Chapter 239 After the Call

After that phone call, Zhang Jun, as Yang Pan's roommate and the person who spent the most time with him, never saw Yang Pan show any worry for his family in front of anyone.

However, he knew that Yang Pan must be concerned about Yi Lan and their unborn child. He went to the toilet more frequently, and for longer periods than usual.

Zhang Jun knew what Yang Pan was doing, of course: hiding in the bathroom to call Italy, finding out the latest news. But when he came out of the bathroom, there was no trace of anything unusual on Yang Pan's face.

He estimated that only he and Yang Pan knew about this. And Yang Pan must think that no one else knew except himself.

He would bury the matter deep in his heart and go back after the World Cup was over. Zhang Jun wasn't worried that this would affect Yang Pan's game, because Yang Pan knew what was important, took the big picture into consideration, and definitely had ways to adjust his mood and state.

※※※

"Today is the last day of training." Before the day's training began, Qiu Suhui said loudly to the players on the field. Actually, it was the last time he would train these people. He hadn't yet revealed that he would resign after the World Cup. "Tomorrow we will face perhaps the most important match of our lives! I want everyone to train hard and give it 120 percent! We can get to the finals, and it's definitely not luck! Without strength, we can't do anything. Brazil is a strong opponent, but we are not weaker than them! I know that playing seven games in a month makes many of you feel tired, but I hope everyone will persevere until the end of tomorrow. Can you do it?!"

"Yes!!" The players roared in unison.

"Very good! Lao Hu, come here." He turned and beckoned to Hu Li.

Hu Li ran over and clapped his hands, "Now start training. After a simple warm-up, we will practice offensive routines. The focus of this exercise is how to advance quickly when switching from defense to offense..."

Hu Li told the players the key points of the training, while Qiu Suhui returned to the sunshade, picked up the tactical board, and re-examined it. He put a check mark behind every item that had been trained. Now there were more and more check marks on the tactical board, and fewer and fewer unchecked places.

He looked up at the blue sky.

Everything was ready, only the east wind was lacking.

The decisive moment was coming.

※※※

Training was still not open to the public. Sophie, like all the other reporters, continued to be shut out by the Chinese team. But they didn't seem to complain. At this time, certain characteristics of China showed their good side. In important moments, freedom of the press must also serve the national interest. Now everyone knew that the Chinese team must not be disturbed, so no one complained in the media about the Chinese team's news blockade.

Because she couldn't take pictures inside the training ground, Sophie's column used the photo of the locked door for two consecutive days.

She wrote in the article: "... Qiu Suhui closed the national team's training, and we reporters couldn't see anything. The sound of whistles could be heard vaguely behind the locked door. A group of reporters reluctant to leave sat outside the door, guessing what training was going on inside at this moment. Everyone was in high spirits, and there weren't many complaints because the national team didn't allow interviews.

Someone told me that he had only now realized that the climate in Cape Town was not as cold as he had imagined. He had been busy traveling between various venues for reports, and he had no time to pay attention to the surrounding situation. Now there were less than three days left until the end of our mission. Before the final, we suddenly had free time. On one side was the tense final, and on the other was us, leisurely and somewhat idle. Is it contradictory? But no one felt that this was wrong..."

Sophie knew that things were definitely not as leisurely in China as they were for these front-line reporters. Because according to convention, the domestic media must be working overtime to prepare for the final, whether it was print media, television media, or online media. They would come up with two plans in case of emergencies.

One was the reporting plan if the Chinese team won. The other was the plan for losing the game.

Sophie had also received a notice from Li Yan that she should be psychologically prepared to write a commentary on losing the game.

In fact, she knew that Li Yan and she were firm supporters of the Chinese team. Whether from an emotional or strength analysis perspective, they didn't think the Chinese team would lose. Especially Sophie, perhaps she was the most confident person in the world when it came to the Chinese team, even more confident than the players.

Psychological preparation to write a commentary on losing the game...

Sophie played with the mouse, looking at the blank Word document on her laptop. She couldn't imagine what that kind of mentality should be like. The Chinese team losing seemed like a very distant thing.

