Football: Starting from the 05 World Youth Championship

When the news spread that the Chinese delegation had chosen Lin Feng as its flag bearer, it caused quite a stir.

Because it involves men's football, there has been a lot of controversy.

[The men's football team hasn't achieved any significant results at the Olympics in the past few decades, so how can such an important role as flag bearer be entrusted to a men's football player?]

Choosing a flag bearer isn't like choosing a sport. In this Olympic delegation, who has a greater international influence and a wider audience than Lin Feng? I think he's a very suitable choice!

[Lin Feng is unsuitable. Does that mean we should always choose male basketball players like we have for the past few decades? At least choosing Lin Feng this time sets a precedent, giving other sports a chance next time. Therefore, I support choosing Lin Feng as the flag bearer!]

Lin Feng is impeccable in terms of personal ability, character, and morality. Choosing him as the standard-bearer likely reflects the hope that he will continue to strive for excellence and shoulder the responsibility of revitalizing Chinese football.

Because Yao Ming, Liu Xiang, and Lin Feng are all very famous, in the hearts of the general public, all three are acceptable and any choice would be fine.

Therefore, the opposition is not strong, and even if there is opposition, the opposition is not directed at Lin Feng, but rather at Chinese football.

The Chinese national football team's record over the past few decades has been so poor that it has resulted in a very bad image among the general public.

Although the national football team's performance has improved in recent years, for people who are unfamiliar with football, the national football team is still the same team with poor results and unable to beat anyone.

But this matter has already been decided and it is unlikely to be changed, unless Lin Feng himself causes some major trouble.

On August 4, the Chinese Olympic team played its last warm-up match before the season, against Liaoning FC, a long-established team in the Chinese Super League.

To avoid excessive physical exertion on the players, this warm-up match was only scheduled for 60 minutes, with two 30-minute halves.

The final result of the match was that the Chinese Olympic team easily defeated Liaoning FC 3-1. However, Liaoning FC seemed to be too conservative, and dared not make any big moves in defense, for fear of injuring the players of the Chinese Olympic team in the final stage before the start of the Olympics.

Therefore, this match was not very effective for training. It mainly served to help the players get a feel for the game and, incidentally, to build confidence by winning a victory.

The Chinese Olympic team's first opponent at the Olympics is New Zealand, whose national team's strength has consistently hovered between 80th and 90th place.

Although their ranking is not high, they are the undisputed hegemon of Oceania after Australia left. Unfortunately, Oceania only has 0.5 spots.

Even if New Zealand makes it through the Oceania qualifiers, their qualification for the World Cup finals will depend on the results of teams from other continents.

If you're lucky enough to be drawn into an Asian or North American team, your chances of qualifying for the World Cup finals will be better. If you're unlucky and get drawn into a South American team, then you're doomed.

However, the New Zealand U23 team is of average strength. On paper, they are undoubtedly the weakest team in Group C.

Therefore, for the national Olympic team, the first match must not only be won, but also as many goals as possible.

In the final scoring stage, every goal difference can become crucial.

"Our opponents are not very strong and will likely adopt a defensive counter-attacking strategy or even park the bus to deal with us. But we have the strongest attacking line in all of Asia. They can't stop us. Victory will definitely be ours!"

August 6th, one day before the competition.

The atmosphere within the team suddenly became tense, and even Gao Lin and Feng Xiaoting, who were usually the most eloquent, became much quieter.

As for someone like Chen Tao, you almost never hear him say a word all day.

Klaus Toppmöller felt this wouldn't do; the game hadn't even started yet, and the players were already caught in a cycle of internal strife.

So he gathered all the team members together and held a pre-match mobilization meeting.

Although he hated meetings, they were indeed necessary at this time.

"Do you know what? I've been very nervous these past few days because this is my first time leading a team to the Olympics!"

"If I lead you guys and you can't even get out of the group stage, the fans will drown me in their spittle. China has 1.3 billion people, they can definitely do it. God, that would be the cruelest way to die!"

Klaus Toppmöller's first words immediately caught the players' attention.

Instead of immediately reprimanding the players from a superior position and criticizing them for this or that, he put himself in the players' shoes and exaggeratedly described his own predicament.

This significantly reduced the players' psychological resistance, and they subconsciously regarded Klaus Toppmöller as one of their own, rather than as a high and mighty manager.

The team members couldn't help but laugh when they heard what Klaus Schönchen said.

