Chapter 1 Zhou Yi's Mentality

Zhou Yi really had a great attitude, because he always held this belief—all the comments that praised him were reasonable, while all the criticisms were bullshit!

As a normal person, how could he take other people's farts to heart?

So he ignored all those critical voices.

But that didn't mean he wasn't humble or was arrogant. He certainly knew where his problems lay, otherwise he wouldn't have been working hard to train since his debut, solving these problems little by little.

But knowing it himself was one thing, and humbly accepting criticism from others was another.

These were two different things.

While the Chinese media and fans were still indignant for Zhou Yi, he himself had already moved on.

Instead of arguing with the media, it was better to play well in the game. That was the best response.

※※※

After the Champions League game, the players of the Chinese Olympic team also had to gather together.

To challenge the strongest opponent in their group, the South Korean Olympic team.

This game would determine whether the Chinese team could qualify for the London Olympics as the top team in the group.

This game was also a major focus of attention for the Chinese media and fans.

Originally, the Olympic team's performance didn't inspire confidence, so the Olympic qualifiers went unnoticed. As a result, after the addition of four players playing abroad, the Olympic team's performance soared, and there was hope of reaching the finals, rekindling everyone's expectations.

Beijing time, February 22nd, the Chinese Olympic team hosted the South Korean Olympic team.

Prior to this, the Chinese team had seven points, ranking second in the group, while the South Korean Olympic team had eight points, ranking first.

According to the rules of the Olympic qualifiers, only the top team in each of the three Asian groups could directly qualify for the finals, while the second-place teams would have to compete against each other to decide the final qualifying spot.

Although the second-place team wasn't completely eliminated, having to play extra games was too risky.

Wouldn't it be better to directly advance to the London Olympics finals as the top team in the group?

At the same time, the South Korean Olympic team also understood this. If they lost to the Chinese Olympic team away from home, it would be the same as handing over the initiative. In the last round of the group stage, the South Korean team would host Qatar at home, and the Chinese team would challenge Saudi Arabia away from home. They would have to defeat Qatar at home and hope that the Chinese team would lose to Saudi Arabia away from home.

So this game was equivalent to a decisive battle between the two teams.

If the South Korean team won against the Chinese team, they would widen the gap between the two teams to four points, so no matter how the last round of the two teams' games went, it wouldn't change the fact that the South Korean Olympic team was the top team in the group.

Before heading to China, the head coach of the South Korean Olympic team, Hong Myung-bo, expressed his confidence in an interview with Korean reporters: "This is an away game, but I believe in my players, they are all very good guys, we will fight to the last moment away from home, until victory!"

He made this declaration with great enthusiasm and confidence.

He certainly had the qualifications to be so confident, because for a long time, South Korean football had completely dominated Chinese football, whether at the national team or youth team level.

Although Gao Hongbo's Chinese team had defeated the South Korean team in the 2010 East Asian Football Championship, that was South Korea's second-tier team, and the Koreans didn't admit that Chinese football's "Korea-phobia" had been cured...

In the first round of matches between these two Olympic teams, the Chinese team also lost to the South Korean team away from home.

All of this filled the Koreans with confidence.

Even if there were four players in the Chinese Olympic team who played as starters in European clubs, the Koreans were not afraid.

Because they had to travel a long distance, flying back from far away Europe to participate in the game, and their condition and physical fitness couldn't be guaranteed.

Think about how the Chinese Olympic team lost to the South Korean team away from home in the first round. Wasn't it because they had to compete after a long flight, and the jet lag hadn't even been adjusted, resulting in poor physical fitness and a sluggish team?

On the contrary, all the players of the South Korean Olympic team came from the domestic league. In addition, this team had been formed for many years and had been playing together for a long time, so their cooperation was tacit, which were all advantages of the South Korean Olympic team.

Not only was Hong Myung-bo so confident, but the South Korean media was also very confident.

Some media even shouted that they would completely defeat them 3:0 at their home stadium in China, to avenge being defeated 3:0 by them in the East Asian Football Championship two years ago.

The Chinese media and fans were naturally extremely unhappy about this.

For some reason, South Korea's image in the minds of many Chinese men was very bad, especially in football.

This was not just because of "Korea-phobia."

How dare a small country be so arrogant in front of our great Celestial Empire!

Many people couldn't stand it.

In the past, they had to endure it even if they couldn't stand it. Who told Chinese football to be so disappointing?

But now, the Olympic team, joined by the Four Little Dragons, was performing better and better, filling everyone with confidence.

Now there was no need to endure it anymore.

Faced with the provocations of the South Korean media and fans, the Chinese media actively fought back.

Chinese fans also opened fire on South Korea on the internet.

In addition, how could Sun Pan be absent from such an exciting event?

This main goalkeeper of the Olympic team loved to join in the fun the most. Every time he saw Zhou Yi talking and laughing, being humorous and scolding on the media, he was very envious, hoping that he could be like that too.

Now the opportunity had come.

So, facing the reporters, Sun Pan expressed his disdain for the South Korean Olympic team with great enthusiasm: "3:0? If they can score a single goal against me in the game, I'll livestream myself going naked!"

These words frightened the Chinese reporters, and they asked one after another: "Are you sure? Sun Pan?"

"Just kidding, haha!"

As a result, Sun Pan said very seriously: "Not kidding! And it's impossible for me to go naked, because they can't score at all! Not even half a goal!"

Since Sun Pan said it so firmly, the reporters had no choice but to report his words.