※※※

"Zhang Jun! Take a shot!" Hu Li opened the bag containing the soccer balls and shouted to Zhang Jun.

Zhang Jun found that there was a ball right in front of him. He knew what Coach Hu Li meant. So he took a step, gently lifted his foot and flicked, and the soccer ball obediently drew an arc before falling into the bag that Hu Li was holding open.

"Good shot!" Hu Li gave Zhang Jun a thumbs up and turned to collect the soccer balls that had rolled elsewhere.

"Coach Hu, do you need me to help?" Zhang Jun shouted at Hu Li's back.

"No need, you go back and take a shower and change your clothes quickly, don't catch a cold at this time!" Hu Li waved his hand without turning around.

Zhang Jun looked at Hu Li's slightly hunched back and gray hair. He put down the sports bag in his hand and jogged to Hu Li, "Hold the bag open, Coach Hu."

With that, one kick at a time, he kicked all the soccer balls in this area into the pocket in Hu Li's hands.

"Cough, didn't I tell you to go back? It won't be good if you catch a cold from not listening to me." Hu Li's tone didn't have much blame in it.

"Hehe, Coach Hu, I know my own body well. This situation can't give me a cold at all. Anyway, this can be considered a kind of training, right?" As he said that, Zhang Jun kicked another ball in.

After kicking all the soccer balls into the bag, Hu Li's work was considered complete. The old man and the young man walked side by side towards the outside of the field.

"Zhang Jun, are you fully prepared for tomorrow's game?"

"Of course, body, mind, and state are all OK."

"That's good, that's good. Lao Qiu has high hopes for you guys." Hu Li chuckled. "This old man of mine is almost sixty-five years old, and I'm about to reach retirement age. If I hadn't met Lao Qiu in the Zhongyuan Club youth team, maybe I would have retired and be living a peaceful life by now?"

"Coach Hu..."

"Now when I think back to the past when I met Lao Qiu and worked with him, it seems like it was just yesterday. Time passes so quickly, and eight years have passed in a flash... Back then, when he told me that he wanted to win the U21 league championship in the second year, I thought he was dreaming. I didn't expect that we might even win the World Cup now."

"Zhang Jun..."

"Yes, what's the matter? Coach Hu."

Hu Li thought for a while and decided to tell him what Qiu Suhui had said. "Lao Qiu told me before the World Cup that he decided to resign after this World Cup." He tried to make his tone calm, so as not to irritate Zhang Jun.

Zhang Jun was stunned for a moment, but soon the expression on his face returned to normal. "Really? Hehe, I've thought about it too. It's the best choice for him to resign at this time."

Hu Li thought Zhang Jun was thinking crookedly and quickly explained, "Don't think about it in other ways. He's not retiring after success and fame. In fact..."

Zhang Jun shook his head and interrupted Hu Li, "Of course I know, Coach Hu. We all know what kind of person Qiu Zhi is. But looking at some things in Chinese football now, I think Qiu Zhi is probably tired, right? It would be great if he could bring a shining World Cup to Chinese football. Even if he only wins a runner-up, it would be worthy of Chen Wei, who has always trusted him. Leaving at this time, he doesn't owe anyone anything."

"You don't seem surprised at all..."

"Hehe, Coach Hu, don't think that we players don't understand anything. Everyone knows some things, but everyone just doesn't talk about it."

Hu Li coughed embarrassedly, covering up his embarrassment, "Okay, I didn't want to discuss the current situation of Chinese football with you today. I just wanted to tell you that tomorrow's game is the last game that Lao Qiu will lead you in. I hope you do well and make his period a perfect end. Lao Qiu values you very much."

As he said that, Hu Li put the pocket in his hand into the equipment room.

Zhang Jun smiled, "Coach Hu, aren't you afraid that if you tell me such an important thing at this time, I'll be distracted during the game and perform abnormally?"

"Hehe." Hu Li smiled slyly, "Don't think that only Lao Qiu understands you. I believe you. If this little thing can make you waver, then Fiorentina wouldn't have won the treble."

Zhang Jun touched his nose embarrassedly. Hu Li was right, he would not be affected by this kind of thing. On the contrary, it would only stimulate his performance.

