"It's just a two-goal lead, don't be too happy!"
Qin Lin poured cold water on all the elated Chinese players with a straight face.
"You don't think you can win the game by leading by two goals, do you? This is the World Cup, the quarter-finals of the World Cup, and the opponent is England, which is ranked fifth in FIFA. Give them forty-five minutes, what can they do?
Less than? Since we could score two of their goals in the first half, why couldn’t they score two of our goals in the second half? Let alone a two-goal lead, even a three-goal lead, we cannot take it lightly! Because in history
There are really examples of leading by three goals at halftime, only to be overturned in the end!”
Listening to the head coach's reprimand, the expressions on the faces of the Chinese team players gradually disappeared, and each of them became serious.
Because they know that the head coach is not alarmist, but stating a fact.
Especially those players who play in Europe, they have played against England internationals at the club level, and some are teammates. Of course, they know the strength of this team very well.
Although England is always the target of ridicule among the fan base. It seems to be the favorite to win every World Cup, but it is eliminated early in every World Cup and goes home.
But as an opponent, if you really use the image of England in the fans' mouth to measure the England in front of you, I'm afraid you will be in bad luck.
"To celebrate, to be happy, when we finish this game, our chef team will cook a sumptuous celebration dinner for everyone. But that is not what we should think about now. If we lead by two goals in the first half
Even if we are defeated by England, then we will not only be the sinners in the history of Chinese football, but we will also become the joke of the whole world!"
As the captain, Wang Guangwei stood up and expressed his opinion to the head coach: "Don't worry, Coach Qin, we won't let up in the second half! We said we will beat them beautifully, and we must win beautifully!"
Everyone expressed their agreement one after another, proving to head coach Qin Lin that they had not relaxed.
After receiving the team's statement, Qin Lin's expression softened and he smiled slightly.
He continued: "In the second half, if we have the ability, we still have to maintain the high pressure against England. But we must also pay attention to defense. Their center Hunter has a wide range of activities. We not only have to prevent him from shooting, but also from his actions.
It is best to cut off the connection between him and Williams as much as possible. The two of them are the key to England's offensive organization in the midfield."
※※※
Darren Hunter slammed the sweat towel in his hand to the ground, and then ignored the looks from his teammates and cursed loudly:
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"
Throughout the first half, he played extremely frustrated and depressed. He only had two shots in total, one of which missed the goal frame. The only one that did hit the target did not pose any threat to the Chinese team and was beaten by their goalkeeper.
Hold it easily.
Of course, as a comprehensive center, his role is not only reflected in shooting.
His passing ability is equally important.
But looking at England's lackluster attack in the first half, you know that he didn't do a very good job in this area either.
It felt like he had been beaten up by his opponent, and he had no power to fight back. He could only huddle in the corner with his head in his hands to avoid being beaten worse...
He was really unhappy and unhappy, and now he could only vent his anger into swear words.
His venting continued until head coach Ryan Jackson walked in and called his name:
"What are you doing, Hunter?"
Darren Hunter remained silent, but his cursing like a mad dog stopped.
Jackson glared at him hard, then looked around and found that the players in the locker room were not in high spirits.
Although they withstood the fierce offensive of the Chinese team at the last moment, the result of falling behind by two goals has not changed. In the entire first half, they did not simply concede two goals. They have not yet shown that they can score goals despite being behind.
The ability to counterattack.
This makes people worry about their ability to turn defeat into victory.
Among those worried are the England players themselves.
When morale was already low, Darren Hunter's mad-dog-like venting of emotions not only did not help solve the team's low morale problem, but actually made the players' morale even lower.
Because swearing can only make people think that it is incompetent and angry, and it is a bad behavior that can't change anything.
"The game is not over yet, boys." Ryan Jackson's tone was stern, but not loud. He was trying to control his emotions and convey a calm strength to the players.
What is needed at this time is not to get excited, but to try to stay calm.
Before the first half of the game, Jackson still looked impassioned when doing "pre-war mobilization" for the players.
Now he must change his approach. It is useless to continue to give players blood.
"The strength gap between us and the Chinese team is definitely not reflected by the score. However, in the World Cup quarter-finals, any situation and score may occur. They can indeed lead us by two goals. But we can also do the opposite.
