Chapter 254 Strong soldiers and horses! Airborne Captain!
After the Champions League final, European football has officially entered the offseason.
Ling Feng also said goodbye to his parents and girlfriend, packed up his luggage, and came to the St. George Park base alone.
Only this time, he did not come to report for the adult team, but came to the youth team next door!
As early as late May, the Football Association announced the roster for this European Youth Championship.
Luke Shaw, Wilshere, Barkley, Chamberlain, Sterling and many other players of the right age were not selected.
On the one hand, these people have already established themselves in the adult national team, and on the other hand, the players personally do not believe that the European Youth Championship is of training value for them.
In this list, the most famous ones are naturally this season's Premier League assist king and European League assist Wang Lingfeng, and this season's Tottenham supernova and Premier League silver boot Kane!
Actually, many people are very surprised by Ling Feng's decision to participate in the European Youth Championship.
You know, although the European Youth Championship is also an event that youth teams from various European countries attach great importance to.
However, its gold content is just that, completely inferior to the World Youth Championship.
For Ling Feng, who has established a core position in the Three Lions senior team and has performed explosively in the Premier League, there is no training value at all.
Ling Feng, who is already considered a top star in the Premier League, came to participate in the European Youth Championship and was simply bullying a child!
A Chinese Manchester United fan posted a very apt description:
“The feeling of Ling Feng participating in the European Youth Championship is just like Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi playing in the Chinese Super League. Same, no difficulty! Of course, provided he doesn’t get his leg broken”
At that time, when Ling Feng saw this post, he burst out laughing on the spot.
He almost left a message on that post saying: Factos!
Many fans from other countries feel that in order to win the championship, England and Ling Feng will lose face!
Of course, Ling Feng’s age fully complies with the competition rules, so there is no problem whether he wants to participate or not.
For all England fans, this is definitely great news.
With Ling Feng, they will definitely be able to kill everyone in the European Youth Championship!
As for the complaints and ridicules from fans in other countries, they just think they are envy and jealousy.
If you want to blame, blame yourself!
Who prevents your country from having a young super genius like Ling Feng!
You must know that this season, Lingfeng has surpassed Cesc Fabregas and Messi, who have sent out 18 league assists, and De Bruyne, who has sent out 20 league assists, to become the assist king in the five major European leagues. !
Originally, this honor belonged to "Ding Ding" who played the peak season of his career at Wolfsburg and created the first 20 league assists in Bundesliga history
No way, who made him meet the more ferocious Ling Feng!
In addition to Ling Feng and Kane, in this Young Lions team competing in the Czech European Youth Championship, there are also many young talents known as "future stars":
For example, Everton’s Stones, Arsenal’s Chambers, Derby County’s Will Hughes, Leicester City’s Lingard (on loan from Manchester United), Southampton’s Ward-Prowse , West Brom's Berahino and so on.
It is worth mentioning that due to his outstanding performance on loan at Leicester City, Maguire also caught the last train of the European Youth Championship and was called up to the U21 by Southgate for the first time.
Led by Ling Feng and Kane, two British stars who are killing everyone in the Premier League, this Young Lions is definitely the strongest team in this European Youth Championship!
It is no exaggeration to say that the troops are strong and the horses are strong!
The odds of winning the championship also reflect the outside world's optimism for this young lion.
Originally, before the roster was announced, England's winning odds were ranked fifth among the eight teams.
After the roster was announced and they learned that Ling Feng would also participate in the European Youth Championship, the betting company quickly adjusted the odds.
England suddenly surpassed Germany and became the favorite to win the championship!
The British media, as always, began to build momentum for the young lions.
“Bring football home!” The slogan has almost occupied the covers and headlines of all major sports news media.
In the eyes of the media, the championship of this European Youth Championship is already within the grasp of England U21!
However, some media still analyzed the team's winning prospects very calmly.
For example, the Mirror, which always likes to analyze and predict, and the independent Independent, both pointed out that this seemingly strong young lion has many problems.
First of all, on paper, the entire Young Lions team seems to be full of talent, every bit of it is a star.
