Chapter 1 Because of Sun Pan

China's Olympic team defeating South Korea's Olympic team at home reached its peak after the game ended.

Chinese media and fans shamelessly mocked the arrogant South Korean media and reporters.

Sun Pan became the new "Anti-Korean Hero" of Chinese football, stealing the limelight and even overshadowing the striker He Ying, who scored in the match... Of course, this was also the result he hoped to achieve.

With his outstanding performance in this game, plus the fact that everyone photographed national team coach Gao Hongbo in the stands watching the Olympic team's game, it was clear that he was there to observe the young players of the Olympic team.

So, with Sun Pan's outstanding performance in this game, would he have the opportunity to be promoted to the national team?

In addition to Sun Pan, how many of the other Olympic players who performed well in the game could go to the national team?

Gao Hongbo was also cornered by reporters after the game to answer this question.

"Any outstanding player has the opportunity to enter the national team. The door of the national team is open to every capable player," Gao Hongbo replied ambiguously.

Although he didn't say it explicitly, these words actually filled everyone with expectations for the outstanding Olympic youngsters to enter the national team...

The Olympic team's last Olympic qualifier will be held on March 14th. If the Chinese team can beat Saudi Arabia away, they will qualify for the London Olympics.

The last group match is also very important.

But now, they have to return to their clubs to participate in the league.

※※※

In the twenty-second round of the league, Dortmund challenged Hertha Berlin away.

Dortmund, who had just finished the Champions League game, rotated their players. Most of the players who played in the previous Champions League game did not appear in the starting list for this game, and some didn't even make the squad at all...

Like Zhou Yi.

Zhou Yi was not on the squad list.

However, Klopp denied that this arrangement was to avoid suspicion.

"Letting Zhou Yi rotate is not to avoid relying on him. Football is a team sport. Our victory is not the credit of one player, so if we lose the ball, it can't be the fault of one person. Dortmund will not rely on one person. The reason why Zhou Yi did not appear on the match squad list, I think the Chinese reporters present must also understand..."

Some German reporters turned to look at the few Chinese reporters.

These few Chinese reporters nodded in agreement.

Of course, they knew why, and this was also the reason why so few Chinese reporters were involved in reporting on this game.

Because there would be no Zhou Yi in this game, there was no need for so many Chinese reporters to go.

So why wouldn't Zhou Yi participate in this game?

On the one hand, it was because he had just finished playing in the Champions League, and on the other hand, it was because there was a national team game coming up.

The World Cup Asian Qualifiers, the last round of the top twenty group stage, China played against Jordan at home.

Although China had already qualified for the top ten.

But if China lost to Jordan in the last game, they would become second in the group.

Of course, China could not accept such a result.

So this game could not be lost.

For this reason, Zhou Yi had to return to China to help.

In order to give Zhou Yi a better rest, Klopp did not let Zhou Yi participate in the game.

This would reduce Zhou Yi's burden, and even if he participated in a national team game, it would not be too tiring for him to return to Dortmund.

※※※

In the end, Dortmund without Zhou Yi defeated Hertha Berlin 1:0 away.

Although they won the game, it still left some media with a handle, because Dortmund only won by one goal, and the game was not too smooth...

While the game was going on, Zhou Yi had already flown back to China to prepare for the final top twenty match against Jordan.

The minimum goal of the Chinese team was to draw with Jordan, but Iraq hoped that China could win.

Because if Jordan lost to China away and Iraq beat Singapore at home, then their points with Jordan would be the same, both being ten points.

According to FIFA rules, in this case, the goal difference in all matches in the group stage of the two teams is compared first.

The goal difference of Jordan, who is currently ranked second, is five, while the goal difference of Iraq is zero.

Therefore, while hoping that China can defeat Jordan, they also have to score more goals against Singapore at home to have a chance to enter the top ten.

What they are most worried about now is that China and Jordan will play a tacit match in the last game. If the two sides draw, then no matter how many goals Iraq wins against Singapore, it will not change their fate of being eliminated.

At that time, China and Jordan will qualify together.

In fact, Iraq's worry is not unreasonable, because in China, some media have already shouted the slogan "Happily qualify together."

From the actual result, the two teams really don't need to fight to the death for an Iraq. They only need to draw to qualify. So what motivation is there to fight?

Perhaps only the pressure of public opinion about "sportsmanship"...

After Zhou Yi arrived at the national team, he attended a press conference with Gao Hongbo. At the press conference, he was asked a somewhat unfriendly question by a bearded reporter who claimed to be from Al Jazeera in Qatar.

"According to the current situation, as long as you draw with Jordan at home, the Chinese and Jordanian teams will qualify for the top ten. So will you play a tacit match with Jordan at home?"

As soon as this question was asked, it aroused dissatisfaction among many Chinese reporters present. There was an uproar at the scene, and some Chinese reporters shouted loudly in English: "Do you think we are all from West Asia!"

