Chapter 966 The Heart of a Champion
After Zhang Qinghuan was replaced and Mao Junzheng came on, the game resumed.
Brazil takes a throw-in in its own backcourt.
Except for Hu Lai, everyone else in the Chinese team was in their own half and did not come up at all. This is to prevent the Brazilian team from counterattacking.
Hu Lai scored the third goal in the 83rd minute. Counting injury time, there were more than ten minutes left in the game.
The Brazilian team is fully capable of scoring another goal in these ten minutes.
So the Chinese team had to be more cautious.
As for why it was Hu Lai who interfered in the frontcourt instead of Zhou Zijing. Naturally, it's because Hu Lai can't play a big role when defending in the backcourt. Let him go to the frontcourt and maybe he can be a troublemaker.
The Chinese team is very satisfied with the current score. They don't even think about scoring another goal, completely defeating the Brazilian team, and then qualifying for the group with five points.
The Brazilian team pressed forward across the board. Angered by the loss of the ball, they forgot for a moment that they could actually accept the result of a draw.
Russia currently leads Algeria by two goals, with one win, two draws and five points.
But they only had a two-goal difference against Algeria, while Brazil had a four-goal difference.
With the same points, Brazil's goal difference is two more than Russia's, which is enough to ensure they finish first in the group.
After all, there is not much time left in the game, and it is difficult for the Russian side to score two more goals in the remaining minutes.
But the Brazilian players forgot this. They seemed to be angered by Hulay's goal. All I wanted to do was teach the Chinese team a lesson.
They pressed forward with a swift and fierce attack that left the Chinese team breathless.
In the fierce offensive of the Brazilian team, the Chinese team's goal looks like it may be breached at any time...
But no!
The Brazilian team took the ball from the right wing, and Kevel passed the ball into the Chinese team's penalty area.
High center forward Tavala and Yao Huasheng took off at the same time. In the end, he suppressed Yao Huasheng and headed the ball toward the goal!
However, due to Yao Huasheng's personal interference, his speed was not very fast, but the angle was slightly awkward - he headed towards the back corner of the goal.
Lin Zhiyuan took a step across, jumped into the air, and stretched out his hands!
It's like a pair of iron pliers, firmly clamping the football in the air in your hands!
Although the other person fell from the air before he could take the football back into his arms, the football was still firmly grasped by him and he did not let go because of the impact.
This caused Bidubai, another Brazilian forward who had already rushed to him, to run away.
"Beautiful! Lin Zhiyuan made a great save!"
After catching the football, Lin Zhiyuan did not get up as anxiously as before. Instead, he took the football back into his arms, pressed it under him, and lay on the ground for a while before getting up.
The Brazilian players, of course, protested to the referee and complained about his delay.
But Lin Zhiyuan didn't care.
To be honest, as a goalkeeper, the probability of getting a card is low. Who cares whether he gets a card or not?
He didn't receive a yellow card in the entire group stage. Today, for the team to draw with Brazil, what does it mean to bear a yellow card?
After Lin Zhiyuan got up, he kicked the football directly towards the Brazilian team's frontcourt with his big foot, and he aimed the kick at the sideline, with the purpose of making the football fly directly out of the sideline.
Take advantage of the Brazilian team's throw-in opportunity to stall for more time.
A football match is not like a basketball match. Even if the ball goes out of bounds, the clock will not stop. Therefore, allowing more footballs to go out of bounds will help the Chinese team delay more time.
Brazil goalkeeper Lemos saw the football flying out of his own half and wanted to take a throw-in, but was stopped by captain Kevir. Tell him to take the ball from afar, but don't come up and throw the ball yourself.
As the captain, Keevil still maintains his sanity. I'm afraid that the Chinese team will use this opportunity to counterattack, and then it will be over if they just hit an empty goal. The Brazilian team will not only lose face, but also the qualification to qualify from the group. If the Brazilian team loses this game, the Chinese team and Russia will qualify with five points, while the Brazilian team will only have four points.
Although the probability is very low, Keewell must take this situation into consideration - didn't you see that when Lemos wanted to come up for a throw-in, Hulay suddenly pushed forward and passed the midfielder? It's obvious that that kid must have some agenda...