Hu Li, who had put the soccer ball away, clapped his hands and patted Zhang Jun's shoulder, "Let's go, don't let those people get anxious."

The two walked out of the training ground step by step, and the stadium lights behind them went out one after another.

※※※

Zhang Jun did not tell anyone else about the news that Qiu Zhi was going to resign after the World Cup. He only needed to know some things. He could guarantee that his state would not be affected, but he couldn't guarantee that all 23 people in the team would be as indifferent to this matter as he was.

Yang Pan was going to be a father, and Qiu Zhi was leaving the Chinese team... Let's talk about these things after the game.

Tonight's dinner was not as lively as it had been in the previous two days. Most people ate with their heads down, without speaking or making a sound. The tense atmosphere of the final had already begun to spread at this time.

Regarding the team's situation, Qiu Suhui, contrary to his usual practice, did not provide timely guidance and relief. He took an indifferent attitude towards this, which was somewhat puzzling.

They certainly didn't know what Qiu Suhui was thinking. In a high-level event like the World Cup, the final was naturally the most important thing. Qiu Suhui was deliberately trying to make the players nervous. If they were still laughing and joking, that would make him worried. With people like Yang Pan, Zhang Jun, Li Yongle and Kru in the team, he didn't worry that this tension would overwhelm the team.

He would naturally come to the players to make psychological adjustments before the game started, but definitely not now.

A sense of tension helps the team maintain a state of excitement. It's easy to tighten and then loosen, but it's a bit difficult to loosen and then tighten.

※※※

Qiu Suhui did not give a tactical lesson after dinner, but announced that the remaining time was free. Immediately, the long-distance telephone area in the hotel became the most crowded place.

After all, not everyone in the Chinese team was a wealthy person like Zhang Jun and Yang Pan. To save money, many people still chose to use the international long-distance telephone service provided by the hotel.

The players called home one by one, and even some of the Chinese team's coaching staff members were among them.

On this night, it was almost impossible to find a few people gathered together. Most people were busy dealing with their own affairs. On the eve of the final, there was too much to sort out.

The players were two people to a room, and only head coach Qiu Suhui had the special privilege of enjoying a single room.

In the standard double room, the other bed was piled with CDs, laptops, wires, written materials, newspapers, clothes and other messy things.

At this time, Qiu Suhui was standing by the window, admiring the night view of Cape Town from the height of the 30th floor, while calling his wife, children and parents in China.

His child had been born for three years, but as a father, the total time he had spent with him might not have exceeded ten months. He ran all over the country to watch every round of the league, and flew around the world for training and various events to observe any players who might enter the Chinese team. In addition, there were various meetings and some unavoidable social events.

Not only his children, but also his lover and his parents, he had no way to stay with them for long. Counting, he was already forty-five years old. After the end of this World Cup, he would resign no matter what, and spend some time with his family. No matter how much Chen Wei tried to keep him, his decision would not change.

His dream when he was young was to make Chinese football one day stand at the peak of world football, and let Chinese football players hold their heads high. For this reason, he had sacrificed many things, too many to count... At this moment, when he was so close to his dream, he suddenly wanted to get encouragement and comfort from his family.

"Is the child asleep? Sorry, because of the time difference, I'm calling you at this time. Yes, I know. Are our parents still healthy? Oh, that's good. Tell them, don't get too excited. If there are too many reporters, unplug the phone line at home. Anyway, I bought them mobile phones. Me? I'm fine, South Africa is not as cold as I imagined, the climate is pretty good. The players are also in good shape. Yes, I think we have a chance to win tomorrow's game. At this time, of course we're going to try to win the championship if we can! We're not the kind of people who back down before the battle! That's right, your husband is the head coach who is known as the 'God of Gods'! Haha!" Qiu Suhui said jokingly. On the eve of the final, the players were nervous, but wasn't he, the head coach, also nervous? It was the first time for the players to play in the World Cup final, and wasn't it also the first time for him, the head coach? Only at this time, when he was chatting with his lover, could he feel a trace of relaxation.

He was considered the most outstanding Chinese team head coach in history. Almost everyone who saw him was working, busy, and in a hurry. For a while, there were rumors that Qiu Suhui only had Chinese football in his heart, and football was his true love. For work, he could not go home for several months in a row. For work, he would leave without saying a word even if his wife had just given birth to a child and needed him.

