul! It's a serious violation of sportsmanship! It may even be a premeditated, targeted conspiracy!" Wang Jianxiang's anger also reached a peak, he was a little reckless.

"This is not playing football! That bastard is doing it on purpose!" Qiu Suhui roared at the fourth official very excitedly. It was no wonder he was so excited, this infringement was too serious, so serious that it exceeded the tolerance limit of Zhang Jun's ankle.

Xiang Tao rushed up at the first time, even though he was not the closest. He ran to Karmeli and slapped him directly in the face. "If you want to die, just say it!"

Li Jie also rushed up, but he wasn't there to mediate the fight, but used his chest to bump Karmeli into Xiang Tao again.

The Iranian players also rushed up, on the one hand to pull their captain away, on the other hand to fight back against the Chinese team. The Chinese players also rushed over one after another, and the scene was chaotic.

"Beat him to death, the bastard!"

"Don't be impulsive! Calm down!"

"Don't stop me, or I'll beat you too!"

"Stretcher! Stretcher!"

"No! Call an ambulance, send him directly to the hospital!"

"Fuck your mother! You dare to be arrogant here, you son of a bitch!"

People poured into the stadium, players, coaches, fourth officials, medical staff, volunteers, and police. The stretcher was also brought up, and the small ambulance also drove in. The ambulance that was parked outside the stadium waiting for orders also drove to the sidelines. Doctors in white coats were particularly conspicuous in this crowd, no, they were particularly刺眼 (cìyǎn - glaring/blinding).

The sound was also chaotic, whistles, curses, and huge boos.

But Zhang Jun couldn't see or hear all of this. There was only one sound in his head: that crisp sound. He suddenly remembered that physical examination report from more than half a year ago, he had almost forgotten it, but it just happened to remind him at this time, like a nightmare, the Milan curse, Karmeli's stomp, countless crazy goals, that crisp sound...

Zhang Jun was carried onto a stretcher, and then sent to the ambulance on the sidelines. Then the ambulance closed its doors and roared out of the stadium.

And the chaos behind him had nothing to do with him anymore.