Keevil also saw this and quickly waved his hand to let Lemos wait behind instead of coming up to serve the throw-in.
He personally ran for the throw-in, threw the ball to Lemos in the distance, and then Lemos kicked the football forward with a big kick. This saves time and does not require other players to come back to respond, and can maintain continuity. High pressure situation.
Just as the football flew towards the backcourt of the Chinese team, the fourth official on the sidelines held up the sign indicating stoppage time.
"Five minutes of stoppage time... Considering that a total of four goals were scored in the second half, this stoppage time is appropriate... It's just..." He Feng was a little worried and hesitant to speak.
Next to him, Yan Kang loudly encouraged the Chinese team: "Hold on to the Chinese team! Hold on for five more minutes! We will create history!"
At this time, all the Chinese fans who were watching the live broadcast of the game were extremely nervous. They were so nervous that they did not dare to take a breath, for fear that the Chinese team would fail at the last moment.
Although the result of losing to the Brazilian team was something that many people could have thought of before the game and found it acceptable. But when they really drew with Brazil 3:3, those people who thought they could accept defeat before the game began to be unwilling to accept a 3:4 defeat.
After all, how many people can not want to live when they see the hope of life?
After seeing the dawn of tying the Brazilian team and creating history, no one was willing to return to the darkness of failure.
In front of the bench, since the celebration of the third goal, none of the Chinese team's substitute players have returned to their seats. They stand on the sidelines and stand side by side with their teammates in this way. Combat. It seems that this can convey more power to teammates on the field.
The same is true for the Chinese fans in the stands. No one can still sit and watch the game. They wave the five-star red flag vigorously and sing the national anthem to cheer for the Chinese team players.
"Get up - people who don't want to be slaves! The Chinese nation has reached its most dangerous moment!"
This is not the first time the national anthem has been sung at the World Cup, but this is the most appropriate time.
For the Chinese team, the last few minutes of the game are indeed the most dangerous time.
The Brazilian team can completely use a buzzer beater to make all the previous efforts of the Chinese team come to naught.
"Hold them off!"
"Pay attention to people! Keep an eye on people! Whose is Kabangka? Follow!"
"Behind! There is someone behind!"
"Kick it out! Kick it out!!"
"Okay! That's it! Beautiful defense!"
The Chinese team players on the field kept shouting loudly to remind their teammates and at the same time cheer up everyone.
When Wang Guangwei was desperately defending, he seemed to have some strain, but the Brazilian players did not take the initiative to kick the football out of the sideline, so he got up from the ground and limped into the battle.
It wasn't until Mao Jun was destroying the football beyond the baseline that he sat down on the ground again and asked Chen Xingyi to press his legs.
Marquios waved to the referee and pointed at Wang Guangwei to signal him to dive to delay time.
Hulay, the only one in the team who can speak fluent Portuguese, naturally rushed up to confront Marquios: "You never get cramps when playing football, right? You flop at everything? Did you accidentally reveal your true nature?"
Marquiao was very angry. He opened his eyes and asked Hulay: "You slandered me!"
Hu Lai did not retreat but advanced, standing almost face to face in front of him: "What do you want?"
Fortunately, Kabangka quickly ran over and pulled his teammate away: "Don't be fooled by him!"
Behind him, Hulay pointed at Marquios and shouted: "Kabonka, don't pull him, let him come up and try! Do you believe it or not, I won't let him play in the World Cup!"
Hearing what Hu Lai said, Kabangka clearly felt that Marquios' physical struggle had become stronger. He could only hug him harder: "He just wants to anger him! Don't listen to him! He Very cunning! ”
Players from both sides swarmed over, pulling each other back and yelling at each other.
The scene was slightly chaotic.
But in the chaos, the Chinese team players got extra breathing space, and at the same time, time was delayed even more.
If Marquios knew that his routine nonsense would be taken advantage of by Hu Lai, he would definitely regret giving Hu Lai such a chance...
But maybe he will know next time, no matter what Hu Lai says to him, don't answer, don't answer, don't answer.
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Although after Hu Lai's fuss, the referee still gave a little more time, but the Brazilian team did not really use this time to complete the victory.
