Chapter 96: A crisp sound(1/2)
Destiny can be ruthless, but it cannot be unfair.
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In the first game, he defeated South Korea 3:0 away, and swept Malaysia 9:1 at home. The Chinese team has become the number one in this group and replaced South Korea as the number one hottest qualifier. It’s good that everything goes on like this, but Zhang Jun heard the news that Robert Baggio announced his retirement at this time.
"I thought about it for a long time and it was very difficult to make this decision. After all, Brescia gave me a lot. But I am thirty-seven years old and I think it's time to say goodbye. So I want to say that I decided to officially retire after the end of this season. For me, there is nothing to pursue."
Baggio said calmly in front of the TV camera, but people could still see something in his eyes shining in front of the reporters' flash.
Zhang Jun learned about this amazing news by watching CCTV5's Sports News. He could hardly believe what he saw and heard.
The captain who was still training together last year, but today I heard him say he was going to retire. No wonder he would say: "I'm very sorry that I didn't have the chance to play football with him..." It turned out that it was not because he was worried that Zhang Jun would not be able to return to Serie A, but because he was worried that he would not be able to hold on that day - he had long been determined to retire.
Zhang Jun, who was a little overwhelmed, called Baggio, hoping that the respectable senior could take back his decision. In any case, he was the last poem in Italian football.
But Baggio smiled and said to him: "Since I announced my retirement, many people have called me and hoped that I would reconsider my decision to retire. But I know my own situation myself. Long-term injuries have affected my condition, and I don't want to make a fool of myself on the court. It's a good choice now. I am a greedy person. I didn't think about retiring until I was thirty-seven years old..."
Baggio didn't continue to say it. In fact, Zhang Jun knew that Robbie was unwilling to give up, and was really unwilling to give up. When he said those words in front of the TV camera, in his life, the blue of the Mediterranean became a concern that he could never let go. Zhang Jun, a foreigner, didn't want to evaluate what kind of person Trapatoni was, could only sigh deeply for Robbie and buried his regrets in his heart. With more than two months left, he would never see this man playing football again. A decade-long dream finally woke up.
What else can he do besides sighing?
But Baggio instead instructed Zhang Jun: "Don't care, metabolism is normal..."
Zhang Jun remembered a sentence: The waves in the Yangtze River push the waves in the front, and the waves in the front died on the beach. This is indeed a normal natural phenomenon, but it is also really cruel.
"...We are still friends, don't think too much. You are in good condition recently, so you have to keep it!"
"Thank you Robbie."
"But be careful, you are in such a good state recently and are too popular. You will become a thorn in the eyes of all defenders, and they will not be polite to you. The coach will also specifically instruct the players to ruthlessly take you. Learn to protect yourself and give up some balls if you should give up."
"Hehe, Robbie. I don't know whether to say it or not. This is not like what you said. Otherwise, you wouldn't have been playing football with half a leg for twenty years, right?" Zhang Jun smiled.
Baggio was stunned, and what Zhang Jun said made some sense. He was really similar to Zhang Jun, otherwise he would not be the first to help Zhang Jun in Brescia and became good friends with him. The eyes, yes, are eyes, but not melancholy eyes, but eyes that do not give up easily when facing every opportunity on the court.
As long as he has these eyes, he will succeed. But danger will always accompany him.
Zhang Jun has the same temperament as Baggio, but Baggio would not want Zhang Jun to have the same ending as him.
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Zhang Jun put down the phone. His mood was no longer shocked when he heard the news at the beginning, but became more complicated. He didn't want Robbie to retire, but he had to let him retire. After all, since he was seventeen years old, Baggio had dragged a half-legged on the court. Sixteen surgeries made his football not as happy as ordinary people imagined. Every game and every training test his body and will like a big test.
In the summer of 1994 in the United States, when he first met Robbie, he witnessed the birth of a great star, and the role of a superstar on a team was ultimately reflected in Robbie. But Zhang Jun couldn't tell whether Robbie became the now respected Robbie because he rode alone again and again, or because of the penalty kick that flew over the crossbar?
