Chapter 44 Picking Sides

In CCTV's game preview program before the game, the famous football commentator Zhang Lu and Zhang Guidance were specially invited to make predictions about the game. Bayi Chinese★Net ★√√ く★★√

Zhang Lu mentioned that although it was great to eliminate Brazil, the boys of the Chinese team should guard against arrogance and impetuosity, and the Japanese team should not be underestimated either.

Of course, in the end, he was still very much looking forward to the performance of the Chinese team in the finals.

"...The strength of this Olympic team is actually very strong. I don't think the Chinese team is weaker than Japan. On the contrary, I think they are stronger than Japan. So as long as you play normally, have enough patience, and don't be anxious, I believe In the end, the boys will bring us a gold medal."

※※※

When the players from both sides stood in the tunnel and prepared to play, Zhou Yi was the focus of the Japanese team's attention.

As the captain, he stood at the front of the team wearing the captain's armband, and everyone could only see his back.

Many of these Japanese team players play in the Bundesliga. Due to the special number of foreign aid quotas, the Bundesliga is the first stop for many non-EU players to join Europe. It has almost become a tradition for Japanese players to play in the Bundesliga in large numbers.

In Asia, Japan has the largest number of overseas players, and the largest number of these overseas players play in the Bundesliga. There are agents who even specialize in bringing Japanese players to the Bundesliga.

However, the momentum of so many Japanese players playing in the Bundesliga is not as good as Zhou Yi.

As long as they are Japanese players playing in the Bundesliga, it is impossible not to know Zhouyi.

Shinji Kagawa can be regarded as an outstanding representative among Japanese players studying abroad, but in Dortmund, he was also under Zhou Yi.

This ordinary player who doesn't seem strong enough or fast enough has used his wisdom and brains to carve a niche in the Bundesliga. This is simply the idol of those Japanese players whose physical conditions are not outstanding enough.

But this time, in the Olympic finals, the Japanese players looked at Zhou Yi not with admiration and envy, but with... murderous intent.

If they want to get the gold medal, they must defeat Zhou Yi. Of course, the eyes they look at Zhou Yi can no longer be affectionate.

However, their murderous intent did not last long because Zhou Yilao turned around.

Zhou Yi, who is standing at the front, is not an honest person.

Standing straight and still, he would always twist around and look back, but he might not have a clear target. His eyes would just sweep around, just like ADHD.

Most Japanese players dare not look face-to-face with Zhou Yi, so as soon as Zhou Yi turns around, they will quickly look away.

There is only one exception.

Hotaru Yamaguchi.

The main defensive midfielder of the Japanese Olympic team.

When Zhou Yi turned his head, he did not lower his head with other teammates or look away, but continued to look at him.

But Zhou Yi didn't look at him anymore, his eyes swept over and then looked away. It's really just "sweeping". In the process, he may not have focus at all.

After Zhou Yi glanced over, Yamaguchi Hotaru lowered his eyelids and stopped looking at Zhou Yi.

He was thinking about the head coach Takashi Sekitsuka who called him alone for a talk a few days before the game.

At that time, Sekitsuka Takashi gave him a task with a serious face: "Be sure to stay close to Zhou Yi during the game."

This is to let him mark Zhou Yi. Hotaru Yamaguchi was not surprised by this mission, but what Takashi Sekitsuka said next surprised him.

"It's literally 'never leaving'. Stick to him, pull him, wherever he goes, you go."

"Defensive position..." Yamaguchi Hotaru was puzzled.

"Don't worry about it." Guan Zhonglong waved his hand. "That's not something you should consider. Your task is to follow Zhou Yi and don't let him escape your control. What kind of control? A range where you can pull his arms, jersey and shoulders with just one hand."

Only then did Yamaguchi Hotaru realize that this surveillance mission seemed a little different from usual...

"Defending Zhou Yi...does it need to go to this point?" He couldn't help but ask the coach.

"Absolutely necessary." Guan Zhonglong nodded seriously.

Yamaguchi Hotaru's thoughts returned to the present.

Since the head coach said it was necessary, just do it. He doesn't need to ask too much why, the head coach's arrangement must have his reasons.

Sometimes on the football field, overthinking is not a good thing.

※※※

When the referee team comes out, it means that the players are about to appear.

The volunteer caddies raised the national flags of the two teams one after another, and they led their respective teams to the field.

There was already a buzz of people outside.

Although there were no favorites Brazil and Spain, nor the host team Great Britain, which affected the attendance of this final, at a glance, most of the stadium was still occupied.

They were mainly Chinese and Japanese fans, who gathered in the stands behind the two goals. In addition, there were some neutral fans.

