Midfielder Ruler

Portugal defeated Russia 2:0 to advance to the quarterfinals. This gave Tang Zheng, who took the bus to the Nizhny Novgorod Arena, a great incentive, because when Portugal advanced to the quarterfinals, many media used Portugal's advancement to create hype. Tang Zheng and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Four years later, Cristiano Ronaldo will be thirty-seven years old, and there is a big question mark as to whether he can continue his career. Four years later, Tang Zheng will be close to thirty-three years old, and his career will enter the final stage. Decline is inevitable...

In other words, once the Chinese team can defeat Croatia and advance to the quarterfinals, the duel between Cristiano Ronaldo and Tang Zheng will appear again.

However, this matchup is different from the past, because the two represent their respective countries, and many media have thought about the title of the game in advance.

A fateful battle!

Cristiano Ronaldo and Tang Zheng were fighting for power in Real Madrid, but in the end the younger Tang Zheng won the internal fight and stayed. Now, the possible showdown in the World Cup naturally attracts everyone's attention.

But before that, the Chinese team led by Tang Zheng must defeat Croatia, led by club teammate Modric!

"Ouch, ouch, ouch -"

In a fanatical atmosphere, the Chinese players who arrived at the Nizhny Novgorod Arena warmed up extremely seriously before the game and were in very good condition.

Of course, the players' excellent condition has little to do with the fanatical atmosphere at the scene. The real reason is that Mr. Xi will watch the 1/8 finals between the Chinese team and Croatia accompanied by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

You must know that Putin did not go to the 1/8 finals between Russia and Portugal, but asked Prime Minister Medvedev to come to the scene to "supervise the battle" on his behalf.

This shows how much Russian President Vladimir Putin attaches great importance to the first Russian World Cup match that Mr. Xi watched live.

I don’t know if it was because the media revealed before the game that Putin and Xi would appear at the Nizhny Novgorod Arena to watch the game. The world’s top ten bookmakers also adjusted the odds of both sides. Croatia was originally favored. There has been an increase, while the odds of the Chinese team have been adjusted downward.

It is not difficult to see that betting companies are beginning to be optimistic about the prospects of the Chinese team.

There is still an hour before the start of the game, and the starting lists of both sides appear on the FIFA official website.

Croatia used its usual 423 formation, with goalkeeper Subasic, four defenders Strinic, Lovren, Vida and Vorsaljko, and double midfielder Modric partnering with Rakitic. The three forwards are Perisic, Brozovic and Rebic, with Mandzukic at the front.

The official lineup submitted by the Chinese team is also 4231, with goalkeeper Yan Junling, four defenders Jiang Zhipeng, Feng Xiaoting, Gao Zhunyi and ** Peng, double midfielder Tang Zheng partnering Li Kui, and three forwards Lu Liang, Hao Junmin and Wu Sanshi , Sun Jingbo is at the front.

Chinese fans sitting in front of the TV can see the Chinese players warming up at the training ground through the CC5 live broadcast. Beijing studio commentator Shao Shengyi, who appeared on the left side of the broadcast screen, took the Chinese team's starting lineup and analyzed it to the camera: "This In this game, Lippi did not field Zhang Yuzhao, a center in the traditional sense, nor Ye Erfan, who performed well in the third round of the group. Instead, he chose Sun Jingbo. From the formation, it is easy to see that the Chinese team is To occupy the wing with Croatia, whether it is Tang Zheng, Modric, or Rakitic, they all have strong long-pass transfer capabilities. When based on defense, long-pass counterattack is a very direct and practical tactic... …”

Although Shao Shengyi spoke with great joy in the live broadcast room, the Chinese fans sitting in front of the TV had no intention of listening to his nonsense. Their attention was focused on the Chinese players who occupied most of the broadcast screen.

On the eve of the war, the player's condition is their focus.

The Chinese players seen in the broadcast did not disappoint the fans in front of the TV. Each player was in good mental state.

If this amazing state can continue until the start of the game, Chinese fans have absolute confidence in the fans they support!

So what if Croatia is stronger overall?

Our national team can still win the game!

※※※

"Ouch, ouch, ouch—"

There was still half an hour before the start of the game. Players from both sides had returned to their respective locker rooms to make final preparations for the upcoming game. But at this moment, a deafening roar suddenly erupted from the stands.

The sound was so loud that even the Chinese players who had closed the locker room door could hear it.

Lippi, who was explaining the key points of game tactics, paused for a moment, raised his eyebrows, and then continued to explain.

Although the Chinese fans in the locker room were curious, they were not curious because the top priority for them was the upcoming game.

