Chapter 1 When to Go to Europe

When the players from both sides came onto the field, the TV broadcast focused on the star players of the two teams: Zhou Yi for China and Neymar for Brazil. Zhou Yi was also the captain of the Chinese team, while the captain of the Brazilian team was not Neymar, but Thiago Silva.

Neymar had been famous for a long time, but he had always played in Brazil. There had been rumors for a long time that he would come to Europe to play, but in the end, they were always just rumors. Many people believed that Neymar should play in Europe, as this would allow him to grow faster. But others believed that Neymar was still young, and going to Europe too early would be like forcing growth. Brazilian talents always couldn't wait to go to Europe at the age of seventeen or eighteen. At first, their performances were outstanding, but when their characteristics became familiar and their bodies couldn't keep up with the demands of European football, their performances would decline.

The most typical example was Pato, also a forward in the Brazilian Olympic team. When he first landed in Serie A, his performance was amazing, and he was considered Kaka's successor, a world-class superstar on the rise.

As a result, Pato's performance for AC Milan last season was very average. Because his performance at the club wasn't good enough, he wasn't even a starter in the Brazilian Olympic team, only a substitute.

So, whether one should go to Europe early or late was a matter of endless debate.

Zhou Yi didn't care which path Brazilian young players should take for their future development. But he did think that Neymar had some shortcomings because he had always played in Brazil.

People only saw Neymar's superb personal skills and speed, but they ignored his poor teamwork and habit of playing selfishly due to playing in Brazil for a long time. In addition, his physical confrontation ability was also very poor.

Zhou Yi's physical confrontation ability wasn't his strong suit either, but after more than three seasons of training and honing in Europe, it was much better than when he first came to Europe. Now he wouldn't fall to the ground just by being bumped by an opponent on the field.

But looking at Neymar's thin legs, it was really worrying that he would break his own legs while making feints…

Perhaps in some people's eyes, China would have to pay a heavy price and rely on luck to defeat Brazil. But in Zhou Yi's mind, this game wasn't so dangerous for China.

He had simulated this game many times in the virtual world, and China's disadvantages weren't as great as everyone thought. As long as tactics were used reasonably, Brazil was not invincible.

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After Zhou Yi and Thiago Silva completed all the pre-match procedures, he returned to his own half of the field. His teammates were waiting for him. They formed a circle with a gap. When Zhou Yi returned, the gap was filled.

"Okay, they kick off first." As soon as he came back, Zhou Yi reported the result of the coin toss to everyone. He won the right to choose sides. "From the moment they get the ball, we have to press them and put pressure on them. Grab the ball and pass it forward, hit their counterattack! They definitely won't be in the game at the very beginning. They think highly of themselves and definitely look down on us, so they'll play carelessly. This is our chance. Catch them off guard!"

"Okay!" his teammates responded in unison.

Then Zhou Yi stretched out his hand, enlarged it to the middle of the circle, and the others put their hands on top of his.

"One, two, three! Add oil!" (加油, jiāyóu - add oil, a common expression of encouragement)

Everyone shouted in unison.

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In the eyes of outsiders, the Chinese team was just doing a simple pre-match warm-up ritual. It was normal for everyone to get together in a circle and shout a few times before the game, nothing special.

And Brazil didn't do this, which might indicate that China, as a challenger facing Brazil, had to shout a few words to muster the courage to challenge the powerful Brazil.

When all the Chinese players stood in their positions, the Brazilian kickoff players had been waiting in the center circle for a long time.

The referee blew his whistle and the game began!

"The game begins! Audience friends, welcome to watch the final semi-final of the men's football at this Olympic Games! The two sides are the Chinese Olympic team and the Brazilian Olympic team! In the other semi-final that ended earlier, the Mexican Olympic team from North and Central America lost to the Japanese team by a score of 1:2 and has advanced to the final in advance. This game will determine the other final spot..." With the referee's whistle, He Ping began his eloquent commentary.

"The team wearing red jerseys on the field is our Olympic team, while the Brazilian team is wearing their traditional yellow and green jerseys. Neither side has made any adjustments to the starting lineup for this game. The Chinese team continues the starting lineup from their last game against South Korea..."

As he was speaking, the Brazilian team didn't immediately attack forward after kicking off, but chose to pass it back.

The Chinese team didn't choose to shrink back on defense either, but bravely pressed forward with the ball.

With a few passes, the formations of both sides gradually opened up.