Many people realized, "So coaches get nervous too. I'm not the only one who feels this way," and became less nervous as a result.

Seeing the reactions of the crowd, Klaus Toppmöller nodded slightly in approval and continued:
"But being nervous is useless and doesn't solve the problem, so in order to relieve my nervousness, I tried to adopt the perspective of a New Zealander. Then I found that I not only became more nervous, but also a little desperate."

Imagine you were the head coach of the New Zealand national team, facing opponents like Lin Feng, arguably the world's best player, along with Chen Tao, Gao Lin, Feng Xiaoting, and many other players from the top five European leagues. Wouldn't you feel hopeless?

The team members burst into laughter, and after trying to see things from the opponent's perspective, they realized that this match was incredibly difficult for them.

After this brief introduction, the tense atmosphere within the team eased considerably, and smiles returned to many people's faces.

"Are you feeling much better now? Just play normally in tomorrow's game and perform at your usual level. If you're really nervous, just pass the ball to Lin Feng, and he'll help the team solve the problem."

Lin Feng also stepped forward at the opportune moment and said firmly:
"Everyone, play with confidence. If you encounter any difficulties, leave them to me. As the captain, I'll lead you guys to victory and make you soar to new heights!"

Normally, Lin Feng wouldn't say such frivolous things, nor would he make such confident statements.

But all of this today was to support Klaus Toppmöller's performance, and the first game was crucial for the team, so as captain, he had to make a sacrifice.

With the coach's analysis and the captain's assurance, everyone, especially the young players in the team, seemed to have been relieved of a huge burden and started to joke around again.

"Hey Lin, don't just focus on your own performance tomorrow, remember to give us guys a few assists too. I want to help our national Olympic team fill the void of not having a hat-trick at the Olympics!"

Gao Lin hooked his arm around Lin Feng's shoulder and began to coax and plead with him.

"Go away, you might not even be able to play tomorrow, what are you doing making a fuss here!"

Lin Feng pushed the grinning guy away with a look of disgust.

Gao Lin's injury has almost fully healed, and he has started rehabilitation training in the past few days.

But with his current form, he definitely won't be able to make it to the opening match, and it's doubtful he'll even be able to make it to the last group stage match.

"Hehe, Brother Lin, pass me the ball more often tomorrow. I don't ask for much, just one goal would be fine!"

Dong Fangzhuo was not as outgoing as Gao Lin, nor was his relationship with Lin Feng as close as Gao Lin's, so he was somewhat reserved and only dared to make a small request.

"Okay, just watch your positioning. I'll pass you the ball when I have the chance."

Having received Lin Feng's promise, Dong Fangzhuo was as happy as a 200-pound child. He secretly made up his mind to perform well in tomorrow's game!
……

At 17:00 on August 6, the opening match of the Beijing Olympics kicked off at the Tianjin Water Drop Stadium.

The first match was the women's football game, in which the Canadian women's team defeated the relatively weak Argentine women's team 2-1.

In the subsequent group match, thanks to goals from Xu Yuan and Han Duan, the Chinese women's football team defeated the strong Swedish women's football team 2-1, securing a winning start.

The pressure is on the men's football team!
The women's football team has already put the men's team to shame. If the men's team loses the game, they shouldn't blame the fans for turning their backs on them and hurling insults at them.

Since the Olympics had not yet started and other events had not yet begun, the attention of the whole country and even the world was focused on the football matches that were starting first.

As the host country, the Chinese team naturally attracts the most attention. Putting aside everything else, at least half of China's 8 billion people will be glued to their TVs on August 7th to watch the Olympic team's opening match!
On August 7, the Shenyang Olympic Sports Center, which can accommodate 8 fans, was packed to capacity.

Except for a very small number of foreign fans, all the stands were filled with Chinese fans.

The fans were dressed up, with national flag stickers on their faces and waving small national flags, creating momentum and warming up the crowd even before the game started.

The fans with cameras didn't stop for a moment, pressing the shutter repeatedly, making the flashes as dazzling as stars.

In addition to the 60,000 fans in attendance, the match also attracted hundreds of domestic and international media outlets, with nearly a thousand reporters present to cover the event.

There are no fewer than 10,000 television stations of all sizes around the world broadcasting this match live!
The sheer volume of traffic generated by the Olympics in this era is truly terrifying!
Inside the locker rooms of both teams, the head coaches were giving their final pep talks.

"Go, children, your stage is ready!"

