The air conditioner on the wall directly above my head was working, and the outdoor unit hanging outside the balcony made a humming sound that made the balcony glass vibrate and continuously emitted low-frequency noise.
The temperature was set at 26 degrees Celsius, but Xie Lan still felt hot. She held a round cattail leaf fan in one hand to fan herself.
The commentator's voice came from the TV set right in front:
"Today's temperature in Kunyang has reached 34 degrees, and the air humidity is as high as 80 percent. It will feel more stuffy, which will have a negative impact on the players on both sides of the game."
"That's right, the weather in Kunyang today can be summed up in two words: sultry!" the voice of the commentator for this game sounded, "the air humidity is too high, it will form a water film on the surface of the human body, affecting heat dissipation. That is why
, this game has not been exciting enough so far, and the players on both sides seem a little tired. Fortunately, it is time to replenish water soon..."
It can be seen from the live TV footage that the game was indeed played under the scorching sun.
In such weather, not many people even went to watch the game. The stands of Kunyang City Stadium, which can accommodate 40,000 people, were nearly two-thirds empty.
Although there are fans in the remaining third, they are weak at this moment, and no one makes a sound. If the stands are not photographed, people will think that this is an empty game.
The weather was originally bad, and neither side has scored a goal until now, which naturally made the fans even more bored.
"The personnel arrangement of Flash Star in this game is actually more proactive than the last away game against the Flag Eagles. They did create some opportunities in the game, but they were unable to seize them. So there is no chance until now.
A goal. Fortunately, the defense of Flashing Star performed well and withstood Kunyang City’s offensive. This is 0:0..."
"Actually, if the game ends with this score, Kunyang City may not be unable to accept it, even if it is their home game. But Flash Star definitely cannot accept it. If they fail to win this game, they will have lost three consecutive games.
Zhao Kangming is under great pressure..."
Because the game scene was a bit dull and boring, the commentators and commentators on the Anton TV Sports Channel could only ramble on.
When Xie Lan in front of the TV heard what the commentator said, he couldn't help complaining: "In that case, why not just replace Hu Lai? My son is also a forward! To strengthen the offense, should I change the forward?
"
When she said this, she speeded up the hand fan, as if she wanted to use the fanned wind to smooth her frown.
It is now 4:43 on Sunday afternoon. The match between Flash Star and Kunyang City has lasted for fifty-eight minutes, and the score is still 0:0. Let her, who doesn’t know much about football, sit patiently in front of the TV.
The only reason for watching this boring football match was that her son Hu Lai hadn't played yet.
No one in the room answered her questions. Her husband, the only one who knew about football, took an excuse to go out for a walk just after the game started.
In such a sultry weather, why not go out for a walk... Xie Lan knew in her heart that her husband just didn't want to watch the game, and he didn't want to watch the game because he didn't want to bow his head and admit defeat to his son.
Men are like this, she is used to it.
※※※
Hu Lai was not sitting on the bench. He and several other substitutes were rushed to the warm-up area by the assistant coach and were warming up behind the Kunyang City goal.
First sprint for ten meters, then turn back, jog while raising your legs high, return to the starting point, turn around and sprint again, and continue to repeat this process.
After completing five sets, he stood on the spot and began to twist and stretch. At the same time, he stood behind the billboard and watched the game from the perspective of Kunyang City's goal.
He felt that there was nothing wrong with the tactical arrangements directed by Zhao. The Stars played impressively in the away game, especially in the midfield and backcourt, and their performance was very stable.
Although Brother Lin is thirty-eight years old, your uncle is still your uncle. He has no pressure to play in the first division, and he has a stable group in the midfield. He is organized in tandem and has both offense and defense.
This is the front line...
Macaulay Murphy was closely guarded by the opponent's defender, making it difficult for him to have a chance.
As for Lai Zekai, I don’t know if Kunyang City’s defenders knew that he was currently in a sluggish state, and their defense against him was obviously not as good as that against Murphy, which also led to Lai Zekai getting some shooting opportunities.
But just like his previous games, only one shot has hit the goal frame...
At this moment, Lai Zekai forced a long-range shot from the front of the penalty area. As a result, the football flew high over the crossbar and fell directly to the back of Hu Lai's warm-up area.
The ball boy at Kunyang City's home stadium threw the football in his hand into the court, then turned around and ran to pick up the ball.
Seeing the ball boy of the home team running hard under the scorching sun, Hu Lai felt a little sympathetic to the opponent. When he played in the Dongchuan Middle School team, there were no ball boys, so anyone who missed the goal would be kicked out by everyone.
People booed because no one was willing to run that far to pick up the ball... In the end, whoever kicked the football out would pick it up.