However, just like the traditional arts of the Three Lions, fame is greater than strength.
Especially the defense!
In France's just-concluded Toulon Cup, England played a single round-robin match against four teams: Mexico, Cote d'Ivoire, Morocco, and China.
In the four games, they tied with Morocco 3-3, won Cote d'Ivoire and China, and narrowly lost to Mexico.
In four games, a total of six goals were conceded, and none of them had a clean sheet!
The stability of the defense is still a big problem.
And Ling Feng's selection will inevitably occupy a starting position.
Although his strength is definitely higher than any other player on this team.
But will the team's tactics and the tacit understanding between his teammates change with his positioning on the court?
Or just let Ling Feng adapt to the team's original tactics?
These are all unknown factors that will affect the team's combat effectiveness.
Then, there is a sudden change in the team leader!
After the European Youth Championship roster was announced, head coach Southgate also announced the team’s captain.
To everyone's surprise, Ling Feng, who was "relegated" from the adult national team for the first time and was selected for the U21 youth team, became the captain of this young lion!
Southgate’s decision immediately sparked heated discussion.
Some people strongly supported it, while others shook their heads in silence.
The media speculated that Southgate took a fancy to Ling Feng's outstanding strength and leadership qualities, and decided to let him lead this talented young lion for the first time.
Of course, some people think that making Ling Feng, who has never met or practiced with other teammates, as the team captain will affect the team's running-in and tacit understanding.
Amid some doubts, England's famous players such as Lineker, Gerrard, Lampard, and Beckham took the initiative to support Southgate's decision on social media or in interviews.
They all said that despite Ling Feng's young age, this young man has a big heart and the leadership qualities to influence his teammates at all times on and off the court.
Absolutely the best captain to lead the team forward!
Moreover, seniority is a common phenomenon in every country and field.
Although Ling Feng was selected for the U21 for the first time, strictly speaking, he is everyone’s senior.
Because he was selected for the adult national team earlier than all the players in this U21 team.
If we really talk about seniority, although Ling Feng is the third-youngest player in the team, he is the one with the most seniority!
Furthermore, in terms of personal strength and fame, Ling Feng is also the only one in this group.
So, after many famous England players endorsed it, no one questioned Southgate's decision, but began to look forward to it.
I look forward to this England team being able to win the European Youth Championship again after 31 years under the leadership of the British star Ling Feng!
. . .
Of course, young people are the most unwilling to admit defeat and the most energetic.
Some players in the team think that they are no worse than Ling Feng.
So, for him to become the captain of the team, I feel more or less unhappy in my heart. Especially when the team went to France to participate in the Toulon Cup, Ling Feng was spending his vacation in style, going to watch the Champions League final and posting intimate photos of himself and his girlfriend on social media.
This made some players who had long disliked Ling Feng feel even more dissatisfied.
Why, as the captain of the team, does he not have to follow the team to participate in the Toulon Cup?
Why is he so handsome, so good at football, and has such a good-looking girlfriend? !
Why.
In professional football, not admitting defeat can be said to be a trait that every professional player must possess.
Only by refusing to admit defeat can we stand out in the fierce competition, be stronger than our peers, and be able to gain a foothold in higher-level leagues!
So, when Ling Feng came to U21 for the first time to report , the moment he entered the locker room, he felt the different ways of welcome from his teammates:
Someone smiled immediately and stood up to greet him:
For example, Ling Feng was at Rice City teammates Lingard, Liam Moore and Maguire.
“Hey, man, finally waiting for you!”
"I heard that you are going to Berlin. I'm really jealous."
Even Kane took the initiative to step forward and hug him.
Some people sat in front of their lockers without saying a word, pretending not to see.
For example, Berahino, a local new striker who also performed well in the Premier League.
This old man has scored 20 goals in all competitions for West Brom this season and is second only to Kane among the local new strikers.
Before Kane became a blockbuster, Berahino was the main forward and star of hope for England U21, and even once firmly placed Kane on the bench!
Even if his performance and data this season are not as good as Kane's, they are still outstanding enough.
