Chapter 2092 Substitution
"Iceland crosses from the wing!"
"Watch out for Helgason!"
"Wang Guangwei...beautiful! He pushed the football out before Helgason!"
"The Icelandic team controlled the second drop!"
"Long shot!"
"Well done! Lin Zhiyuan chose his position well and firmly caught the flying football!"
"Thorgrimsson's long-range shot failed to threaten the Chinese team's goal. However, as the end of the game approached, the Iceland team also gave it a try..."
"Yes, we can obviously feel that Iceland has strengthened its offensive... Although the Chinese team is now two goals ahead, we must not take it lightly..."
What He Feng and Yan Kang were thinking about at this time was no longer winning against Iceland, but winning at least two goal differentials at the same time.
Even if Iceland pulls one back at the last minute, even if it wins the game, it always feels uncomfortable when two goal differences turn into one.
If we finally get to the point where we need a goal difference to qualify, or to take first place in the group, this goal difference might be the dividing line between life and death.
It has to be said that although everyone kept a low profile before the start of the World Cup, it was just to save their character. It did not mean that the fans had really lost confidence in the Chinese team.
On the contrary, this time Chinese fans have considerable confidence in this team.
In fact, deep down in everyone's heart, everyone has different ambitions for this team.
Some people hope that the Chinese team should at least reach the quarterfinals. Some people think that the Chinese team can reach the semi-finals. Some people hope that the Chinese team can win at least a third place on the basis of reaching the semi-finals, and completely rewrite the "best performance record of Asian teams in the World Cup" that the Korean team achieved through some special means. Lest Koreans keep showing off this scandal as an achievement and make all Asians embarrassed together.
Some people even hope that the Chinese team can win the World Cup in their home country and completely realize Hu Lai's dream.
But no matter who it is, no one said "I hope the Chinese team can qualify from the group." Because qualifying for the group stage is already recognized by everyone as a result that does not need to be deliberately pursued.
If this team can't even qualify from the group stage, it will really be a waste of good cards, and it can even be said to have ruined the golden generation of Chinese football.
Based on the above ambitions, it is of course crucial for the Chinese team to get off to a good start in the opening game.
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After Lin Zhiyuan hugged the football, he did not rush to drive it away. Instead, he held it in his arms and pressed down with one hand to signal his teammates to slow down.
At this time, it was already the 85th minute of the game, and the Chinese team was still leading by two goals, so there was really no need to rush.
It is the Iceland team that should be anxious.
So now Iceland coach Hermansson has used up five substitutions, and most of the substitutes are offensive players, hoping to make a difference at the last moment.
This World Cup is the first World Cup to adopt new substitution rules. Each team has five substitutions during regular time. If it enters overtime, both teams will have one substitution each.
But although there are five substitutions during regular game time, there are not five substitutions, because that would cause the game to be frequently interrupted. Therefore, the number of substitutions is still three, but the substitutions made during halftime do not count among these three times.
In other words, if substitutions are made at halftime, there are actually four substitution opportunities.
In addition to the sixth substitution slot in overtime, if a concussion occurs, an additional substitution can be made. This is a substitution that does not occupy the substitution slot.
However, for the sake of fairness, the opponent's substitution quota has also been increased accordingly.
Because the number of substitutions has been increased, the team's physical fitness is less prone to problems.
In the past, everyone had a relatively stereotyped impression that after the game reaches seventy-five minutes, players will have physical problems.
Now that five players are allowed to be replaced, the head coaches can make a large number of substitutions after the 75th minute to ensure that the players' physical fitness does not decline significantly.
So although the game has now reached the 85th minute, Iceland can still use up all five substitutions so that their players can still actively fight for it.
The Chinese team must be cautious, slow down the tempo and prevent Iceland from rushing forward, so as to avoid conceding the ball at the last moment.
With five substitutions and long injury time, even if the lead is two goals, there is a possibility of being reversed.
Looking at Qin Lin standing on the sidelines, you can tell that this is definitely not alarmist.
Even though he was leading by two goals, Qin Lin still seemed very nervous. He stood on the sidelines and never returned to the coaching bench. He also directed the performance of the players on the field from time to time to ensure that the players did not get distracted.
Unlike Iceland's head coach Hermansson Stud who had all the chips in his hands, he only changed three people.
And he only started to make substitutions after Hu Lai scored to ensure the Chinese team's two-goal lead.
The first person to be replaced was Zhou Zijing. He was replaced not long after Hu Lai's goal. It was the 71st minute of the game.
Zhou Zijing came off the field and was replaced by 26-year-old forward Li Maoping, who plays a rotation player in Basson, Switzerland.
Li Maoping has played for two different teams in China, namely Nanjiarui Lions and Hedong Thunder. Later, he went to play abroad, but he did not go to the five major leagues. Instead, he chose the Swiss League, which has almost no visibility and attention in the country.
Although the level and level of the league are not as good as those of the five major leagues, his club Basson is a giant in Switzerland and can occasionally participate in the Champions League.
In Basong, Li Maoping was not able to play the main role, but was more of a rotation substitute player. His characteristic is that he is comprehensive and balanced. He can play as a single center forward or as a winger. He has no particularly obvious strengths, but his versatile attributes make him a very qualified substitute player.
Qin Lin also valued this when he selected him for the national team's World Cup roster.