While the Brazilian team was passing the ball around, Mark Lawrenson, a commentary guest on the British BBC, was praising the Brazilian lineup: "Although the Chinese team has performed very well and has as many as five players playing in Europe, from the lineup, I think the Brazilian team has the advantage. To be honest, I think it's already very good that the Chinese team can reach the semi-finals. They shouldn't expect too much. Facing the powerful Brazil, the Chinese team's mentality may be affected… Of course, the charm of football lies in its unpredictability…"

Mark Lawrenson's voice hadn't faded yet, and He Ping was still announcing the starting lineup of the Chinese team.

The Brazilian players transferred the ball from the left wing to their right wing.

Right back, Rafael, who plays for Manchester United, steadily received the ball transferred from the other side with his **** (body). But he didn't pass the ball out immediately, even though Thiago Silva was not far behind him.

But he controlled the ball.

This was a change for Brazil, who had been constantly passing the ball around. And this change was keenly seized by Zhou Yi.

He immediately waved his arms and loudly commanded his teammates: "Press up, force him!"

The closest person to Rafael was Zhang Jiadong, the left midfielder of the Chinese Olympic team, who quickly closed in from behind. But Rafael still didn't pass the ball out, he was still controlling the ball.

Seeing that he was being marked, the Brazilian players also came up to meet him.

First, Oscar ran back directly from the frontcourt, close to him on the inside, and then Thiago Silva also moved to the wing, creating an angle for Rafael to pass the ball.

But the Chinese team also immediately made targeted arrangements. He Ying in front followed and moved to the wing, wedging between Rafael and Thiago Silva, cutting off Rafael's passing route back to Thiago Silva.

At the same time, Zhang Jiadong intensified his pressure on Rafael from behind, putting him under great pressure and making it difficult for him to keep the ball at his feet.

He could only pass the ball out now. But who to pass to? Thiago Silva was out of the question. Rafael glimpsed Oscar, who had retreated to the inside to meet him. The distance between the two was very close, a good passing option.

So, under Zhang Jiadong's close pressing, Rafael passed the ball horizontally to the inside, intending to pass it to Oscar.

But just as the ball was passed to Oscar, a red figure suddenly burst out between Rafael and Oscar!

It was Zhou Yi!

When Oscar retreated to meet Rafael, no one noticed that Zhou Yi had accelerated and rushed up. He predicted that Rafael would definitely pass the ball to Oscar, and he only needed to cut off this passing line at the right time!

Sure enough, he took the lead in intercepting the ball from in front of Oscar!

When Oscar discovered Zhou Yi, it was too late. He reached out to pull Zhou Yi, but Zhou Yi squeezed him behind him.

After intercepting the ball, Zhou Yi didn't continue to dribble. After temporarily resisting the impact from Oscar with his body, he immediately passed the ball to the center!

Just as the ball was passed out by him, he was finally knocked to the ground by Oscar…

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He Ying in front clearly saw Zhou Yi's movements. His understanding with Zhou Yi told him what to do next—he didn't wait in place, but turned and ran towards the center as soon as Zhou Yi intercepted the pass.

Sure enough, Zhou Yi's pass arrived just as he ran towards the center. If he had been a little later, he wouldn't have been able to receive Zhou Yi's ball.

But now… he received the ball in a situation where there was absolutely no one defending him!

And in front of him was a huge gap between Brazil's two center backs and their left back!

Thiago Silva had already moved to the wing to meet Rafael, and Xiao Juan in the center naturally had to pull to the ribs to cover Thiago Silva's position. However, Marcelo, the left back of the Brazilian team, didn't make it into the penalty area in time and was still in his original position.

He probably never expected that Rafael would make a passing mistake, and that it would affect him. So it was understandable that he didn't move.

But the result of his doing so was that there was a huge gap between Xiao Juan and him. And this gap was seized by the Chinese team!

When He Ying received the ball in the center, Xiao Juan hurriedly moved to the center to cover, but he was a little late…

"Look at this ball—He Ying! He received Zhou Yi's pass, this is a one-on-one!" He Ping threw aside the starting lineup he was just reciting and shouted excitedly. "Chance!"

In his roar, He Ying took a step forward, just arriving at the edge of the penalty area. Xiao Juan hadn't returned to his position yet, Thiago Silva had just run back into the penalty area, and Marcelo was watching the show from afar, or rather, hadn't reacted at all.

At the edge of the penalty area, He Ying decisively shot!

The ball flew rapidly along the grass, shot by him towards the lower right corner of the goal.

The Brazilian goalkeeper Gabriel stood in place, didn't even make a save attempt, and just turned his head and watched as the ball rushed past him, and then… plunged into the net!

Goal!