Many media have touted his physical fitness and future prospects, which will not be inferior to Kane in the slightest.
After the season, many powerful Premier League clubs are eyeing him and intend to buy him.
So, in Berahino's view, although Ling Feng is indeed very impressive.
But if you can get the full support of the team and unlimited firing rights, you can also perform explosively!
Feeling the various emotions and attitudes in the locker room regarding his arrival, Ling Feng, who had just arrived, did not put on any airs as a star.
After hugging and greeting familiar teammates, he took the initiative to greet those teammates who he had only met in the Premier League, or who had never met before, and shook hands one by one.
Facing Ling Feng’s friendly attitude, even though they were not convinced or willing, these young English lions did not refute Ling Feng’s face in public, and they all showed awkward and polite smiles. Shake hands with it.
After all, no matter how unconvinced he is, it can't change the fact that Ling Feng's personal strength and qualifications are much higher than them.
However, the world is so big, there are still some guys who have no emotional intelligence
"Hey, Saido, how are you?"
When Ling Feng came to Berahino, When calling his name and extending a friendly hand, the latter made a move that surprised everyone in the locker room:
The West Brom forward just looked up at him, Then he stood up, walked past him, and walked straight out of the locker room.
Although I expected young people to be very energetic, I might not be convinced by myself.
However, Berahino's operation without giving any face made Ling Feng raise his eyebrows.
Yo ho!
Quite a bit of personality.
Although he was ignored, Ling Feng was not angry at all, but felt very ridiculous.
He really doesn’t know whether Berahino is brainless or arrogant. As a young player who has just emerged in the Premier League, what capital does he have to stand up to himself, the European golden boy and European assist king?
However, this is also consistent with his understanding and impression of the player.
No wonder Berahino went from being the star of hope who put Kane on the bench at the beginning, to falling out with the club and being sent to the reserve team, to being riddled with scandals, including drunk driving, drinking in the locker room, The problem person who fights with his teammates is eventually reduced to a nobody with nothing to play for.
It turns out everything happens for a reason.
Speaking of which, compared to Kane, who is nicknamed "The Ball" by fans, this one is a real flash in the pan.
Seeing this, Lingard and Maguire stood aside. He immediately came up to ease Ling Feng's embarrassment.
"Man, that's the kind of guy he is, don't worry about it."
Compared to Lin who wants to be a peacemaker, Maguire is more direct in taking sides.
I saw him approaching Ling Feng with a serious face, and whispered:
"Ling, this kid actually dares not to give you face, do you want me to fight in the team later? When the time comes, give him some color?”
Hearing Maguire’s words, Ling Feng almost laughed out loud.
Maguire, you thick eyebrows, when did you become such a loser?
"Haha, it's okay. Let it go."
After patting Maguire and Lingard on the shoulders, Ling Feng went straight to his locker.
After changing into training clothes and sneakers, he went to the outdoor training ground with other teammates.
This is Ling Feng’s first time coming to the training ground of the U21 youth team.
As the main training venue at the St. George's Park base, the training ground is naturally very well maintained.
And this training ground is only a fence away from the adult team training ground where he used to be.
However, this five- to six-meter-high fence is a "high wall" that many players have spent their entire careers unable to cross
In this Young Lions team alone, , in the future, only Dier, Lingard, Maguire, Stones and Kane will be able to be selected for the Three Lions and gain a firm foothold.
With Southgate's whistle, all the players arrived and lined up in several rows.
"First of all, let us welcome our captain, Ling Feng!"
Led by the coaches, everyone also applauded to welcome Ling Feng's arrival.
"I believe he has already greeted you in the locker room, so let's skip the unnecessary politeness and start training!"
Immediately afterwards, Ling Feng followed the ball The team held its first training session.
During training, Ling Feng's mental outlook and physical condition were both outstanding.
This made Southgate, who was standing on the sidelines, smile with satisfaction.
With the addition of Ling Feng, a super killer, his confidence in winning the European Youth Championship soared instantly!
I have Ling Feng, who am I afraid of? !
(End of this chapter)