Time passed quickly. At 8:50 pm local time in Russia, players from the home and away team locker rooms of Nizhny Novgorod Arena came to the player tunnel one after another. The fans sitting in front of the TV realized that , the fourth 1/8 finals of the Russian World Cup between the Chinese team and the Croatian team is coming soon.

The Croatian team has many acquaintances with the Chinese team. For example, Tang Zheng, Modric and Kovacic are Real Madrid teammates, Lu Liang and Lovren are Liverpool teammates, **Peng and Mandzukic are Juventus teammates, and Pesilic He played for Dortmund for one season in the 2011-2012 season, but he was not reused by Klopp and appeared more as a substitute. However, his relationship with Tang Zheng was pretty good, so the two of them were polite in the player tunnel. Hugs and encouragement.

Tang Zheng and Modric are the focus of the fans in front of the TV. As the captains of the Chinese team and Croatia, they also wear the No. 10 jersey, so they naturally receive greater attention, so the close-ups of the live director are consciously taken care of. Tang Zheng and Modric.

Tang Zheng and Modric did not pay attention to the sounds outside the stadium. Tang Zheng, who was a full head taller than Modric, rubbed Modric's flowing mid-length hair affectionately and said with a smile: "Sorry, Luka. , you have to pack your bags and go back to your country tonight."

Modric rolled his eyes, but he was not angry, but shrugged his shoulders: "Anyway, you are only quick at talking, and we will definitely win in the end!"

"Really?" Tang Zheng blinked: "Luka?"

"Of course!" Modric said firmly: "We are much stronger than you."

"Then... I hope you won't cry then."

Tang Zheng held Modric's raised right hand and grinned.

"Don't worry, I will definitely comfort you when you cry." Modric also gave him a firm squeeze: "Who makes you my best partner? Right?"

"Hahaha, in that case, let's find out in the competition."

"OK!"

As captains of their respective teams, Tang Zheng and Modric had more arduous tasks and naturally did not have that much time to chat in the player tunnel. After separation, they hugged their teammates one by one to relieve their pressure.

You must know that this game was watched live by the head of state, Xi Jinping. It would be absolutely false to say that he was not nervous.

Not long after, referee Pitana and his referee team led the Croatian players wearing red and white plaid shirts and the Chinese players wearing yellow shirts into the court.

"Ouch, ouch, ouch—"

In the midst of lightning and flint, huge shouts like mountains and tsunamis rang out over the Nizhny Novgorod Arena.

Whether they are fans in the fan square outside the stadium or fans in front of the TV, they can feel the surge deep in their hearts.

The competition to advance to the quarterfinals is about to begin!

※※※

According to the Russian World Cup schedule, the Chinese team is the away team, so the first broadcast is the Chinese national anthem.

Every Chinese was in awe at this time, including Mr. Xi, who was waiting for the start of the game accompanied by Putin and Infantino. He and his wife had serious expressions and sang the national anthem softly along with the tune of the radio.

As one of the most watched leaders in the world's political arena, Mr. Xi was naturally under the focus of the on-site director, so after taking a close-up shot of China's starting players, he quickly switched to the VIP seat and gave Mr. Xi a push in the face. close-up shot.

Fans sitting in front of the TV can see not only Mr. Xi and Mrs. Xi through the broadcast, but also Russian President Vladimir Putin, FIFA President Infantino, and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic.

In addition to the star-studded stadium, the VIP seats in this World Cup 1/8 final are even better.

Of course, what fans pay most attention to is the game itself.

After the Croatian national anthem ended, the players from both teams stood on one side, and the captain walked to the referee Pitano and guessed the ball.

In the end, Modric won the right to pick the side, and Tang Zheng naturally won the right to kick off.

Before the start of the game, the on-site director also gave the video referee team a close-up picture of nearly five seconds. The six video referees who appeared on the broadcast screen will assist the referee Pitano in enforcing the focus of the game.

He Wei, the CCTV commentator sitting in the stadium commentary box, couldn't wait. His voice was full of passion and he shouted hysterically: "The game is getting closer to us! I think the fans sitting in front of the TV are as excited as me. I am very much looking forward to the Chinese team defeating Croatia and advancing to the quarterfinals of this World Cup, because Portugal, led by Ronaldo, has already advanced to the quarterfinals. If the Chinese team can defeat Croatia, the opponent they will face in the quarter-finals will be led by Ronaldo. Portugal!”

At this moment, the referee Pitana blew his whistle: "Beep~"

Sun Jingbo kicked the ball back to Tang Zheng outside the center circle. Mandzukic took the lead and pounced on Tang Zheng who was in possession of the ball.