"It feels really bad in front of Lai Zekai's door..." Han Xiangfei, who was warming up with Hu Lai next to him, suddenly sighed.
"But didn't Brother Lai score 16 goals last season?" Hu Lai turned around and asked.
"Who can say for sure about the status?" Han Xiangfei shook his head.
Hu Lai suddenly remembered something and asked: "Some people on the Internet said that Brother Lai fell into a goal drought because the club did not meet his request for a salary increase..."
"Maybe... The lack of salary increase did have some impact on Lai Zekai's mentality. During that time, Lai Zekai always scolded Manager Dong in the locker room... Team Li persuaded him to adjust his mentality, but he
Didn't listen. In fact, he already has an annual salary of one million. Even if the club doesn't give him a raise this time, as long as he performs well, he will still have a chance next time. As a result, he made such a fuss and made everyone feel uncomfortable. He
A man with an annual salary of one million talks in the locker room every day about what the club is sending to beggars... He is a beggar, so if there are no people like us with an annual salary of half a million, how can we become beggars among beggars?"
After Hu Lai heard Han Xiangfei's complaint, he pondered for two seconds and then asked: "Brother Fei, you are a beggar among beggars, so who am I?"
Han Xiangfei laughed: "Don't worry, kid. As long as you can perform well, why don't you worry about not having a good contract? Look at Guang Wei, he only signed a professional contract with the club at the end of last year, but based on his current performance, let me tell you,
Before the end of this season, the club will definitely re-sign his contract, and his annual salary will definitely increase significantly by then."
Hu Lai asked again: "Brother Fei, I just signed a professional contract in July. If I perform well in this half of the season, by the end of the season, the club can re-sign me a contract and give it to me."
Salary increase?"
Han Xiangfei turned to look at Hu Lai, his eyes shining brightly. He just thought it was funny. He shook his head: "Then I don't know, how good do you have to be to get the club to re-sign your contract in half a year?"
In fact, Hu Lai doesn't know what conditions must be triggered in order for the club to sign another professional contract with him and give him a salary increase in just half a season.
He just couldn't wait to think that he still owed a foreign debt of 400,000 yuan...
At this moment, the referee blew his whistle, and the players from both sides immediately paused the game and walked towards their respective benches on the sidelines.
It’s time to rehydrate.
The head coaches of both sides took advantage of this opportunity and took the time to make adjustments based on what happened in the game just now.
This is actually a bit like a timeout in a basketball game.
The setting of hydration time also enriches the coaches' means of directing the game.
Replenishing water on the sidelines has nothing to do with the substitute players. Hu Lai and Han Xiangfei did not continue chatting, but continued a simple warm-up.
At this time, the team's physical fitness coach ran out from the Flashing Star coaching bench. He ran all the way and quickly reached the corner flag area. Then, holding the billboard, he waved and shouted at the warm-up area: "Hu Lai! Hu Lai!
!”
At first, everyone thought he was shouting "come back", asking everyone to end their warm-up and go back to the bench. Unexpectedly, when they all finished their warm-up and walked back, the fitness coach quickly waved his hand: "What are you doing here? I mean Hu Lai."
!Hu Lai is back!"
He also pointed at Hu Lai.
Han Xiangfei reacted first. He patted Hu Lai on the shoulder hard: "Okay, Hu Lai! You are about to play! Don't be stunned and go back quickly!"
Hu Lai, who had been pushed by Han Xiangfei, came to his senses and quickly ran to the coaching bench of Flash Star under the envious eyes of other teammates.
※※※
When Hu Lai ran back to the coaching bench and gathered around his teammates who were gathering to drink water, he heard Lai Zekai asking head coach Zhao Kangming to stay on the court: "I can still do it, and I promise to score goals. Coach Zhao
! It’s only sixty-five minutes now, and there are still twenty-five minutes left. Give me... give me another fifteen minutes. If you don’t score by then, you can substitute me as you please! I will never say anything!"
His tone was fierce and loud, and Hu Lai could hear it clearly outside. However, he did not stop outside the crowd because of this. Instead, he ducked in and appeared in front of the head coach Zhao Kangming, smiling at the back.
The reporter said: "Director Zhao, you called me?"
He was afraid that Director Zhao would be persuaded by Lai Zekai, so he quickly jumped out to increase his presence.
Naturally, it also succeeded in making Lai Zekai frown and look at him.
Lai Zekai, who glanced at Hu Lai, turned his attention to Zhao Kangming and continued: "Director Zhao, I felt really good in front of the goal today. I almost scored in the first half!"
But Zhao Kangming was very resolute. Facing Lai Zekai, he shook his head: "Playing football in weather like today takes a lot of energy on everyone. Come down and rest. I'll have to rely on you for the next game, Xiao Lai."