However, such a workaholic would have collapsed long ago if he didn't have a warm home to support him behind him. Every time he was so tired that he couldn't even speak, as long as he thought of his wife who understood and supported him without regret, his cute and mischievous son, and his kind and understanding parents, he would be like a battery that was fully charged, regaining his power.

Qiu Suhui looked at his watch. It was already early morning in China.

"Okay, Ming, you should rest early too. Tell our son that I will go back to see him soon and bring him gifts. Yes, I know, I will. Also... Ming, thank you for taking care of the children and our parents all these years. You've worked too hard."

Qiu Suhui looked at the phone he had squeezed in his sweaty hands after hanging up the phone, then breathed a long sigh of relief. Tomorrow was the last day, he would grit his teeth and hold on!

※※※

Zhang Jun went out for a walk alone. He did it on purpose to leave a relatively private space for Yang Pan. Because Yang Pan must be very uneasy at this time, even if he could pretend, he couldn't pretend sometimes, that was too tiring. Zhang Jun excused himself to go for a walk, so that Yang Pan could catch his breath. At that time, no matter how nervously he called home, no matter how much his voice trembled, no matter how anxiously he paced around the room, no one would see him, and it would not damage his image as the captain at all.

He didn't see many familiar faces in the lobby. Zhang Jun patted his head and remembered that most of his teammates must have gone to call home.

Since there was no value in staying in the lobby, Zhang Jun decided to go to the hotel's back garden for a stroll. It was a small place, very quiet, and indeed very suitable for a walk.

The moon was bright and the stars were few. Zhang Jun stood in the open space in the garden and stretched comfortably. Tomorrow would be a good day, not cold or hot, sunny, and suitable for outdoor sports.

Thinking of the six games and countless training sessions and tactical lessons in the past month, it was no coincidence that he could get to where he was today. They had the strength. Closing his eyes, the exciting and soul-stirring games seemed to be still yesterday, and they were clearly replaying in his mind.

"Tell all the participating teams that we, the Chinese team, are here." At the airport, Zhang Jun faced countless news media from all over the world, met pairs of eyes with different expressions, and said with confidence.

This was the beginning of all the legends.

Faced with the space Zhang Jun had created for him and his wonderful pass, Yang Pan unceremoniously swung his right leg, and then...

"gooooooooooooooooooooooooooal！！！！goal! goal! goal! goal! Oh my God! The goal is still shaking! Worldie!!"

This was the first goal of the Chinese team in this World Cup. Yang Pan used a majestic and powerful shot to blast open the door to the Chinese team's World Cup journey. The subsequent Chinese team seemed to be advancing along the trajectory of his shot - sprinting straight, going all out, and unstoppable.

"gooooooooooooooooooal! Zhang--Jun!!! Zhang--Jun--!!"

"itsgoooal!!! itsgooooal! itsgooooal--Zhang Jun is unstoppable! His performance is impeccable! The second goal of this game! Completed in just ten minutes!"

"Goal! This is the first game of the Chinese team in this World Cup, and this is Zhang Jun's first game! He has completed a hat-trick! From receiving An Ke's pass, he ran nearly forty meters all the way, swayed past the goalkeeper and scored! He is going all out to launch an attack on the Golden Boot of this World Cup! World Cup, we are here! Golden Boot, Zhang Jun is here!"

"itsgoooal——!!! Perfect free kick cooperation! Zhang Jun!!"

"Hey, Kaka, let's play a fun game? Let's each work hard to keep our teams winning, and then we'll meet in the final. How about that?"

"Okay! Let's work together to make this World Cup our two's!"

Yang Pan passes the ball! This is not a high ball, but a low, fast ball! It's not passed to Wu Shangshan in front of the goal, but to the middle of the penalty area, at the penalty spot.

Zhang Jun suddenly appeared on the path of the soccer ball. There wasn't a single Swedish defender around him! Then he leaned back, swung his right leg, and facing the soccer ball, shot at a right angle to the goal!