During the group stage, the fans of the Chinese team were mainly Chinese students in the UK, employees of some Chinese-funded institutions, and overseas Chinese, and not many people came because there are more interesting events in the Olympics than football. What's more, in China's traditional advantageous sports, such as table tennis, weightlifting, diving, and badminton, there are always many Chinese spectators. Swimming has also attracted a lot of Chinese attention because of the outstanding performances of Sun Yang and Ye Shiwen.

Relatively speaking, football is far less attractive, and only real fans will watch it.

But as the Chinese Olympic team performs better and better in the Olympics, more and more people are paying attention to them. In addition to fans, there are also many people who don’t usually watch football. There is only one reason for coming to watch the Olympic team, and that is to support China.

The reputation of Chinese football in the past was not very good. Everyone would feel embarrassed when they mentioned it. When the words "Chinese football" were mentioned, it was full of contempt. But in this Olympics, the Chinese Olympic team won back everyone's respect and trust with its actual performance.

After the 3:1 elimination of the Korean team, not only Chinese in the UK, but also Chinese across Europe were attracted to the UK. They came from France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, etc. Other countries from the European continent came to the UK to watch the match between the Olympic team and the Brazilian team.

Of course, at that time, many people had the idea that if I didn't come to watch it, I might only be able to watch the third or fourth place finals. At that time, not many people thought that the Chinese Olympic team could defeat Brazil and reach the finals.

After the Chinese team really defeated Brazil, everyone was surprised. Unexpectedly, the Chinese team made it all the way to the finals. Now, they have more reason to stay in the UK and cheer for the Chinese team.

The situation on the Japanese team's side is not quite the same as that of the Chinese team. Because the image of Japanese football is much better than that of Chinese football, there is no lack of attention and supporters in the group stage.

But being able to advance all the way to the finals still makes Japanese fans ecstatic. In addition to the Japanese in Europe, there are also many fans in Japan who have also taken flights to London to cheer for their country.

So even though Wembley Stadium wasn't full, the atmosphere was absolutely fine.

※※※

"Okay, the players from both sides are on the field!" He Ping, who was doing the live broadcast, raised his voice and shouted.

The first to come out were the national flags of both sides, China's five-star red flag and Japan's red sun flag. This is a historic moment for both teams and the country. Because this is the first time that the flags of their respective countries have appeared in the Olympic men's football finals.

Behind the flag are players from both sides.

For the Chinese team, captain Zhou Yi takes the lead. The captain of the Japanese team is their senior player, 24-year-old defender Maya Yoshida.

Behind them, players from both sides filed out.

The appearance of every player won the support of their respective fans. At this time, no one booed the opponent, they were all busy cheering for their own players.

After appearing on the field, Zhou Yi and Maya Yoshida performed their captaincy duties as captain.

In the side pick, Zhou Yi lost to Maya Yoshida, so Yoshida Ma got the right to pick the side.

When the referee signaled Maya Yoshida to choose a side, Maya Yoshida seemed to have already considered it. He raised his hand and pointed to the court behind Zhou Yi and said: "We want this side."

That was the east half of Wembley Stadium, which was originally the half for the Chinese team to warm up.

Generally speaking, if there is no special reason for a team to pick a side, they will choose the half of the court where they warmed up. On the one hand, it saves you trouble, and on the other hand, it makes you more familiar.

But Maya Yoshida chose to toss.

Zhou Yi looked back in the direction of his finger. More than half of the Chinese team's penalty area was exposed to the sun, and he had a good view. Everything seems to be business as usual, nothing surprising or worth worrying about.

But Zhou Yi frowned slightly.

When he was in Dortmund, Zhou Yi was not the captain and never participated in picking sides. In the Olympic team, he is the captain. He has participated in the pick-up in the previous games. He has never paid much attention to the pick-up. Instead, he cares more about the kick-off right because his playing style prefers to control the football. On your own side.

But in this game, he actually wanted to take sides.

He raised his head and looked at the sky above him.

It's 2:55pm local GMT in London. The sun was high in the sky, further west than at noon, but still overhead.

But fifty minutes later, at 3:45 pm, the first half of the game is over, and the sun will set further in the west. During the fifteen-minute intermission, at four o'clock in the afternoon, if nothing unexpected happens at that time, the sun will be right above the west stand of Wembley Stadium. You don't even have to raise your head to look, you can feel the dazzling sunlight from the ceiling at any time. The dazzling light slanting into the eyes from above.

At that time, the Japanese team will switch to this half in the second half, and the Chinese team will attack against the slanting sun.

This is why Zhou Yi wants to pick sides - he wants the Chinese team to be switched to this half in the second half!

But now it's up to Yoshida Maya to take over.

The Eighth Route Army is cunning and cunning...no, it's the little devil who is cunning! (To be continued.)