Grass roots glory

Chapter 836 Warm-up match, Lippi's change

According to the national team's preparation plan, the preparation time for the World Cup lasts more than two weeks. The first four days are mainly to assemble the team in the country, complete a simple run-in, help the slightly injured to recover as much as possible, and then there is a game against Saudi Arabia. The Arab warm-up match is the final inspection before the list is finalized.

As for the media, they are very interested in any slightest disturbance within the national team.Especially Zhou Tiancheng, Lippi's attitude towards his shoulder injury is the most concerned by the media, which even surpasses the interest in the 23-man roster.After all, the core backbone of the Chinese team is the seven stars studying abroad, and those are the only players with reliable strength.Lippi is also unlikely to jump out of this circle.

But Lippi's attitude towards Zhou Tiancheng's shoulder injury can affect the team's tactics, and even determine to a certain extent the height that the Chinese team can achieve in this World Cup.

And all of this can only be seen in the warm-up match before the national team's actual departure at the earliest.

The press conference before the warm-up match with Saudi Arabia, this is Lippi's first appearance after the national team was assembled.The reporters wanted to ask too many questions, but it was not Zhou Tiancheng who followed Lippi, but Zheng Zhi.

This really surprised the reporters, and at the same time, they couldn't help worrying: What's the matter?

It stands to reason that this kind of farewell match in the country before going to the big competition, shouldn't the captain come out to express his opinion on behalf of the whole team?

What does it mean to push the old captain out?Isn't Lippi going to let Zhou Tiancheng play this time?
The injury got worse?

The reporters were all ready to greet Klopp in their hearts.

In the entire press conference, there were only two questions about the team's overall preparations. Four questions were asked in a row, all of which were related to Zhou Tiancheng.

It made Zheng Zhi feel awkward next to him, and Lippi was a little annoyed. Without waiting for the interpreter to finish speaking, he directly handed over the microphone and said loudly: "I know that everyone cares about Zhou Tiancheng very much. I can understand the mood, but I will represent China. He is not alone in the World Cup, but all 23 players. I can tell you that you will see the normal week, and you will also see the changes of the Chinese team in the next game. Of course, it has nothing to do with Zhou Tiancheng. The improvement of the team doesn't have to be about him."

After finishing speaking, Lippi got up and left the table, and the interpreter immediately followed after speaking in a hurry. Zheng Zhi didn't say a word from the beginning to the end, and even he himself felt embarrassed.

The reporters who were stunned by Lippi were a little confused at first, and then realized that Lippi would never bring a certain player to a press conference for no reason. Before, their first reaction was limited to Zheng Zhi, the veteran of the Chinese team. In the name of the captain, they only realized now that they seemed to have missed the point.

Perhaps this means that the changes mentioned by Lippi have something to do with Zheng Zhi.

And Saudi Arabia's starting roster was released, and all the reporters' formations and positions were instantly understood.

He Wei and Xu Yang, the CCTV commentators for this warm-up match, discussed with gusto the starting list.

"Zheng Zhi joined Feng Xiaoting in the central defender position. Is this the change Lippi mentioned?"

Xu Yang nodded lightly: "I think so. In the Confederations Cup last year, the problem of the Chinese team's defense was fully exposed. Feng Xiaoting is a first-class stream-of-consciousness defender in China, but one-on-one against a world-class defender The attacker is still very difficult, not to mention another player who plays with him as a central defender... No matter whether it is Mei Fang or Ren Hang, there is no second suitable central defender who can partner with him in China. Zheng Zhi is nothing more than It’s been so many years of going around and going back to the old job. Now the Chinese team is strong in the midfield, and there is no need for him to continue to support the field at the age of 34. The central defender is indeed the position that can maximize his experience.”

He Wei nodded approvingly, but then added: "This defense still needs to be tested, and Zhou Tiancheng's interception in the midfield needs to be tested more. The only problem Lippi faces now is that there is one less defense. Zhou Tiancheng..."

……

The reason why the Chinese team chose Saudi Arabia as their warm-up opponent is that Lippi’s consideration is to fully test the lineup. After all, they are both Asian teams. Naturally, the rhythm and intensity of the game are not on the same level as European teams, so Croatia After going to Brazil, the two opponents, Chile and Chile, are used as technical and tactical training in the state of battle.

As for this battle, it is a battle to fully release the offensive ability, and it is also a battle to enhance confidence.

Lippi made it very clear to everyone in the locker room: "Boys, from now on, you can really think of yourself as if you are already on the World Cup field. Your opponents may be like this, but they are not like this." You have imagined it to be so powerful. The atmosphere you are facing is no different from this one. As a member of the Chinese team, you are really very lucky. Because no matter where you play, Chinese fans have the ability to take the game The venue has become our home field! This is something I have never experienced in Italy. I have told you before, show your strength. We are not afraid of any opponent in Asia. Now I ask you to use offense to dominate the game. You You will find that we have the strength to fight with many teams in the world. From now on, you only need to do one thing: do everything possible to send the ball to the position closest to the opponent's goal!"

……

Reporters once again found that they had miscalculated Lippi.

Although Lippi's on-the-spot command has never been as exaggerated as Klopp, Simeone, and Spalletti, it must not be defined as conservative.

Zheng Zhi retreated and stood on the back line. At this moment, the fans felt that Lippi might want him to become the Cannavaro of the Chinese team—not tall, but with outstanding consciousness and tough style, he became the back line Dinghaishen needle on it.

But just 10 minutes into the game, everyone realized how wrong they were.

Zheng Zhi is not Cannavaro of the Chinese team.Cannavaro never existed as a backcourt engine in that Italian team.

And what about Zheng Zhi?

When the Saudi team planned to use the three midfielders to cut off the connection between Zhou Tiancheng and Hao Junmin, Zheng Zhi took the initiative to meet him as the third support point. After receiving the ball from Zhou Tiancheng, he directly made a long pass to Chen Pengfei on the left side of the frontcourt , The Saudi team's midfield pressing system collapsed instantly, leaving a large area of ​​space in the backcourt.

At this moment, the goal of the Saudi team is-my door is always open, waiting for you with open arms...

He Wei couldn't help being inexplicably excited: "Oh! What a sharp attack. We must admire the wisdom of Mr. Lippi. It seems that we no longer have to worry about Zhou Tiancheng being targeted by the opponent."

(End of this chapter)