It is also generally acknowledged that West Asian football is good at playing fixed matches.

However, under the accusations of others, the Qatari reporter remained unchanged. He did not look at the Chinese reporters who glared at him, and his eyes were always locked on Zhou Yi.

Stubbornly demanding that Zhou Yi answer this question.

Why not ask Gao Hongbo, but ask Zhou Yi?

Because Zhou Yi is much younger than Gao Hongbo. Young people are sometimes more impulsive and easily fall into some verbal traps.

To put it bluntly, they think Zhou Yi is easy to bully.

Zhu Qiang, the press officer of the national team, leaned close to Gao Hongbo and whispered, seemingly wanting to refuse to answer this question.

But Zhou Yi spoke directly: "So, sir, what is your definition of a tacit match?"

Zhou Yi took the initiative, and a rhetorical question silenced the audience, and everyone turned their attention to the reporter from Al Jazeera in Qatar.

Zhou Yi has now passed the football to him. How will he respond?

This Qatari reporter also has a big heart. He said without changing his face: "It's just a draw."

There was a burst of boos from the Chinese reporters.

After the boos subsided, Zhou Yi spread his hands: "I don't understand, sir. The result of a football match is nothing more than victory, failure, and a draw. There are only these three results. With one sentence, you have made a football match only have two results: victory and failure, because a draw is a tacit match, which is abnormal... Have you asked FIFA about your definition of a draw?"

There was laughter from the Chinese reporters.

Gao Hongbo, who was sitting next to Zhou Yi, also narrowed his eyes and smiled, and then gestured to Zhu Qiang. Zhu Qiang stopped whispering to him and returned to his position, straightening his back and looking at the provocative Qatari reporter.

The Qatari reporter obviously did not expect Zhou Yi to answer him like this. He wanted to play word games with Zhou Yi, but found that Zhou Yi was the master of word games! This was obviously deliberately distorting his meaning and expanding it infinitely, which was actually acting like a rogue.

But he couldn't accuse Zhou Yi of acting like a rogue, because if he did, Zhou Yi could accuse him in turn...

So he shook his head and said: "I'm just saying that in the current situation, if China and Iraq draw, it will be a tacit match."

This time, no Chinese reporters booed him. It was not that the Chinese reporters agreed with his statement, but that everyone wanted to see how Zhou Yi would deal with him. At this time, they couldn't use boos to steal the show.

"Of course we will pursue victory in every game, sir. This is our home field after all, and our goal is of course to win. But a football match is unknown, and there are many possibilities, and there are always various accidents. So the result is not that we can get whatever result we want." Zhou Yi was not angry at the other party's unreasonableness, but patiently explained to him. "But please understand that we have already qualified for the top ten in advance. In this case, we have no reason to do our best for Iraq's appearance or not, risking injury—I know Qatar has money, so if I am seriously injured and retire in the game against Jordan, can you support me for the rest of my life?"

He asked with a smile, and the Chinese reporters laughed in cooperation.

The Qatari reporter did not answer Zhou Yi's question. Of course, Zhou Yi did not expect this reporter to answer his question—he would be stupid if he really answered it—his question was just to mock this Qatari reporter.

Then he continued: "I think it is normal for us to have some reservations in the game. Don't think too much. Even if it is a draw in the end, it is just a normal result caused by so many normal factors. It has nothing to do with any tacit match. In addition, I would also like to ask you to believe in our sportsmanship. On this point, I can guarantee to you that no matter what, we will definitely not do anything that is so unsportsmanlike as to close down an entire hotel under the pretext of renovation. Please rest assured. Through this matter, you should be able to see how much sportsmanship we have, right?"

At this point, the people at the press conference were already laughing. Everyone knew what Zhou Yi's last sentence was referring to. This was a beautiful slap in the face!

Sure enough, the Qatari reporter, who had been able to remain unchanged and glare at the Chinese reporters before, was said by Zhou Yi with a blushing face, and his face full of beard seemed to be shaking.

Gao Hongbo and Zhu Qiang also did not hide the smiles on their faces, perhaps they did not intend to hide it at all...

"So, sir, do you have any other doubts?" Zhou Yi asked, with a faint smile on his face, which in the eyes of many people, was simply sarcasm without a doubt...

The Qatari reporter was very unwilling to be defeated like this. He wanted to explain himself, but he didn't know what to say when he opened his mouth. He was so speechless that he couldn't say anything for a long time.

Seeing this, the press officer Zhu Qiang took the opportunity to say: "Since there are no more questions, then this press conference is over. Thank you for your participation and support for the work of the national team!"

A tense press conference ended in laughter.

And I believe that Zhou Yi's performance at this press conference will definitely be spread by the media, and then be talked about for a long time, becoming an anecdote in his career...