"Goal! Ten point three eight seconds! This is the fastest goal record in World Cup history! Created by Chinese forward Zhang Jun!"

Zhao, the visitor, wears a Hu cap with silk tassels, and his Wu hook sword is as bright as frost and snow;

A silver saddle illuminates a white horse, galloping like a shooting star.

Kill one person in ten steps, leaving no trace for a thousand miles;

After the matter is over, brush off your clothes and hide your name and figure.

"goooooooooooooooooooooAL! Bicycle kick! Zhang Jun helps the Chinese team equalize the score! Ladies and gentlemen, you are now watching the quarter-finals of the 2010 South Africa World Cup, the match between the Chinese team and the English team. At the end of the first half, Zhang Jun used a brilliant bicycle kick to help us equalize the score!"

"Argentina was tragically eliminated! Finals! We have entered the finals! This is the...first time in history! The first time!"

A gust of evening wind blew, and Zhang Jun came back to his senses from his memories. When he thought of the past days and nights, the exciting and enthusiastic goals and scenes, he couldn't restrain the impulse in his heart.

"We are the champions! Yeah!!" Anyway, there was no one around, so Zhang Jun didn't care and yelled.

"Ahem!" Suddenly, a cough came from the deck chair next to him, which startled Zhang Jun. He looked in the direction of the sound and saw a figure sitting up on the chair. "I was woken up by you..."

This voice...

"Hey, Li Yongle, why are you sleeping here?"

"Hehe, I was a little nervous, so I ran here alone to count the stars. I didn't expect to fall asleep while counting. Fortunately, fortunately, I didn't illuminate them."

Zhang Jun rolled his eyes and really didn't know how to reprimand him.

"Didn't you call that little girl He Wen? I saw a lot of people calling home." Zhang Jun sat next to Li Yongle.

"I did, I called a long time ago."

"When are you getting married?" Zhang Jun asked this question suddenly, which stunned Li Yongle.

"Marriage? We haven't considered things that far ahead..."

Zhang Jun smiled, "I remember when we were in college, you told me that you would never find a girlfriend until you beat me. Hehe, I didn't expect you to not only find one now, but also a lifelong partner."

Li Yongle coughed awkwardly again, "Beating you is my lifelong pursuit in my career, but that doesn't hinder my private life..."

Has your wooden head finally opened up? Zhang Jun thought to himself.

"Well... This is the World Cup, let's not talk about defeating me or your business, right? Now we are all playing for one team. You are the best defensive midfielder in the Italian league, and it's really fun to play against you in the club. But sometimes I like the feeling of fighting side by side with you more, you know? With you holding the fort in the back, Kru and I feel very at ease. Kru is a man of few words, and he can't say some things, so today I'm thanking you on his behalf. Although next season, we will continue to play against each other in Serie A."

As he said that, Zhang Jun stretched out his hand to Li Yongle, this time he was extending it on behalf of Kru.

"Kru?" Li Yongle remembered the scene where he saw Kru joking with Xiang Tao when they were eating that day, "He is a very good opponent... Hmph, when I was in high school, I wasn't afraid of facing Yang Pan, you, Kaka, and Ren Yudi, so next season, let's continue!" Li Yongle didn't shake hands with Zhang Jun, but slapped hard in Zhang Jun's palm.

After speaking, he got up to leave.

"Hey..." Zhang Jun was a little strange.

"Don't worry about tomorrow's game. As long as I'm here, you and Kru don't need to retreat to defend. Stay honestly in the front, your attack and his, our Chinese team's attack depends entirely on you two." Li Yongle suddenly turned around and pointed at Zhang Jun, "Don't be in bad shape, don't perform abnormally, don't have weak legs!"

Li Yongle left, and Zhang Jun sat on the chair blankly for a while. Originally, when he saw Li Yongle, he wanted to tell him to cooperate well in the game and take down Brazil together. How did it become Li Yongle's challenge declaration for the next season?

Sighing, shaking his head, Zhang Jun also got up and left this secluded back garden.

Just after Zhang Jun got up and left, a person sat up on another chair not far away. He looked in the direction where Zhang Jun left, then looked up at the sky. In the deep blue night sky, a bright moon hung overhead.