After Li Maosong came on the court, he partnered with Hu Lai and continued to play as a double forward.
But this did not last long. In the 76th minute, Qin Lin made his second substitution.
This time he changed two people at once.
Luo Kai was replaced, and his replacement was right midfielder Xue Ming, who plays for Atlético Corvette in La Liga.
At the same time, Chen Xingyi was also removed, and substitute midfielder Shi Wanqing came on.
The 24-year-old Shi Wanqing plays for the Ligue 1 relegation team Almoric. Although Almoric is not strong, Shi Wanqing can still play in Ligue 1, although he is a rotation substitute. But being able to play rotation means that they have reached the Ligue 1 playing standards, which is already remarkable - not all Chinese players who study abroad will play the main role in wealthy clubs like Hu Lai and Chen Xingyi.
After replacing Shi Wanqing, the Chinese team changed to 451, using a double midfielder configuration to strengthen the midfield defense.
After changing three people, Qin Lin has been motionless.
Until the Iceland team's continuous attack threatened the Chinese team's goal.
He just decided to use up his last chance to make substitutions.
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Zhang Qinghuan, who had gone to warm up with other teammates before, had been on the bench for a few minutes and was sitting on a chair watching the game wearing a yellow vest representing the substitute.
During this period, Iceland suddenly stepped up its offensive, causing the Chinese team's goal to become turbulent.
The substitute players off the court were also very nervous.
They don't expect something to happen on the court just because they didn't play, so that they can create opportunities for themselves to play.
They are a whole, and of course they advance and retreat together.
Zhang Qinghuan, as the oldest and most senior player in the current national team, failed to start the game. He did not complain at all and acted very maturely, setting a good example for all his teammates.
At this moment, he heard assistant coach Ding Gaoyi calling him: "Qing Huan! Come on, Qing Huan!"
Zhang Qinghuan glanced at him, and Ding Gaoyi was waving to him.
He immediately realized that he was about to appear!
So he quickly stood up and trotted towards Ding Gaoyi and Qin Lin.
When he ran up to him, Qin Lin said to him: "When you go up, you have to help control the midfield. We can't keep letting the Iceland team blast us with high balls like this."
Zhang Qinghuan nodded to express his understanding: "Control the football at our feet and slow down the rhythm."
"That's it, don't let Iceland get the momentum going."
"Don't worry, Brother Lin, I know how to do it. I'm good at footwork." Zhang Qinghuan gave Qin Lin a smile.
Seeing his smile that could charm so many female fans to death, Qin Lin sighed inwardly, then patted him hard on the shoulder: "Go!"
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The TV broadcast was originally showing the live action of the match on the field, and suddenly a huge burst of cheers erupted from the screen.
The TV viewers suddenly heard the cheers, and many people were confused and didn't understand what the audience was shouting.
Soon the TV broadcast camera switched and told them the answer:
Zhang Qinghuan stood in front of head coach Qin Lin and was taking off his yellow vest!
Commentator He Feng also said immediately: "The Chinese team is about to make a substitution, and Zhang Qinghuan is about to come on as a substitute!"
Yan Kang smiled and said: "Listen to the cheers at the scene, everyone hopes that Zhang Qinghuan can play!"
Hu Lai has many, many fans in China, but that is because he is very strong personally and can always bring victory and honor to Chinese fans.
Compared with Hu Lai, Zhang Qinghuan is actually not as good as Hu Lai in terms of personal strength and honor, but he is the only player among the current international players who can match Hu Lai in the number of fans.
This shows his popularity.
Just like the well-known saying:
"Who doesn't love Zhang Qinghuan?"
Amid huge cheers, Zhang Qinghuan walked to the sidelines and handed his participation card to the fourth official for identity verification.
Assistant coach Ding Gaoyi also handed the number of the Chinese team's substitution to the fourth official.
Then the fourth official picked up the electronic number plate and entered the numbers of Zhang Qinghuan and the player to be replaced on it.
Then he walked to the sidelines with him and checked whether Zhang Qinghuan had any illegal items, such as necklaces, earrings, rings and other sharp objects, and also checked whether Zhang Qinghuan's shoe spikes met the requirements.
After doing all this, they waited together for a dead ball situation on the field.
Zhang Qinghuan used this little time to continue twisting his hips, shaking his hands, and jumping around to move his body.
Behind him in the stands were fans screaming his name.
Hearing that voice, he even turned around and gave a charming smile to the fans in the stands, both men and women.
Then the screams and cheers got louder.
Finally, there was a dead ball opportunity on the court. The referee blew his whistle to signal the Iceland team not to rush for a throw-in and wait for the substitutions to be completed on the sidelines.
The fourth official raised a sign and told the audience:
No. 10 up, No. 8 down
He Feng raised his voice and shouted: "Qin Lin made the last substitution, Xia Xiaoyu was replaced, Zhang Qinghuan is going to play! This is his third World Cup... He finally caught up!"
Sun Juan was half-lying on the sofa, surrounded by her parents and mother-in-law.
They were all applauding Zhang Qinghuan's appearance.
She was not so excited. She just looked at the figure on the TV, gently touched her bulging belly with her hands, and said silently in her heart:
"Good boy, your father is coming on stage!"
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PS, after spending so many days, I finally saved ten chapters. I will resume double updates tomorrow!
Thank you all for your understanding and support for so many days! (End of chapter)