Tang Zheng did not touch the ball and handed it directly to central defender Gao Zhunyi. Mandzukic turned a corner and rushed over without losing speed.

"CCTV! CCTV! What we are broadcasting for you now is the live broadcast of the match between the Chinese team and the Croatian team in the fourth 1/8 finals of the 2018 Russian World Cup. The Chinese team is wearing yellow jerseys and yellow pants. They are broadcasting from The right side of the screen is attacking to the left. The Croatian team wearing red and white plaid shirts and black shorts are attacking from the left side of the broadcast screen to the right..."

At the same time, Central 5 commentator He Wei habitually said the opening remarks.

Gao Zhunyi passed the ball across to Feng Xiaoting. The latter stopped the ball forward slightly with the outside of his instep, and then passed the ball directly to the frontcourt.

Because the passing position was too far forward, Lovren beat Sun Jingbo to complete the header to clear the ball.

Hao Junmin and Modric took off at the same time, but no one caught the ball. After the ball bounced to the ground, Li Kui pushed it back to the frontcourt from the Croatian defense for half a circle.

The Croatian left back Strinic jumped high, overpowering Takesanshi who took off symbolically, and pushed the ball into the center circle again.

The football flew towards the area controlled by Tang Zheng. Brozovic and Rebic took off at the same time, but Tang Zheng was tall and judged the ball's landing spot very accurately. He easily pushed the ball forward.

Although Sun Jingbo is also 1.84 meters tall and has good jumping ability, it is a pity that his size is obviously at a disadvantage in front of Lovren, and Lovren pushes the ball back again.

In this way, the football was pushed back and forth eight or nine times.

Until the football reached Tang Zheng's control again, he first blocked the position, stuck Brozovic behind him, and then pushed the ball forward with his chest. Without waiting for the football to land, he directly pointed towards the football with the arch of his right foot, and the football flew Defending the left rib to Croatia.

Because Tang Zheng's pass was closer to Sun Jingbo, it was difficult for Lovren to get the football from behind. Fortunately, he reacted quickly. While sticking to Sun Jingbo, he stretched out his left foot and poked the football to the sideline. Linic extended his foot half a beat slower, and the football went out of the sideline.

"The football was cleared by Lovren and the Chinese team got a frontline ball."

He Wei's voice changed.

"Ouch, ouch, ouch -"

The game had just begun, and the shouts in the stands were deafening. ** Peng, who was about to throw the side ball, waved his arms to incite the excitement of the Chinese fans.

**Peng took the football thrown by the staff on the sidelines and backed away far enough.

"**Peng is going to throw the ball hard." He Wei's voice changed significantly and became more excited.

Most of the fans sitting in front of the TV are not completely ready to watch the game. They are still eating snacks and drinking beer...

The broadcast showed more than six Chinese players entering the Croatian penalty area, so that except for Modric who stood at the top of the penalty area, the other nine players all returned to the penalty area to assist in defense.

"Chinese team's sideline ball." ** Peng ran up and threw the sideline ball. Central 5 commentator He Wei shouted: "The football was thrown very far and flew towards the Croatian penalty area!"

The three high points of Tang Zheng, Gao Zhunyi and Sun Jingbo are the key defensive targets of Croatian players, especially Tang Zheng.

Tang Zheng, who was standing at the back point, gave up his takeoff under the pressure of Lovren and Mandzukic. Sun Jingbo, who was in the front point, and Gao Zhunyi and Hao Junmin in the middle took off at the same time. Vida, Brozovic, Rakitic and Fossa took off at the same time. Rico jumped up.

But after taking off, they collided with each other, and no one hit the football and missed it.

Tang Zheng, who was ambushing in the back post, reacted very quickly. When he saw the ball coming, he subconsciously raised his long legs forward. He used his very good sense of the ball to stop the ball at his feet, and then swung his right foot, tricking Lovren into falling to the ground and shoveling. .

As a result, Tang Zheng did not shoot. Instead, he slammed the ball to the left with the inside of the instep of his right foot. The speed of the movement was completely unlike that of a big man over 1.9 meters tall.

With his right foot on the ground, his left foot naturally swung up. In order to ensure the speed of the kick and increase the suddenness, Tang Zheng did not swish his thigh. He swung his calf and poked the football with the toe of his left foot.

The football rolled against the turf towards the near corner of the goal. Rebic, who was guarding the goal post, did not kick the football. Goalkeeper Subasic fell to the ground too late...

No one expected that in less than a minute of the game, the Chinese team would get a dream start!