Chapter 137 The Quarterfinals Begin

After a day of rest, the World Cup was reignited.

The first quarterfinal match was a contest between European rivals, France and Germany.

The fact that these two European powerhouses were meeting in the quarterfinals was a source of regret for many in European football. Both teams had performed exceptionally well in this World Cup, and many wished they could have been separated, perhaps facing China and Colombia instead.

Over there, the Netherlands defeating Costa Rica shouldn't be too difficult.

Only Belgium was likely to lose to Argentina. But no matter, in the semi-finals, three European teams could surround Argentina, potentially leading to an all-European final in the South American World Cup.

Of course, such a beautiful plan was now difficult to realize. France and Germany, one of them had to go home.

Historically, the two teams had met a total of twenty-five times, with France holding the upper hand with eleven wins, six draws, and eight losses. This was different from the current perception of Germany being the stronger team.

However, in the World Cup, their records were different.

In the World Cup, they had faced each other three times, in the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, the 1982 World Cup in Spain, and the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.

France only won their first encounter in 1958 with a score of 6-3. In 1982, the two teams drew in the semi-finals, and Germany eliminated France through a penalty shootout. This match was one of the classic battles in World Cup history, arguably the most classic comeback victory in World Cup history. Germany took the lead in the seventeenth minute with a long shot from Littbarski. However, the French team, composed of Platini, Giresse, and Tigana, the "Iron Triangle," controlled the situation after falling behind. They besieged the German team, and just nine minutes after Germany scored, they earned a penalty, which Platini converted to equalize the score.

Next, the two sides fought fiercely. French player Battiston collided with German goalkeeper Schumacher. Schumacher rushed out of the penalty area and knocked Battiston unconscious with his knee, but received no punishment.

The match went into extra time, and France took a 3-1 lead with Trezeguet's free kick and Giresse's volley within six minutes. This score could basically pronounce Germany's death sentence, but Germany unleashed a powerful fighting force in the face of desperation. Substitute Rummenigge pulled one back in the one hundred and second minute.

In the one hundred and eighth minute, Fischer's bicycle kick in front of the goal sent the ball into the dead corner, equalizing the score!

Finally, Germany defeated France in the penalty shootout with excellent mental fortitude.

This match became the best evidence of the German war machine's steely will. After all, being able to come back after conceding two goals in extra time and still win was unprecedented and unmatched in World Cup history...

Later, when people mentioned the German team, the impression of the Germans' tenacious will would come to mind, precisely because of this classic France-Germany battle.

The third World Cup encounter between the two sides was in the semi-finals of the 1986 World Cup, where Germany easily defeated France 2-0 to reach the final. However, they lost to Argentina, led by "King of Football" Maradona, in the final, missing the championship.

The World Cup clashes between Germany and France easily produce classics, but this match in this World Cup was different.

Before the match, fans and the media had high expectations for this strong encounter, hoping to see a classic showdown that could rival the 1982 World Cup.

Many Chinese fans felt the same way, as there were already many supporters of German football and French football in China.

Moreover, this match was before the Chinese team's match, at ten in the morning, four hours of such a strong dialogue, the time was also better.

Everyone was looking forward to an exciting game.

But the actual result was disappointing.

Lyon's branch team played a dull game.

In the twelfth minute, Germany won a free kick. Kroos floated the ball into the French penalty area from the left. Hummels, the center-back who played for Dortmund, squeezed away Varane, who was defending him, and headed the ball into the goal, giving Germany a one-goal lead.

The two of them had just faced each other in the Champions League final, and now they met again in the national team.

With just one goal, Germany eventually defeated France 1-0.

Only one goal was scored in ninety minutes, and the scene was not exciting enough, which made the Chinese fans who stayed up late to watch the game very depressed. Many people said online that they fell asleep while watching...

Some fans even joked about the dullness of the game: "The German team and the French team must know that the next game is the focus of our attention. In order to ensure that we Chinese fans have enough sleep time, they jointly presented this hypnotic game, successfully putting us to sleep. I believe that after these ninety minutes of sleep replenishment, Chinese fans will be able to cheer for the Chinese team with vigor when watching the Chinese team's game against Colombia later!"

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The Chinese players only watched the first half of the match between France and Germany in the hotel. They saw Hummels' goal.

For Zhou Yi, Yan Min, and Yang Muge, they were more familiar with the German team. If they had to choose between France and Germany as opponents, they would prefer Germany.

Former teammates in the club would now have to fight for their respective countries in the World Cup.

But not long after the second half started, the Chinese team players were urged by the coach to board the bus to the match venue, Stade Vélodrome.

Along the way, they could see Chinese fans waving the five-star red flag to cheer them on.

These fans waved at the Chinese team's bus, and the Chinese team players on the bus also waved back to thank them.

After arriving at the changing room of the Stade Vélodrome, the equipment managers, who had arrived earlier, had already placed the players' jerseys and shoes in their respective positions. Before the players arrived, the photographers had already come in and filmed the changing room. Every player's jersey would have a shot, but the camera lingered the longest on Zhou Yi's jersey.

When the players arrived in the changing room, the match between France and Germany was coming to an end. Germany was still leading France by one goal.

The Chinese players in the changing room were still concerned about the outcome of the match, after all, if they defeated Colombia, then the result of this match would determine who their opponent would be in the quarter-finals.

In the end, Germany defeated France with Hummels' goal, becoming the first team to enter the top four.

Zhou Yi picked up his phone and posted a message on Twitter and Facebook: "Congratulations to the German team for entering the top four!" Then he @ed all his teammates at Dortmund.

After putting down his phone, he began to change clothes and put on his training clothes.

While the players were changing clothes, Li Te came in and found Rong Hao and Yang Hao, who were changing clothes, and said to them: "You two both have yellow cards. Another one and you'll be suspended. If you have to play later, you have to be careful in the match..."

Lippi had not yet announced the Chinese team's starting lineup for this match. Not only did the outside world not know, but even the players themselves did not know who would start in the match.

Rong Hao and Yang Hao nodded: "Don't worry."

Li Te continued: "But if there is a real emergency, even if you have to get a yellow card, you still have to do what you have to do. Don't hesitate. You are both defenders, and you will definitely face a lot of pressure."

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When there were forty-five minutes left before the start of the match, the Chinese team appeared on the field and began to warm up. At this time, many fans from both sides were already seated in the stands of the Stade Vélodrome.

Colombia wore their traditional yellow shirts and white shorts for this match, so the Colombian fans also mainly dressed in yellow jerseys. Looking around, the sky was full of yellow crowds, that was the Colombian fans. They occupied most of the stands. Of course, there should also be some Brazilian fans wearing yellow jerseys...

Since the Brazilian team was eliminated, Brazilian fans' enthusiasm for the World Cup had decreased a lot.

But the attendance rate for this match was not bad.

Maybe some Brazilian fans hoped to see the Chinese team being eliminated...

The Chinese team still wore red jerseys for this match, and Chinese fans also used red clothes as their main color.

The Korean team's home jersey color is also red, so no wonder two Korean fans were beaten by Brazilian fans while walking on the road some time ago... The Brazilians must have mistaken the red Korean jerseys for the red Chinese team jerseys. Although the red of the two teams is actually completely different, in the eyes of Brazilians who are not familiar with Korean and Chinese football, they are probably the same...

In the stands, yellow and red were very eye-catching and clearly distinguished.