After briefly reminding everyone of the tactics, Klaus Toppmöller opened the locker room door. Instantly, the noise from the stadium swept into the national Olympic team's locker room like a whirlwind.

The players could vaguely hear the fans outside cheering them on amidst the noise.

They were initially a little nervous, but upon hearing these sounds, their tension vanished instantly, leaving only excitement and exhilaration.

Just as Klaus Toppmöller said, the stage has been set, and all that's left is for the protagonist to take the stage!
The Chinese Olympic team wasn't nervous, but the New Zealanders next door seemed a bit nervous, dawdling for quite a while before finally coming out of the locker room.

After coming out, the New Zealand players couldn't help but swallow hard when they saw Lin Feng and others from the Chinese team.

Especially the players who were matched up against Lin Feng, they were completely baffled:

Me, fight Lin Feng??

Standing in the player tunnel, Lin Feng could feel that someone in the opposite queue was secretly looking at him.

However, when he turned his head, the other person immediately looked away and dared not meet his gaze.

With just this one detail, Lin Feng could sense the current atmosphere within the opposing team.

This game is in the bag!

A few minutes later, the referee began to lead the players onto the field.

As the team captain, Lin Feng stood at the very front of the team and was the first to step onto the court.

"They're here! Lin Feng and the others are here!"

Go China!

"Ahhh, Lin Feng is so handsome!"

"Lin Feng, keep going! We'll always love you!"

A group of female fans screamed, almost fainting from Lin Feng's handsomeness.

He looks even more handsome in person than on TV.

No wonder he's considered one of the most handsome players in football, on par with Kaká!

"Go Lin Feng! We male fans love you too!"

Seeing this, the men around them also imitated the female fans, cupping their faces in their hands and shouting in a high-pitched, affected voice.

Lin Feng got goosebumps all over his body because it was so disgusting that he couldn't help but glance over there.

Seeing that their actions had successfully attracted Lin Feng's attention, the people performed even more energetically.

Lin Feng felt a chill run down his spine, pretended not to hear, and quickened his pace to enter the stadium.

In the center of the stadium, twenty volunteers held up a circular Olympic rings symbol.

At the sidelines of the stadium, four staff members unfurled two national flags, and the players from both teams lined up in their respective flags.

As a team, New Zealand played its national anthem first, followed by the home team.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please rise for the national anthem of the People's Republic of China!"

Unlike the previous silence, almost everyone in the stands stood up with a whoosh.

The stadium, which had been extremely noisy just minutes before, suddenly became quiet.

As the majestic national anthem played, the players on the field, the spectators in the stands, and countless fans watching the game at home on television, all spontaneously sang along to the national anthem etched into their very being:
"Rise up! Those who refuse to be slaves!"

"Let our flesh and blood build our new Great Wall..."

The massive chorus of 60,000 people was spectacular and deeply moved the New Zealanders nearby.

Moreover, they felt that after the national anthem was sung, the demeanor of the Chinese team members next to them seemed to change.

There seems to be an added murderous aura!
After the national anthem was sung, the players from both teams lined up to shake hands, and then each stood on one side to take a group photo.

After the photos were taken, the other team members dispersed and returned to their positions.

Lin Feng, representing the Chinese team, exchanged team flags with the opposing team's captain.

The referee took out a coin and said to the two captains, "Heads for the home team, tails for the away team!"

After saying that, he tossed the coin onto the lawn, and it landed heads up.

The referee then looked at Lin Feng and said:

"Okay, does the home team choose possession or the field?"

Lin Feng chose the shaded half of the court because it was summer and the sun was still up at five o'clock. The sunlight would still have a significant impact on the players on the court, especially when attacking or defending in the sunlight.

Therefore, the venue is more important!
After both sides selected their respective fields and possession of the ball, the captains shook hands amicably, then shook hands with the referee team members one by one before standing together for a group photo.

Meanwhile, the other players on both sides were already jumping around on the field, trying to get their bodies excited as quickly as possible.

Lin Feng handed the opposing team's flag to the staff on the sidelines, then returned to his own half of the court and gathered his teammates together.
"Alright, brothers, remember our goal for this match!"

"Team China!"

"Must win!"

The group put their hands together, shouted three times, and then dispersed again.

The referee started looking at his watch, and when the hands reached exactly 17:00, the whistle blew.

The opening match of the men's football group stage at the Beijing Olympics has officially begun! (End of Chapter)