As long as we calm down again and find the feeling of the game, I believe we can do it."
After trying to provide psychological massage to the players, Ryan Jackson once again named Darren Hunter: "Hunter, you need to retreat more in the second half to attract the attention of the Chinese team defenders, and then give him
Other teammates create opportunities."
Hunter knew that the head coach wanted him to play as a support player, which was very different from what he wanted - he originally planned to show his true strength in the second half, not only scoring goals to help the team equalize the score, but also using
Score goals to slap the faces of Chinese players and fans.
As a result, the head coach asked him to play support in the second half.
Although he felt very unhappy, Darren Hunter finally did not lose his mind and knew what the team needed now, so he took a deep breath, nodded and said in a deep voice: "No problem, boss."
※※※
"I still can't believe it..."
During the halftime break, the commercial area of Bailong Lake Stadium was overcrowded. Everyone left their seats and came out to buy drinks and food to replenish energy and prepare for the "battle" in the second half.
Tatsuya Sugiyama and Junpei Morikawa each held a bowl of piled ice powder, and chatted for the first half while eating.
The person who expressed this emotion was naturally Sugiyama Tatsuya, because Morikawa Junpei did not find it unbelievable that the Chinese team led England 2:0.
"I know that the Chinese team is very strong, but... I think their strength is based on their identity as an Asian team. Now it seems that looking at the entire world of football, the Chinese team is very strong... Wow (yummy)
!" Tatsuya Sugiyama couldn't help but admire the deluxe version of the ice powder snack he had just eaten.
He really followed Junpei Morikawa back to China to watch the Chinese team play.
The two people were dressed casually and ordinary, and they also wore peaked caps. If you weren't someone who was very familiar with them, you really wouldn't be able to recognize them... This is of course impossible!
He, Tatsuya Sugiyama, might not be recognized, but how could no one recognize Junpei Morikawa next to him?
You must know that this is Jincheng, where Morikawa Junpei worked for three years.
As a Japanese, he can enjoy hero-like treatment in this city.
So no matter how he disguises himself, some Jincheng fans will definitely recognize him.
What's more, he didn't deliberately hide his identity at all.
So soon some Chinese fans recognized him, pointed at him with surprise and joy, and called him in dialect: "Hey Senwa'er?"
Junpei Morikawa smiled and responded in the same dialect: "Yes, it's me, Junpei Morikawa."
The other party clapped his hands happily and laughed: "Hi! It's really you! What? Come and cheer for Hu Lai and the others?"
Then he shouted loudly to the surroundings: "Everyone, come and see! It's Sen Wa'er! Sen Wa'er is back!"
As soon as he shouted, a large group of people cheered and cheered around Morikawa Junpei.
They surrounded Morikawa Junpei and Sugiyama Tatsuya in the middle. Everyone enthusiastically patted Morikawa Junpei's shoulders and arms, shook hands with him, and gave him high fives, fully expressing their love for Morikawa Junpei.
Finally, after finally satisfying the enthusiastic Chinese fans' requests for photos and autographs, the two regained their "freedom."
When Tatsuya Sugiyama handed the ice powder back to Junpei Morikawa, he couldn't help but sigh: "You may be the most popular Japanese in China, Junpei."
Morikawa Junpei smiled shyly: "It's all their love."
Then he said: "Let's go, the second half of the game is about to begin."
"Will there be suspense in the second half? England will definitely make adjustments during the halftime break... If the Chinese team thinks they are two goals ahead, everything will be fine..." Sugiyama Tatsuya frowned slightly, and his mind returned to the game itself and began to analyze.
.
But before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by Junpei Morikawa: "No, Sugiyama-kun. The Chinese team will not underestimate their opponent. They have been waiting for this game for four years, how could they drop the ball at the last moment?
"
Sugiyama Tatsuya thought about it carefully and nodded in agreement with Morikawa Junpei's words: "Yes, you are right, Junpei. They cannot underestimate the enemy, and... Hu Lai is still here."
A bright smile appeared on Morikawa Junpei's face: "Yes, Sugiyama-kun. There is also Hulesan."