The entire game lasted 96 minutes and 55 seconds.
Kabangka's long shot was blocked by Xia Xiaoyu with his legs.
The football drew a high arc and fell outside the baseline.
Tonini ran towards the corner flag area, ready to take a corner kick, but heard the referee blow the whistle!
"The game is over!!!" He Feng, who was already standing to explain the game, raised his arms and shouted. After his heart dropped from his throat, it started beating violently again.
"The game is over!! We drew with Brazil 3:3! Team China! Team China...China team's first trip to the World Cup in history...remaining undefeated! After three rounds of group matches, we have not lost a game Although... although this does not allow us to qualify from the group, this performance is enough to make all our Chinese fans proud! Likewise, the boys of the national football team can leave the World Cup with their heads held high! ”
During He Feng's excited commentary, the Chinese team's substitute players who had been waiting on the sidelines swarmed onto the court, hugging and celebrating with their teammates.
Looking at this scene, it is as if the Chinese team finally defeated the Brazilian team and reached the top 16.
The frustrated Brazilian players looked like they lost to the Chinese team and were eliminated in the group stage.
Even the Brazilian commentator was not in a high mood after the game: "The game is over, we failed to score again before the final whistle... The Brazilian team's performance in this game was not good enough, we failed three times Leading, but was equalized three times by the opponent! I hope this game can remind Hoehner and his players that no team is easy to deal with in the World Cup, even if it is the first time to participate in the World Cup! The team is no exception!”
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"Bang!!" In the living room, Xie Lan and Li Qingqing raised their arms and shouted.
Hu Lixin and Li Ziqiang beside them also smiled and waved their fists.
The boulder in their hearts can finally fall to the ground.
It’s not just them, in China at this moment, in subway cars, squares, office buildings, companies, Internet cafes, movie theaters... all places where fans gather to watch football, all burst into huge cheers at this moment. Voice.
The Chinese team did not qualify from this group, but no one felt that this was a regret.
We drew with Brazil!
What kind of bicycle do you want?
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Kabangka took a deep breath and let it out all at once.
The game is over, and the emotions in his heart can be temporarily put aside as the final whistle blows.
He saw Hu Lai who was cheering and celebrating with his teammates and smiled slightly. They were no longer enemies now, so he walked towards Hu Lai.
He also avoided those overly excited Chinese team players, but was intercepted by Chen Xingyi halfway: "Hi, Kabangka."
He said hello in English.
"Hello." Kabangka responded to him politely.
"Can I... uh, can I exchange jerseys with you?" Chen Xingyi tugged at his jersey.
Kabangka did not agree immediately, but glanced at Hu Lai. Seeing that he was still celebrating with his teammates, he nodded: "Okay."
"Great! Thank you!" Chen Xingyi happily took off his jersey.
At the same time, Kabangka also took off his jersey.
In this way, the two completed the ceremony of exchanging jerseys.
"You played well." After getting Chen Xingyi's jersey, Kabangka praised.
"No, no... we tried our best to achieve this result..." Chen Xingyi grinned.
Chen Xingyi took Kabangka's jersey and happily turned away. But Kabangka, who was holding Chen Xingyi's jersey, stood there and glanced at Hu Lai. In the end, he didn't go up, but turned around. Go back.
"Chen Xingyi is exchanging jerseys with Kabangka... After this game, the Chinese players have won the respect of their opponents with their own performance, and it seems logical to exchange jerseys..." He Feng said after seeing this scene. "Actually, thinking about it now, many people in the national football team are fans of these Brazilian stars... For them, this is simply the most amazing star chasing - the so-called star chasing is not almost flattering, but showing out The best way to win the recognition of idols is to become an opponent that idols don’t dare to look down upon. ”
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Hu Lai finally finished making trouble with his teammates and got a brief respite.
He withdrew from the crowd only to see the referee holding a football obviously waiting for him.
He was a little surprised and didn't know why the referee was waiting for him.
But the other party handed over the football in his hand and said with a smile: "Why don't you keep the football as a souvenir, Hu?"
Hu Lai suddenly realized.