In 1994, I was still a primary school student who knew nothing. My daily pursuit was to play football with Yang Pan. I never thought that one day I could play football in Europe, and I dared not think that I could become friends with Robbie and fight for the country in the jersey of the Chinese Olympic team. Ten years, I grew from an ignorant boy to a star of hope, met many friends, and met Sophie, and there were countless stories to recall. Zhang Jun suddenly wondered whether he was reluctant to leave Robbie after retiring because he had accidentally linked Robbie to his experience over the past ten years. When he thought of Robbie's career, he would inevitably think of his past ten years, and many people have been away from him in the past ten years. Robbie's retirement means that Zhang Jun's ten years of time have left him. Knowing that he was futile, he still wanted to hold it tightly with both hands.
Robbie is still going to retire, and he himself hasn't kept anything.
Ten years ago, Robbie was in his year of playing, turning the tide in the United States and becoming an idol of ten thousand people. Ten years later, the child who sat in front of TV late at night had already begun his professional football career and was gradually becoming an idol of Chinese football, but Robbie is old and is about to retire.
At the same time, many fans in the world are calling for Baggio to take back his decision to retire, and many people even burst into tears after hearing this news. Is this sadness entirely because of the regret of not being able to appreciate Baggio's performance? I'm afraid it's more of the powerless feeling of facing the fleeting river of time?
Qiu Suhui noticed that in the extra training after the training, Zhang Jun increased the number of free kicks practices. He practiced free kicks, and Sima Hongxin silently accompanied him to guard the goal for him.
Thinking of the Sino-Iran battle that was about to begin, Hu Li wanted to remind Zhang Jun to pay attention to rest. However, Qiu Suhui was pulled by him. He shook his head and turned around and left the training ground.
In the sunset, on the golden training ground, Zhang Jun swayed the ball, retreated, ran, swung his legs, and the football passed through the moving wall and flew towards the goal. Regardless of whether the ball entered or not, his waist always stood up as straight as possible.
This is what Robbie taught him, his best free kick, just like a baton, and he has the responsibility to run faster and faster.
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The Wuhan Sports Center was crowded with people and the noise was shaking. The better the Chinese Olympic team, the better the Chinese Olympic team, was treated like a world champion in Wuhan. The stands, which can accommodate more than 60,000 spectators, were packed. The five-star red flag was rolling in the stands, as if waves were hitting the poor Iranian Olympic team.
The big screen showed that the game lasted 30 minutes, with the score being 1:0, and the Chinese team led. In the first half, Zhao Pengyu forced a breakthrough and was knocked down by Iranian defender Ibrahimi after entering the penalty area. The referee blew a penalty without hesitation. Zhang Jun took the trick and deceived Iranian goalkeeper Taleblo with a relaxed and chic "spoon" shot, 1:0.
This twenty-one-minute penalty ignited the atmosphere of the Wuhan Sports Center. Countless five-star red flags were like the slurry of flames surging at the crater. Zhang Jun once saw the Dutch volcano at the Amsterdam Arena, but now this volcano in China is not much different.
The huge home advantage is not only in terms of the number of spectators, but is said to have learned the lessons from the previous game against Malaysia. The Chinese Football Association pays great attention to the reception of the referees in this game.
The leading Chinese team played with ease. The Iranian national team humiliated the Chinese team twice in the top ten matches in 1997, scoring four goals in each game. I believe many people still remember such a shot. Iranian fans extended four fingers to the camera of China CCTV. This is a shame for Chinese football. However, all this has nothing to do with the current national Olympic team. They won not to avenge their revenge, but to advance as soon as possible.
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Zhang Jun was pushed to the ground by his opponent again. This was the seventh time he was violated by his opponent in this game. It only took 30 minutes to show how nervous Iran was about him. Fans expressed their dissatisfaction with the Iranian team with huge boos. Zhang Jun is now comparable to the giant panda. If he makes any mistakes, the Iranian team may not have thought of leaving the Wuhan Sports Center tonight.
Zhang Jun got up a little slowly, which was not his usual style. In the past, he always jumped up immediately to indicate that he had no problems - it seemed that he was sorting out his leg guard plates and socks.
