When the referee blew the whistle for the end of the game, Sugiyama Tatsuya turned around and rushed to Morikawa Junpei who was not far away from him, then hugged him hard and shouted excitedly in his ear:
"We did it! Junpei! We did it! Eight years! We finally led the team to the top 16!
"
Junpei Morikawa was also very excited. He slapped Tatsuya Sugiyama's back hard with both hands, making a muffled sound.
As Tatsuya Sugiyama said, eight years.
It has been eight years since they participated in the World Cup for the first time in 2026.
During this period they went through three World Cups.
In the first World Cup, they were not the main players. The results achieved by the Japanese team in the World Cup had nothing to do with them.
Four years later at the 2030 World Cup, they finally took the lead in the national team.
As a result, the team failed in the group stage.
They also won the last game at that time, a 3:0 victory.
But it didn't help the team's qualifying situation. It was just a battle of dignity.
They bid farewell to their second World Cup trip with a victory.
Today, it is also a victory, but they can hug together to celebrate promotion.
Sugiyama Tatsuya was relieved, he was finally qualified as a captain.
Junpei Morikawa is thinking about what will happen after entering the knockout round.
Although they successfully advanced to the knockout rounds, the Japanese team could only advance as second in the group.
So they are going to play against Brazil, the first team in Group G.
The Brazilian team defeated Belgium 2:1 in this afternoon's match, winning a strong match and ranking first in the group.
This is not a good result for the Japanese team.
However, Morikawa Junpei believes that this is the best result.
Because as the second place in Group H, the Japanese team was placed in the top half.
He has a chance to meet Hu Laisang!
He knew that if he wanted to see Hu Laisang, he had to wait until the semifinals.
This road is still too difficult for the Japanese team.
Even if you get past Brazil, there will still be winners from France and Uruguay.
But no matter how difficult this road is, Morikawa Junpei will continue to walk firmly.
Because this is the agreement between him and Hu Laisang.
We defeated each other's enemies, no matter how difficult it was, and we came together from both ends of the half zone. Is there any more passionate story than this?
Then when shaking hands before the game, I must hold his hand and say to him:
"Hu Laisang, Morikawa Junpei is here to accept the appointment, please give me your advice!"
When the time comes, Hu Lai will definitely say to him: "Then go all out, Morikawa!"
Morikawa Junpei smiled brighter and brighter, as if that scene really appeared in front of his eyes...
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"...With Kabangca's goal, the Brazilian team defeated Belgium 2:1 and won the first place in Group G. They were assigned to the top half. Their opponent will be Japan, the second Asian team to qualify from the group.
"The Japanese team performed well in the final qualifying match, beating South Africa 3:1 and scoring the key three points. In the end, they accumulated five points and became second in Group H.
"Germany did not show mercy in the match against Switzerland because they needed to ensure that they finished first in the group. Previously, when they had four points with Switzerland and a goal difference of one, they only relied on their total number of goals.
We are temporarily ranked first because of our advantage. So in order to secure the first place in the group, the surest way is of course to defeat Switzerland directly...
"Edman opened the scoring for the German team, and then forward Nico Strauin came on as a substitute to expand the lead. In the end, the German team defeated Switzerland 2:0, not only making itself the first in the group, but also sending Switzerland out of the World Cup.
Therefore, with five points, the Japanese team became the second Asian team to qualify for the group stage of this World Cup, and also the last one...
"After all the group matches are over, the World Cup will have its first rest day. There will be no games tomorrow, June 30, and the qualifying teams will get a rare opportunity to rest. Next, at 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 1, the World Cup
Rekindling the war, the first quarter-final match is between England and Serbia. Next at 9pm, the Chinese team will face Burkina Faso!"
※※※
"China versus Burkina Faso..."
Xie Lan studied the elimination match diagram in the newspaper.
She also used colored pencils to write and draw on it.
While writing and painting, I kept saying:
"England and Serbia, England will definitely win... they will play England in the quarter-finals. In the semi-finals... will they play France or Brazil in the semi-finals?"
Hu Lixin laughed when he heard her talking: "You are really thinking far ahead. This has just begun the quarter-finals, and you are already thinking about the semi-finals!"
Xie Lan raised an eyebrow: "The semi-finals are considered far away?"
After saying that, she showed the matchup picture in the newspaper to Hu Lixin. Hu Lixin took a closer look:
Good guys, a red line has extended from the Chinese team in the top 16 to the finals.
Seeing that her husband had already read it, Xie Lan took back the newspaper and continued to study the Chinese team's road map.
