Nine and a half

Chapter 292: A Chance to Advance? (Chinese National Football Team Story)
The teammates were extremely excited.

Some people are writing inspirational quotes and shouting slogans on social media, while others are cursing on Transfermarkt: "Damn, I drew with Spain and Portugal, why didn't my market value go up?"

Teaching assistant Li blew on his bangs and kept grinning foolishly.

Lippi sniffed a cigar that wasn't lit, seemingly lost in thought.

The accompanying reporters diligently scribbled and drew in their notebooks.

Gao Qi gazed at the gleaming "Lone Ranger" module on the system panel.

I was overwhelmed with mixed feelings.

In the past, he believed that football is a team sport, and attackers need to consider many things such as space, direction of the ball, role changes in independent attacks and transitions between attacks, and connections.

but now.

The Chinese team faced strong opponents in the World Cup, and was at a disadvantage in their positions.
This trip to Russia almost distorted his understanding of football.

Forget it, I don't want to think about it anymore. I'll just send Lina a message.

Unlike many fans, the Chinese superstar's married life is not one of "hell".

Lina was quiet and her emotions were stable.

They won't get angry and argue over trivial matters every day.

They won't compare Gao Qi's "number of family reunions" to other families, nor will they ask him to take time to go to any boring places.

They will not be hostile to Gao Qi's partners or collaborators.

They would never suspect that their partner might do something bad outside the home.

All they offered was care and encouragement.

Gao Qi's life was free of extra pressure, and he didn't need to think about any philosophical questions related to family.

Meanwhile, the assistant was in a terrible situation. He often said that he had married a devil. Last time the couple had a fight, his wife actually went to the company to cause trouble and posted some trivial scandals on social media, even trying to drag Gao Qi into the topic. In the end, the assistant had no choice but to resign from his position as general manager of the agency to focus on the divorce case.

In the east, the rooster crows at dawn.

Chinese football fans are lucky; they woke up to a headline that read, "China draws 3-3 with Portugal, Gao Qi scores three goals to turn the tide."

The first thing you see is the moment a Chinese superstar scores a header.

The collective sense of national honor continues to rise.

The number of views for the match highlights is skyrocketing.

Cristiano Ronaldo's free kick, "graceful as a startled swan, lithe as a dragon in flight," Gao Qi's unstoppable momentum, "a god descending to earth, single-handedly shattering the entire Portuguese defense," and his superb header that equalized the score in the final moments; all these allowed the world to fully appreciate the charm of football.

The two players' goal-scoring moments were repeatedly replayed on all online platforms.

The TV station's experts and professors are also constantly and meticulously reviewing and analyzing this match.

A clash of the titans: Hat Trick vs. Hat Trick.

"The ultimate in individual heroism, a lone figure charging into battle in red."

Why was the Chinese national team able to draw with Portugal? Answer: High skill and luck.

Baggio: Even at my peak, I couldn't fulfill the tactical role of a number 9.5 in the Chinese national team. There's no need to dwell on whether Baggio was a number 9.5 in the national team.

Van Basten: At 25, his all-around technique and football intelligence have reached the pinnacle of a finisher's history.

A lengthy analysis (over 10,000 words): Gao Qi's performance at the club level and at the national team level, and the differences between the two.

Shocking! Spain 0-0 Nigeria, China has a chance to qualify! "We have a chance to qualify? Nigeria thinks so too!"

Pele: I favor Nigeria.

The number of comments, likes, and shares skyrocketed.
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[No need to calculate the scores, I know the Chinese national football team must defeat Nigeria to advance.]
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Do we have any infrastructure aid projects in Nigeria? We could try to build relationships.
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Just hearing their names tells me their opponents aren't very strong. Portugal and Spain couldn't beat us, let alone little Nigeria.
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Don't underestimate Nigeria. While they may lack superstars, they have a group of physically imposing players who play for clubs in the English Premier League, Championship, La Liga, Bundesliga, Russian Premier League, and more.
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It is well known that the Chinese national football team faces a very difficult time against this type of opponent.
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[What kind of opponents will the Chinese national football team not find difficult?]
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This World Cup is really interesting; the three opponents the Chinese national team faced in the group stage had very different styles.
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If Japan can beat Colombia, why can't our national football team beat Nigeria? Don't boost others' morale while diminishing our own.
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The Chinese national football team's tenacious fighting spirit and relentless will overcome everything.
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[Our "super-golden generation"... Well, there's no such thing as a "super-golden generation," it's just Gao Qi, struggling to carry the national football team forward.]

The World Cup special on the Chinese sports channel.

The so-called experts and professors racked their brains, using the mindset of teaching in Africa to tell the audience how big the gap is between the Chinese national football team and Spain and Portugal, and how amazing Gao Qi is.

"Look here, it's breathtaking."

"Look here again, in slow motion, Gao Qi controlled the ball and was surrounded by multiple defenders. In the ensuing scramble, he managed to flick the ball with his toe, sending it perfectly through the gap between Fonte and William Carvalho. Such a tiny gap! A normal player couldn't pull off that move in extreme conditions."

"It must have been a fluke?"

“If Gao Qi did it at the age of 18, he might have guessed, but Gao Qi at the age of 25, he definitely didn’t guess.”

"After two thrilling and tough matches in the World Cup, I believe most fans have been awakened and are gradually realizing the gap in overall football level and Gao Qi's heroic efforts."

"Our chances of advancing remain slim. The final match in the group where the national team is located is highly uncertain."

"As of now."

Portugal has one win and one draw.

"Two draws in Spain."

"The Chinese team drew both matches."

"Nigeria has one loss and one draw, so..."

His tone was melancholy.

Coach Zhang looked at the points table, his mind a little blank.

In short, if the Chinese team wants to advance, they must defeat Nigeria and get three points.

Suddenly, the big screen "accidentally" switched to clips of the Chinese national football team's passing errors, ball control mistakes, defensive errors, and so on, causing everyone's lips to twitch.

That's so damn worrying.

All our hopes can be pinned on Gao Qi!

The rest days at the national football team's camp were peaceful, undisturbed by the outside world.

The Russian World Health Organization deployed a large number of security personnel near the camp, fearing that something might happen to Gao Qi.

The commercial value and global popularity brought by China's superstars in this World Cup are simply outrageous, making the organizers and sponsors extremely happy.

If the Chinese team can advance to the knockout stage, they might just put on some classic performances.

Beep~ Beep beep!

Assistant Coach Li blew the whistle to end the training session.

Lippi looked worried and pulled his coaching staff into the meeting room to discuss the details.

Gao Qi walked to the sidelines, picked up a novel, and sat down on a bench to read it with great interest.

My mindset wasn't as heavy as it was when I first arrived in Russia.

The books I read also changed from "quotes of great men" to light and enjoyable novels.

(End of this chapter)