The referee awarded the Chinese team a 27-meter direct free kick, and the Iranian team was busy building a wall, and they also knew how powerful Zhang Jun's direct free kick was.
Zhang Jun was indeed standing in front of the ball, but Li Yongle was also standing there together, a college midfielder who quickly became famous in the past two games.
"Maybe it would be a tactic. Li Yongle's long-range shooting skills are not weak. Both of them are very threatening to fight." Wang Jianxiang said, "If the distance is a little far, maybe Li Yongle will come to play."
Zhang Jun walked to Li Yongle and whispered to him: "Now we are talking just like the same thing, specifically for Iran to see. I will play later and you can help me cover it. If you are closer to the ball, I will stay away, and I will run too, OK?"
Li Yongle put his hands on his hips and nodded: "OK."
The referee's whistle sounded, Li Yongle assisted, and Zhang Jun also started running. Li Yongle was from right to left, and Zhang Jun was the opposite. Because the distance of the running assist was different, the possibility of a car crash was avoided. Li Yongle stepped beside the ball, swung his left leg and was about to hit the ball!
"It's Li Yongle!"
But at the critical moment, Li Yongle's legs were not swung down for a long time, but the wall of the human was already jumping up. The ball had not passed, and they were fooled!
At this time, Zhang Jun had just arrived. He stretched out his arms to maintain balance, tried to straighten his upper body, and volleyed his right foot and shot it! The football happened to pass through the top of the person's wall that had just fallen and flew directly to the corner!
Although Taleblo tried hard to save, he was shaken by Li Yongle's movement just now, and then turned back and saved again. There was no way. The football flew past him and hit the net!
"The ball is scored again! It's Zhang Jun again! It's free kick again! It's so amazing! Zhang Jun's condition is so amazing!" Wang Jianxiang shouted at the top of his lungs.
Zhang Jun celebrated Li Yongle next to him with a smile on his face. The ball seemed to be a little relaxed to him.
"The Dutch called Zhang Jun's free kick 's smile', and now it seems that it is indeed a very appropriate name."
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At the end of the first half, relying on Zhang Jun's two set pieces, the Chinese National Olympic Team led the Iranian National Olympic Team 2:0, which was undoubtedly an exciting score. So during the halftime break, fans from all over the country showed their local characteristics. The stands of the Wuhan Sports Center on March 27 were like a grand carnival for the fans of the whole country.
"Wow! Beautiful job!" Zhao Pengyu howled as soon as he entered the locker room. His breakthrough today created a penalty kick, which was also an assist, and he was in a very good mood. "What is Iran? What is Iran? I will get two of them in the second half. Next time we see them, we will extend four fingers to say hello to them!"
"Why don't you extend five?" Wang Yu asked back.
"Five? How about ten?" Zhao Pengyu asked again, and everyone laughed. The atmosphere of the intermission this time was as good as the previous one, no, it was better, because no one complained about the referee.
"Hey! Brother Zhang, you have a break in the second half. It's time for us to perform." Someone shouted.
Zhang Jun just smiled, and then he sat on the chair and gasped. He came back from Europe to play three more Olympic games, and his physical strength was getting less and less, and the energy he saved during the winter break was almost done. It seemed that he had to discuss with the old man that he would play less in the league, otherwise it would be worrying how far Warrendam could go in the Dutch Cup. After this game, he would rush to Beijing the next day and take a plane to Amsterdam, where there would be club cars waiting for him.
Then he will be sent directly to Nijmegen, and after three days of training with the team, he will be in the quarterfinals of the Netherlands Cup. He will work hard, and the real one will work hard. During this period, he must grit his teeth and persevere. Maybe he will continue to win in a row. After qualifying as soon as possible, he will no longer have to participate in the last idle match with Malaysia. In that way, he can rest at least two more days. For the tired Zhang Jun, the two-day rest time may be a bit luxurious.
A big hand was placed on his shoulder: "If you are tired, you don't have to work hard. Just wait in front of you, I will pass the ball to you." Li Yongle looked at the wall opposite and said, as if he was still a little stiff, and his expression was a little unnatural.
This line seems to be something that Yang Pan would say, Zhang Jun thought. Unexpectedly, his always-off opponent Li Yongle also said this day. Being a teammate is really good, and Zhang Jun laughed.