Hu Lixin looked around and asked, "Where are Qingqing and Lao Li?"
"The two of them went to record a program, one went to CCTV and the other went to Ascendas.com, have you forgotten?" Xie Lan replied without looking up.
Hu Lixin patted his forehead: "I forgot."
Xie Lan sighed: "Since the knockout rounds, Qingqing can't watch the game with us... You said CCTV wants to find her as a commentator. Why not find her from the beginning? It has to start from the knockout rounds?"
"You said it yourself, 'The World Cup begins with the knockout rounds.'" Hu Lixin laughed.
"Hey!"
Xie Lan bared his teeth.
※※※
Li Xiaohong looked at Li Qingqing, who was wearing a long skirt, and said with a smile: "When I was recording the show just now, I had a question that I didn't dare to ask, for fear of asking it and making it difficult for you to answer. Now that the show has been recorded, let's talk in private
Let’s chat, don’t worry, I promise not to leak our conversation.”
Li Qingqing's eyes widened and she was a little curious: "What's the problem, Sister Xiaohong?"
"I'm actually very curious. Will you and Hu Lai talk about your goals and aspirations for this World Cup in private? But I'm afraid that asking this will make it difficult for you to answer..."
After Li Qingqing's eyes widened, he looked less heroic and cute: "How could it be? We did talk about the World Cup, and everyone knows what the goal of the World Cup is, which is to win the championship."
Seeing Li Qingqing mentioning that great goal so casually, Li Xiaohong was a little surprised now: "Aren't you worried about putting pressure on Hu Lai and the others?"
Li Qingqing smiled and said: "It's not a secret that everyone knows. And if I don't say it, no one will think about it? Besides... playing in the World Cup in your own country is already very stressful. They can be regarded as everyone's
Playing football under a magnifying glass, adding a little pressure won’t have much impact.”
Having said this, Li Qingqing waved her hands, looking really nonchalant.
Seeing her like this, Li Xiaohong suddenly said: "Is it because you believe it?"
"ah?"
"Because you believe in nonsense, so..."
Li Qingqing nodded: "Yes, believe in him and his teammates."
Li Xiaohong smiled and said: "As someone who has won the World Cup, have you ever shared your experience with Hu Lai?"
Li Qingqing shook his head: "No. Men's and women's feet are different. And..."
"And what?"
"Moreover, I think winning the championship and winning are essentially the same. Winning the championship is actually winning one victory after another. Hu Lai is very experienced in pursuing victory."
When Li Qingqing finished speaking, she nodded with a very firm tone and a bright smile on her face.
※※※
The young man and his fiancée were shopping in the mall, and then they stopped in front of a brand store in the home appliance store.
In front of them was a 100-inch smart TV.
Some of the highlights of the Chinese team during the group stage are being played on the huge screen.
As the top star of the Chinese team, Hu Lai certainly occupies the largest space.
However, the wonderful performances of other international players are also indispensable.
During the World Cup, videos like this were played on countless screens across the country.
The Chinese people stopped and watched from the beginning, but now they have become accustomed to it.
At most, I cast a few glances, and then I went about my business.
The young couple obviously stopped not just to see the content on the screen, but to be interested in the products.
They are choosing appliances for their new house.
"The one-hundred-inch picture is so impactful..." the young man said with emotion.
His fiancée reminded him: “The price is also very impressive.”
Below the TV, the price of this smart TV is marked.
￥39999
The young man was truly shocked and speechless.
Then I decided to leave.
At this time, the salesperson came up with a smile: "If you two are interested in this smart TV, you can learn more about it..."
The young man shook his head quickly: "No, no, this is too... big, too big, it can't fit in my living room."
While talking, he and his fiancée were planning to leave.
The salesperson added: "This product is currently on sale at our home. Customers who place orders during the knockout stages of the World Cup will receive a full refund as long as the Chinese team wins the championship..."
Hearing this, the young man's footsteps magically stopped.
He looked thoughtful: "In fact, you can also consider modifying the decoration plan..."
When his fiancée saw him like this, she rolled her eyes at him funny: "Did you hear clearly? They said a full refund can only be given if China wins the championship!"
The man waved his hand: "It's not about money, it's mainly about having confidence in the Chinese team."
Then he went straight to the salesman who still had a smile on his face:
"Where to issue the ticket?"
※※※
PS, the easter egg chapter at the end of this chapter contains the matchup map of the top 16 of the World Cup. a>vas>div>Scan the code to download Red Sleeves and Xiaoxiang to receive benefits. Newcomers can read it for free for a limited time.div>div>div>
