Chapter 1939 Want nothing but victory, nothing for victory
"Take it easy, but don't take it too easy. This is a degree. How can you achieve this degree? To be honest, as a coach, it is difficult for me to guide you in this aspect. This is what you need to do in your career.
I can only tell you some commonplace things based on the experience I have learned through my own experience.”
In the locker room, Yu Jintao translated the words of head coach Dillon to the players.
"For example, don't be afraid when facing strong opponents, and don't underestimate opponents when facing opponents who are not as strong as you. Everyone knows this truth, but how many people can actually do it on the court? Think about our last game.
Why did you lose to Italy? You can imagine how Nigeria will view us. They are ranked higher than us, and logically speaking, they are better than us. But after we showed our strength in the World Cup, Nigeria cannot think
We are an opponent who can be looked down upon. So in this game, they will go all out. If we can't do it, then we will get out."
Dillon walked around the locker room in circles, stopping in front of each player, looking into each other's eyes, looking at him, saying a word, and then moving on to the next Chinese player.
Yu Jintao followed him like a shadow, with the same tone and gestures.
When Dillon said something, he would translate it.
"In the first game we beat Spain 3:0, which was a great win. It seemed like qualifying for the group was no longer a problem. But then after we lost to Italy, the situation completely changed. We were already hanging with one foot off the cliff.
.This is the World Cup, boys, this is the World Cup. There are only three games in the group stage. Losing one of them may lead to catastrophe. The room left for us to make mistakes is actually very small. Every game must be treated as the last.
Play a game like that."
The Chinese team players have changed their clothes and are sitting in their respective positions, listening to the head coach's speech.
The photographers of the CCTV documentary team hid themselves among the coaching team, holding cameras the size of a digital mirrorless camera to record everything that happened before the last group match.
In the past period, they recorded the Chinese team's every game before and after the game, including the joy of winning for the first time in history and the sadness of losing to Italy.
Among the Chinese team players captured on camera, some are nervous and some are calm.
As the head coach and the translator spoke, some Chinese team players followed the two people with their eyes, clenched their teeth, and the muscles on their faces changed slightly with the words and deeds of the head coach.
Some players were leaning against the wall, raising their heads slightly, closing their eyes and concentrating.
"If we can win against Nigeria, there shouldn't be any surprises. From the first minute of the game, we must firmly control the rhythm in our own hands. Whether it is offense or defense, we must follow our wishes.
. Before achieving our tactical goal, everyone must move towards that goal. I will not allow anyone to stop, and they must not fall behind. You are a whole. If you move forward, you must move forward together, and if you retreat, you must retreat together!"
"In the end, don't pay attention to other games. It has nothing to do with us. You know? We have only one goal, and that is to qualify for the group. As for whether we are first in the group or second in the group, it doesn't matter, as long as we can qualify. In addition to winning
, don’t have any other thoughts that you shouldn’t have, stay calm and focused. Victory must belong to us! Guys, you are here to make history, you have the ability!”
***
The head coach of the Nigerian national team is a hero in the history of their country's football, Eboubeliya Oadebo.
As captain of the team in the 1998 World Cup, he led the star-studded and talented Nigeria national team to the semi-finals, creating the best result for an African team in the World Cup.
"We are at the bottom of this group, but we still have a chance to reach the top 16. No matter how bad the situation is, never give up hope, boys. Remember what I said to you today, and then go to the court and practice it! You guys.
It can be done, this is the group of death, everything is possible! For Nigeria and African football, we must spread the voice of Africa to the whole world! And
Today’s game is the best opportunity! We can do it! From the bottom of the group to the top 16! One game! Ninety minutes! Let’s fight!”
A Nigerian player excitedly used his sneakers as a hammer and banged them on the floor of the locker room.
It makes a crisp and rhythmic sound, like an African war drum.
***
Caesar put his No. 11 jersey on himself and straightened the torn collar.
He is the only Italian player whose jersey has a collar.
Other players wear ordinary round-neck jerseys, only Kaiser's jersey has a V-neck collar.
This is something that everyone is accustomed to.
Whether in the national team or in the club, today's jersey designs rarely include collars.
But Caesar's jersey must have a collar.
Some fans even joked in the past that the collar of Caesar's jersey is Caesar's true body.
After putting on his jersey, Caesar got up from his seat and walked to the middle of the locker room.
Start giving a pre-match speech as captain.
Instead, head coach Caviglia stepped aside and gave up the "stage".
"Remember before the game against China, what other people thought of us? They thought we were destined to be eliminated from this group and go home. But now? We are even ranked first in this group! This is football, guys
!Nothing is certain except going all out! The outcome is unknown, but we can devote all our enthusiasm and efforts to win! Spain is a more difficult opponent than the Chinese team, but there is no difficulty
It can stop Italy’s progress!”
Having said this, he waved for everyone to stand up and come to the middle of the locker room.
Everyone formed a circle, and he took the lead in extending his hand into the center of the circle.
One by one, the other teammates put their hands on it.
"Nothing stays the same, guys, except Italy! Only Italy! We fight for our country and we have nothing to fear!"
"Only Italy!" he shouted.
"Only Italy!!!" The Italian players in the locker room responded to him with louder voices.
***
Joaquin Vela stood among his teammates, but he couldn't help but cast his eyes on Juan Ramirez's right knee, which was wrapped with a layer of bandages.
The bandage is very conspicuous, as if to remind everyone that the injured part of the man in front of him is not yet healed.
He is fighting with injuries.
In fact, it was not like this in the last game.
Everyone thought Ramirez was finally back.
Encouraged by his return to the team, the Spanish national team defeated Nigeria 3:1 and won the most critical victory.
This victory suddenly relieved the pressure on all Spanish players - after losing 0:3 to the Chinese team, the entire Spanish team became the target of public criticism. They were scolded by all media and fans.
At the same time, the Spanish team also began to fear one thing: as the defending champion and host nation, if they fail to advance out of the group in the end.
How will they face such an apocalypse?
Fortunately, Ramirez came back at this time. He stopped the team's decline and helped the team retain the hope of qualifying with victory.
As long as they can defeat Italy in the final round, they will advance to the top 16!
But after the win against Nigeria, the captain's injury recurred.
A shadow was cast on everyone's mind again - will the captain be unable to catch up with this life-and-death battle?
Now the captain has caught up, just looking at the bandage on his knee. Everyone knows his reluctance.
But this team really cannot do without him. What should we do?
Joaquin Vela only hates that he cannot be as good as the captain, whether in the club or the national team.
A role that makes teammates trust and feel at ease.
He doesn't know how long it will take him to become a player like the captain, or whether he will never become the second Juan Ramirez.
Ramirez pointed to the locker room floor under his feet and said to his teammates:
"This is our World Cup final! Think about how we won the championship four years ago? How will we win now! They said that we are people who have seen the scenery on the top of the mountain, so we are not willing to climb the mountain anymore! Exactly
Because we have seen the scenery on the top of the mountain, we know how beautiful the scenery is, and we want to stand on the top of the mountain more than others!"
He clenched his fists:
"Ask for nothing but victory! Spare nothing for victory!"