In an instant, it was as if a huge rock had been thrown into a calm lake.

Chinese and Korean media and fans were hotly discussing Sun Pan's "bold words."

Sun Pan's name began to appear frequently in the media and on the internet in both countries.

Sun Pan was quite happy about this, because his limelight had finally overshadowed Zhou Yi!

However, Zhou Yi had a different opinion on this. He asked Sun Pan in the group chat: "Panpan, you've said too much. What if you concede a goal? Are you really going to livestream yourself going naked?"

"Tch, how is that possible? It's impossible for me to concede a goal!" Sun Pan was full of confidence.

"Don't raise a flag, Panpan. It's better to be cautious. By then, you'll have had enough of the limelight, but everyone will say: 'Wow, that person is the one who livestreamed himself going naked!' How do you think that reputation will be?" Zhou Yi was still trying to persuade Sun Pan.

"Don't be a jinx!"

※※※

When Sun Pan stood on the field, he couldn't help but think of what Zhou Yi had said to him in the group chat, which gave him an uneasy premonition.

He tightened his gloves to make sure they were securely on his hands.

This action could give him a little sense of security.

Behind him was the stand where the Chinese fans were gathered, and they were constantly shouting the slogan "Go China!"

He looked back at the red stand. Having played so many games for the Olympic team, this game had the most people in attendance.

"Go China!"

"Go China!"

The shouts were uniform, obviously someone was directing them.

This was quite different from what he had heard on TV before. The decibels were louder, the distance was closer, and it was more real. His eardrums were vibrating, stirring his heart.

This feeling was wonderful, indescribably great. He couldn't describe it, he could only put his big hand on his left chest, and through the thick gloves, he seemed to be able to feel his strong heartbeat.

The whistle sounded, and the cheers from the stands suddenly increased. The game started!

Sun Pan withdrew his gaze and refocused on the front.

He decided that even if he had to give it his all in this game, he couldn't let the other side score. Not only to avoid livestreaming himself going naked, but also for the red fans behind him.

※※※

At the beginning of the game, the Chinese team launched a fierce offensive towards the South Korean goal. After all, this was their home field, and they had this advantage. In addition, the arrogance of the Koreans before the game had also angered them.

The fans in the stands were very happy, constantly cheering for the Chinese team. They wanted to see such a brave and fearless team performance.

However, behind this exhilarating scene, there was also hidden danger.

The Chinese team was pressing a little too high, and there were many gaps behind them...

As long as the South Korean team launched a counterattack, they could threaten the Chinese team's goal.

At this time, what was being tested was whether the Chinese team's goalkeeper's attention was focused...

In the twenty-third minute, the South Korean team launched a counterattack, and in a very short time they reached the front of the Chinese team's penalty area.

Then, South Korean Olympic team's Nam Tae-hee suddenly cut inside from the wing and then shot!

This shot was very sudden, because when he cut inside, everyone thought he would cross or pass through, but he wouldn't shoot anyway.

But he shot!

The ball flew directly to the far corner of the goal.

At this moment, Sun Pan jumped high, stretched out his arms, and pushed Nam Tae-hee's shot over the crossbar!

"Sun Pan! Beautiful save!" Commentator Liu Hong shouted excitedly.

And when Sun Pan made the save, there was a huge exclamation in the stands. Obviously, the Chinese fans were also very frightened, but fortunately Sun Pan only gave them a false alarm...

"This is Sun Pan's first key save in this game!" Liu Hong said, "He made a very heavy... vow before the game..."

In fact, Liu Hong wanted to say "very explicit," but as a commentator for the national television station, the requirements were still quite strict, and some words could not be said.

"We hope that this vow can help him keep a clean sheet!"

※※※

After landing, Sun Pan got up from the ground and shouted to his teammates: "Don't let him shoot easily!! Concentrate!"

As a goalkeeper, although he was not the captain, he had the right to shout at his teammates on the field like this, and no one dared to refute him.

Because he was the last line of defense for the team. In other words, he was the lifesaver of the ten people in front. If it wasn't for his high blocks and saves in every game, the Chinese Olympic team would definitely not have made it this far.

The teammates also knew about the very explicit vow that Sun Pan had made. They had no grudges against Sun Pan, and they didn't need to deliberately concede a goal to embarrass Sun Pan. Besides, conceding a goal and losing this game would not do them any good either.

"Lao Guo, you have to rush up faster when you pounce!" Sun Pan shouted at Guo Nu.

"Damn, that, that wasn't my, my area..." Guo Nu stammered in defense.

It was just one save, and Sun Pan was shouting so loudly, which made Guo Nu feel that he was making a fuss.

Yang Muge understood why Sun Pan's performance today was a little abnormal: "He's worried about livestreaming himself going naked..." he said to Guo Nu.

"It, it's his own fault, fault!" Guo Nu said.

"Hey, no matter what, we don't want to concede a goal." Yang Muge patted Guo Nu on the shoulder. "Come on, our task is very heavy in this game."

Both he and Guo Nu were defenders, and in order to prevent Sun Pan from conceding a goal, they naturally had to work harder than usual.

"Damn, he, he's showing off, we're, we're working ourselves to death..." Guo Nu rolled his eyes.

Yang Muge smiled: "If you don't want him to show off, you might as well let him die."

He knew his roommate very well.

Guo Nu grinned. Lao Yang was really insightful... Was it because he was closest to Zhou Yi?