When Lai Zekai saw that even after he said this, the head coach still refused to give in, he knew that he had no choice but to accept the decision to be replaced.
This made him particularly unhappy.
So he didn't respond to the coach's words and turned straight to the bench.
Logically speaking, if there is a substitution on the Flash Star side, he should not go back to the bench directly, because he has not been substituted. He should return to the court and wait for the head coach to be ready before the next dead ball.
When he is substituted, he will hand over to his substitute teammate.
But he didn't do that, and instead went directly to the bench, expressing his dissatisfaction with the head coach's substitution in this way.
As a result, Flash Star must make substitutions immediately, otherwise they will have one less person on the field to fight... Maybe the opponent will score a goal because of one less person?
Sure enough, as soon as Lai Zekai left, the referee came up to remind the Flash Star players to get on the court quickly and not turn the water replenishment time into halftime...
Assistant coach Chen Mo quickly told the referee that they wanted to make a substitution.
"What are you doing so early? Hurry up!" The referee waved his hand impatiently.
"I'll be ready soon, I'll be ready soon..." Chen Mo said as he went to get Hu Lai's participation certificate. Without this thing, he wouldn't be able to play.
On the other side, head coach Zhao Kangming put his arm around Hu Lai's shoulders, leaned into his ear, and said to him: "I don't have time to tell you too much, but I also know that saying too much is harmful to you."
It’s actually of no use…”
Hu Lai grinned.
"Anyway, you have been watching the field for so long, so you must have your own ideas. The offensive routines we have practiced repeatedly in training are still useful against Kunyang City's defense..."
When Director Zhao said this, Hu Lai nodded vigorously. This was indeed what he saw off the court. He now also believes that Director Zhao said to himself before that he has now found the feeling of coaching the first team, because Director Zhao now believes that it is true.
He is indeed good at training and tactical arrangements, and he has been improving during his time as a coach at Flash Star.
"So just perform as well as you did in training." Zhao Kangming gently patted Hu Lai's shoulder with his hand, "Don't put any pressure. Even if you don't score, it's not a big deal. The main thing is to experience the atmosphere and accumulate experience.
…”
Hu Lai interrupted Director Zhao's rambling: "I know, Director Zhao. But why do you feel that you are more nervous than me?"
"What nonsense!" Zhao Kangming slapped Hu Lai hard on the back and pushed him away, "Hurry up and get on the field!"
"Yes!" Hu Lai turned around and saluted Coach Zhao, took his participation certificate from assistant coach Chen Mo, took off his training vest, threw it to the bench, and walked towards the fourth official.
He carefully tucked the hem of his jersey into his pants, and when he took his hand out, there was already a red string on his left wrist.
※※※
"Flashing Star will be the first to make substitutions! Lai Zekai has returned to the bench. It seems that Zhao Kangming is going to directly use this water replenishment time to make substitutions... The one who is replaced is No. 33 Hu Lai! This young man
The player was transferred from the youth team of the Chinese Super League Poseidon Club just two weeks ago..."
The TV broadcast showed the back of Hu Lai tucking his jersey into his shorts. His last name was printed on the huge number on the back: hu.
Seeing this scene, Xie Lan jumped up from the bed, then turned on the camera of his mobile phone and started recording at the TV screen.
"Guanlin, do you know anything about this Hu Lai?" the commentator asked.
"I really know a little bit about this. Hu Lai was actually a student player before this. He was spotted by a professional team because of his outstanding performance in the National High School Football Championship and went to the Poseidon Youth Team of the Chinese Super League. At that time, Poseidon's youth team
The training director is none other than Zhao Kangming, who is currently coaching the Flash Stars." It was a bit surprising that the guest commentator Lu Guanlin really did his homework and did not look through the information in the commentary box, and then exclaimed into the microphone: "Who can tell
Who am I!"
"Speaking of student players, in fact our No. 15 central defender Wang Guangwei on the court was also a student player. He played at Jiaxiang High School, a famous football school in the province, and was the team captain. After graduating from high school, he became
A member of the Shining Star youth team. Now we can see two players from a team who are student players appearing on the field. I have to say that the development of campus football in our country is quite effective..." The commentator also understands student football.
sports.
Xie Lan didn't pay attention to what the commentators said at all. She was now staring at her son in the cellphone video.
I watched him hand in his participation card, watched him walk to the sideline with the fourth official, watched him take turns raising his two feet to let the fourth official check the spikes, and watched the fourth official hold up the substitution sign.
, No. 9 down, No. 33 up.
Finally, she saw her son running into the green field with his head held high.