Yes, logically speaking, after a hat trick, the game ball should be collected as a souvenir.
But he was busy celebrating with his teammates at the end of the game and forgot about it...
He never expected that the referee would be waiting for him here just to give him the football... After all, this is not what the referee should do.
Seeing Hu Lai's surprised expression, the referee explained: "I think I should give you the football, otherwise you may regret it later. After all, this is your first hat trick in the World Cup. Well done, Hu. You Let us all get to know Chinese football again.”
As he spoke, he put the football into Hu Lai's hand.
Hu Lai, holding the football, thanked him repeatedly: "Thank you, sir. Thank you!"
The other party didn't say anything more, waved his hand, turned around and left with the assistant referees waiting for him in front.
Hu Lai first looked at their backs, then looked down at the football in his hands.
The official ball of this World Cup has an exclusive name:
Champion's Heart
It means that every player participating in the World Cup has a heart eager to win the championship.
This has nothing to do with strength, but with dreams.
After all, every professional player has dreamed of winning a world championship.
Maybe not everyone can finally realize their dreams, but they can dream of them.
The right to dream belongs to everyone.
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"It turned out that the referee was waiting nearby just to give the football to Hu Lai... This scene will definitely become a legend in the World Cup! Hu Lai, you can put this ball away, it is of great significance! Yan Kang teased with a smile.
He Feng sighed beside him: "It is indeed of great significance. And not only for Hu Lai, but also for Chinese football. Because it witnessed our first trip to the World Cup, those moments worthy of our long-lasting memories are reflected here. On a standard No. 5 ball with a diameter of only 21 centimeters... our first appearance at the World Cup; the March of the Volunteers was played at the World Cup for the first time; the five-star red flag was raised at the World Cup for the first time... and Our first goal, our first point... there are so many firsts to remember.
"The heart of a champion, the heart of a champion. The Chinese team bids farewell to the World Cup today. We have no chance of winning... In the foreseeable future, we may not win the World Cup either. But so what? As long as we have a heart that longs for the championship , you can go on firmly, no matter how many difficulties and obstacles lie ahead. As long as the championship heart is still beating in the chest, we can make progress and become stronger! Maybe we still can't win the championship in the end, but we become stronger and become a better version of ourselves in the process of chasing the championship... Be a Those who always chase the championship are always on the road!”
Yan Kang joked: "He Feng, you started singing again..."
He Feng also smiled: "Today's game really made me feel a lot, and I have a lot to say. The game is over, but our journey is not over yet. I believe this is definitely not the only World Cup trip for the Chinese team. , I believe that four years later, we will still be able to appear in the World Cup finals! Just because of this game... and the previous two games, it gives me confidence!”
Yan Kang said: "It also gave me confidence. Our football reforms are correct and we are on the right path. In this case, let's keep going!"
The Chinese players on the field had finished their celebrations and began to gather together, circle the field, and applaud the Chinese fans in the stands.
This is their last game in this World Cup. They don't want to go back to the locker room to change clothes early, but want to stay on the court.
It would be nice if I could never say goodbye.
“Well done to the Chinese team!”
“The national football team is awesome!!”
"Thank you, Team China!"
"I will always support you!"
"Hero!!"
The Chinese fans in the stands also gave thumbs up, applauded and shouted to the Chinese team players on the field.
Looking at such a harmonious scene, He Feng finally said:
"We have been to the World Cup, and we have left our names on this stage. Now let us make a promise with everyone - see you at the World Cup in Spain and Portugal four years later! Goodbye, boys of the Chinese team! Thank you for your support Thank you for your six goals in these three games, and thank you for the wonderful memories in the summer of 2026! Goodbye! ”
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PS, the third update is over, the game with Brazil is over, and the World Cup is over.
Thank you all for your support and companionship during this time.
The story of Hu Lai and that group of young people is not over yet.
I thought there were not many manuscripts left, so from now on until the end of this volume, there will be single updates, but they are not long, only four days.
Then double updates resumed.
Thank you all for your understanding and support during this time!
Let's update this way again during the next World Cup.
Speaking of which, it really feels like watching the World Cup in reality... Ha!
Finally, please vote for me! ! (End of chapter)