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Chapter 377 Young People's War
The Chinese team defeated the Japanese team [-]-[-] in the semi-finals of the Asian Cup and entered the finals of the Asian Cup for four consecutive times.
In the history of the Asian Cup, the teams that have won the most championships so far are Saudi Arabia and Iran in West Asia, each with three championships, and the Chinese team twice. But if they can win the Asian Cup this time, they will become the third team to win the Asian Cup three times!
What is a little surprising is that the other team that entered the final is also a team that has already won two Asian Cups. In another semi-final, the South Korean team relied on Park Joo-young’s goal in the second half to beat Australia [-]-[-] and also entered the final.

When the Chinese fans knew that their opponent in the final would be South Korea, although most fans had great confidence in this new national team, the Chinese national team had maintained a very high winning percentage against the South Korean national team in the past ten years.

What's more, this South Korean team also has quite a few good players. The leader Park Ji-sung is one of the few stars in Asia who can be the main player in the world-class giants. At the same time, his collective honor is not inferior to China's Messi and Adriano.

In addition to the 30-year-old Park Ji-sung, the South Korean national team has not much fewer overseas players than the Chinese team. Park Joo-young who plays for Monaco in Ligue 27, Ki Sung-yong who plays for Real Sociedad in La Liga, Lee Chung-ryong who plays for Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League, and Shin Young-rok who plays for Fenerbahce in Turkey are all good players who have established themselves in the European arena. At the same time, except for Park Ji-sung, the other players are basically under [-] years old, and there are many players who are the same age as Long Bisheng.

Whether it is the composition of personnel or the personal reputation of the players, the South Korean national team is no worse than the Chinese national team. Chinese football is certainly improving, but its two neighbors and two powerful enemies are also improving. Like the Chinese team, they are also a traditional powerhouse with mature domestic leagues and many players sent to Europe.

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"Aaron, Li Qinglong's experience is similar to yours!"

Winning the Japanese team, the Chinese team was very happy. Ding Yu also gave the players a day's rest. However, due to the hot weather outside, the players basically rested and had fun in the hotel. Long Bisheng didn't know how to play billiards or drink, so he hid in the room and surfed the Internet. Li Jie, who shared the same room with him, was also too lazy to go out, so he surfed the Internet like Long Bisheng.

On the way, Li Jie yelled suddenly, and Long Bisheng turned around, just in time to see Li Jie waving to him, asking him to look at the webpage on his computer screen.

Playing in Europe, Long Bisheng and Li Jie seldom care about Asian football. Even if they browse the news, they only look at domestic websites. Those big portal websites mainly report on European football and the domestic Chinese Super League. There are not too many reports on their neighbors. However, Korean overseas players basically play in England, Spain and other second-tier leagues. Almost none of them play in the Bundesliga. Not familiar at all.

"Li Qinglong?" Long Bisheng wanted to laugh when he heard this name. From the literal point of view, this name really looks like a Chinese name, but it is estimated that no parents would give their children such a name in modern times, right?This kind of name is more like the name of a certain martial arts master in a martial arts novel.

"Or more like the name of a cultivator in fantasy novels?" Long Bisheng thought in his heart, and leaned over to ask Li Jie, "What experience is similar to mine?"

"Look." Li Jie pointed at the screen enthusiastically: "This guy started playing football at the age of 11. It took seven years to become the main player of Seoul FC, the top league team in Korea. Then, after three seasons, he moved to Bolton in the Premier League. He played the main player for one and a half seasons, and this season he moved to Tottenham Hotspur... After ten years of football, he joined the Premier League. He is not much worse than you."

Long Bisheng thinks about it too, he started formal professional training when he was almost ten years old, was loaned to Naples six years later, and gained playing experience in Serie A after two seasons—but this guy seems to be better than himself, he became the main force of the Premier League team at the age of 21, and he was still playing in the British Championship when he was 21 years old.

Li Qinglong is only one year older than himself, and has already played in the Premier League for two seasons, and joined one of the strong teams, Tottenham Hotspur.

"It seems that the South Korean team is very strong." Long Bisheng said with some surprise: "I thought that no Asian team would be our opponent."

"Of course they are no longer our opponents!" Li Jie said nonchalantly, "Don't look at his impressive resume. Who is worse than him? Dai Guangming has played in La Liga for three seasons, and he is about to move to Valencia. Not everyone can score goals! Not to mention that you scored a lot in the Europa League... Their Park Ji-sung is famous, but he is also 30 years old, our Messi and Adriano don’t even bother to play in the Asian Cup! Besides, even Du, Gao, Zhang, and Sun’s status in Asia is not much worse than Park Ji-sung!"

"That's true." Long Bisheng was relieved. The strength of Chinese football is an unshakable fact. This huge advantage in all aspects cannot be compensated by one or two geniuses.

Of course, this refers to the overall and development advantages. When it comes down to a certain game, the victory also depends on the players themselves. With the tenacity of the Koreans, this final will definitely not be so easy to win.

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On July 28, the day before the Asian Cup final, the Chinese national team stayed at the Sheraton Hotel.

"I called everyone here today to announce the starting lineup for tomorrow's game."

Seeing the national team players packed into his room, Ding Yu's eyes flashed with satisfaction. Most of these players are young players, but there are also many veterans. But at this time, these veterans who have played more than [-] times for the national team are crowded together with these young players without airs, and do not show any emotion of superiority.

"I think everyone knows who our opponent is in the final." Ding Yu said nonsense, and the players laughed softly in the room. Ding Yu himself laughed, he shook his head, and then said: "The South Korean team has achieved good results in Asia and the world in recent years, and they have a lot of young rookies. Let them know that even if our replacement is delayed for some reason, our young players are still better than them!"

As soon as these few words were said, the young players were naturally full of pride, and the old players basically showed no hesitation. Instead, they all smiled. It seems that Ding Yu also got through with them in the previous game.

"Now announce the starting lineup." Ding Yu glanced: "Goalkeeper Wu Bufan, defenders, Gao Zhifa, Li Jie, Feng Xiao, Huang Zhenghong, midfielders Hu Gandang, Zhou Zhou, Zhang Yi, Dai Guangming, forwards Long Bisheng and...Fan Pengfei!"

The others were fine. Fan Pengfei blushed with excitement when he heard that his name was also on the starting list.

Although it is not the first time to play for the national team, he only played twice in this Asian Cup and scored one goal. More often than not, Ding Yu chose Sun Bing, who has stronger scoring ability and better skills, as the starting forward.
Fan Pengfei's dissatisfaction with Ding Yu for not taking him to the youth competition disappeared at this moment!

"Although you haven't played many games in the national team, that's just because there were too many excellent players in the previous national team... In the next five or even ten years, you will be the main part of the national team. This Asian Cup is a test of your strength. So far, you have done a good job. I hope you will do the same in the final. Your opponents are players who are about the same age as you. Even if they are older, they will not be a few years older. Whether Chinese football can continue to have an advantage over other Asian teams in the future depends on your current performance. .”

Ding Yu laughed: "This game will be a war of young people, but I believe that you will win this war!"

(End of this chapter)