"What are you smirking? Don't fall into the opponent's offside trap!"
"I understand, hehe!" Zhang Jun continued to laugh.
Qiu Suhui also saw Zhang Jun's physical fitness problems, and he also considered when to replace him in the second half, but it was definitely not the beginning. Iran's counterattack made him a little concerned. Kaabi, who played the right forward from No. 13, was very fast. If he hadn't let Xiang Tao stay in the backcourt in the first half, Kaabi, the kid, might have caused some storms. Iran's main striker No. 20 Bohani didn't know why he didn't play. Maybe Kohan was waiting for the opportunity. Zhang Jun still had to be on the court, at least he would consider substitutions after the Chinese team led 3:0. Even if he stood on the court and didn't run, he could also pose a threat to Iran and a psychological threat.
In contrast to the relaxation of the Chinese team's locker room, the atmosphere in the Iranian locker room seemed very dull. Everyone bowed their heads and said nothing, like eggplants hit by frost. Before the game, head coach Kohan repeatedly emphasized the need to restrain Zhang Jun and prevent China from making the offense calmly into the 30-meter area, but how can we defend against that penalty and free kick? Zhang Jun used two set pieces to make the Iranian team uncomfortable.
Kehan thought about it repeatedly, but finally decided to kill him.
"Camelli, you are the captain, you have to shoulder the responsibility." He called the centre-back Caramel aside and said to him, "I want you to be responsible for the second half of the day only."
"I'm the only one?"
"Yes, one-on-one, people are on the verge of people." Kehan nodded.
"But, Zhang Jun's personal ability is outstanding, I..."
"I know, so I don't let you use regular defensive moves."
"But I used push, pull, and trip, and I ended up giving him a free kick, coach."
"These are still regular defensive moves, I mean rushing to people and leaving the ball alone."
Carmeli was a little surprised, and he opened his mouth and asked, "Are you going to use the killing tactic?"
"Yes. I remembered the medical examination report of Milan laboratory about him. I asked him to his left ankle. Don't hesitate. We have already lost to South Korea at home. This is the only way to qualify! You have to set an example, my captain. Send Zhang Jun out. If you use a stretcher, I will reward you."
Carmeli looked at the head coach's face, and his mouth that had just opened had not yet been closed.
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At the second half, the fans welcomed the Chinese team with the warmest applause and looked forward to a more exciting second half.
Even the commentator Wang Jianxiang saw that Iran made some adjustments. "Kohan actually used one person to guard Zhang Jun, and gave up the first half of the clamping tactic. Although he gave Zhang Jun a chance to score, he was still relatively successful from the entire first half. I really don't understand. Does he think that No. 4 Carmel's personal ability is enough to prevent Zhang Jun from being in good condition?"
Carmeli really couldn't defend it. After Zhang Jun took the ball, he felt that the defensive pressure was significantly reduced. He could face a defender calmly, which was generous to Zhang Jun. Zhang Jun naturally would not be polite. He used a shift of gravity to break through Carmeli and shot, but unfortunately he was saved by the goalkeeper.
"What are you doing?" Kohan yelled on the sidelines. He was very dissatisfied with Carmeli's "cowardly" performance just now. "Be fierce! Why are you polite! He is your enemy, do you still want to be humiliated by him?"
The Chinese players saw it. For some reason, Iran relaxed its defense against Zhang Jun, and the back midfielder and the other two central defenders no longer snatched Zhang Jun. This was obviously a good thing for the Chinese team, so the ball was passed to Zhang Jun's feet one after another, and they had to make full use of this favorable factor.
Zhang Jun took the ball, and his back was facing Carmeli to turn around, but Carmeli did not hesitate to put his feet on the shovel... Man! Zhang Jun's body became weak and fell to the ground.
The referee's whistle sounded, and he ran over quickly and showed Carmeli a yellow card.
Zhang Jun was helped off the court by the team doctor and received treatment.
Facing the booing of all Chinese fans, Carmeli turned his head to look at the coach's seat at a loss, but he saw Kohan give him a thumbs up.
To be continued...