Midfielder Ruler

Ouch, ouch, ouch -

When Zhang Linpeng's penalty kick was rejected by Pickford, the English fans at the Luzhniki Stadium subconsciously made a huge roar, which was deafening.

The Chinese fans in the stands were a little overwhelmed by the fanatical atmosphere. Some held their heads in their hands, some sat down, and some looked up at the sky with their arms crossed, their eyes empty, and they didn't know what they were thinking.

If England's fourth kicker hits the penalty kick, then... England will meet the French team in the Russian World Cup finals.

You must know that in the 117th minute of the game, Tang Zheng helped the Chinese team overtake the score. It was only half a step away from the finals, but now it is facing the situation of being eliminated from the finals.

The psychological gap is so huge that it is really hard to accept.

Every Chinese player frowned, including Tang Zheng, who was comforting Zhang Linpeng, with a heavy expression on his face, feeling extremely worried about the future.

The on-site director's close-up shot first showed the Chinese team's goalkeeper Zeng Cheng, then showed Yan Junling sitting in the audience, and finally the screen focused on Tang Zheng comforting Zhang Linpeng.

These three scenes are meaningful. If Zeng Cheng had saved at least one of England's third penalty kicks before, then the Chinese team would not have faced this situation.

Yan Junling is the number one goalkeeper of the Chinese team. If he had not received a red card in the quarter-finals, he would have become the starting goalkeeper of the Chinese team in this crucial semi-final. If Yan Junling had played in this game, perhaps the Chinese team would have advanced to the finals. qualifications.

The intention in the final scene was even more obvious. Without Tang Zheng in the quarter-finals between the Chinese team and the Portuguese team, there would be no Chinese team in this semi-final at the Luzhniki Stadium.

Chick hugged his teammates one by one and slowly walked to the penalty area.

The English people at the Luzhniki Stadium roared like a mountain and a tsunami, cheering for Loftus-Cheek.

Standing on the goal line, Zeng Cheng kept adjusting his mentality and hinting that he would be able to save Chik's penalty kick.

But as Chick came to the penalty spot, Zeng Cheng's nervousness reached the extreme, his mind went blank, and he completely forgot all the questions asked by goalkeeper coach Lampula.

Many Chinese fans chose to close their eyes at this time, obviously afraid to see Chik's possible penalty kick.

Some fans also pray, hoping that gods such as Tathagata Buddha, Guanyin Bodhisattva, and the Jade Emperor can come forward at this time to help the Chinese team survive this disaster.

Ruben-Cheek is England's fourth penalty kicker. If his penalty kick is successful, the Chinese team will be eliminated in a good situation...

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

Come on! Zeng Cheng!!

Central 5 commentator He Wei's breathing became rapid, and it was easy to hear a hint of nervousness in his high-pitched voice.

The frenetic atmosphere at the scene has declined, but everyone's attention is on Chick, who has already taken a run-up.

A penalty kick was scored and England would return to the World Cup finals after 52 years.

The penalty kick was missed, and the Chinese team was briefly pulled back from the edge of the cliff.

The England fans, who were full of confidence, became a little nervous. They held their breath and their hearts suddenly rose to their throats.

Lippi, the head coach of the Chinese team, looked very nervous in the stands and couldn't take his eyes away.

England head coach Southgate put his hands in his trouser pockets, pursed his lips, and stared at Loftus-Cheek and Zeng Cheng.

Chik's run-up distance was very short, and his shooting movements were even smoother. He did not use the rhythm changes of his body, but directly kicked the ball to the upper right corner of the goal...

Goalkeeper Zeng Cheng made the right decision, but...

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Goooooooooooooooooooooal——

Zeng Cheng failed to touch the penalty kick kicked by Chick, and the football hit the upper right corner of the goal. British Sky commentator Andy Gray suddenly stretched his voice and shouted passionately: The game is over! The game is over! Great! England defeated China 4:2 in a penalty shootout.

Advance to the Russian World Competition finals with a total score of 6:4! After fifty-two years of waiting, we...are finally back! !

Ouch, ouch, ouch—

The English fans at the Luzhniki Stadium raised their arms and shouted, creating a roar as loud as a mountain and a tsunami.

In sharp contrast, the Chinese fans were crestfallen and shaking their heads, obviously not recovering from the elimination.

Although I had thought before the game that the Chinese team would probably lose to England, everyone is lucky. The Chinese team also played a close match with England within 90 minutes of regular time, and even fought at the end of overtime. Scored the go-ahead goal, only half a step away from the final...

Even if the Chinese team loses head coach Lippi and goalkeeper Yan Junling in the semifinals, it will not affect Chinese fans' expectations for the national team.

Without dreams, you are like a salted fish.

Cheek, who scored the penalty kick, opened his arms and ran wildly, but he was soon dragged to the ground by goalkeeper Pickford.

The England substitute players who were pressed outside the sideline crossed the sideline to celebrate and vent their victory in the penalty shootout with the players on the field.

At this time, no one except the Chinese will pay attention to the loser Chinese team.

Tang Zheng stood in the middle circle with his hands on his hips, looking up at the sky at a 45-degree angle, his mind wandering too much.

Why...in the penalty shootout on the World Cup stage, we always miss the fifth round?

Is this... a punishment from fate?

If this is the case, he is willing to trade all the glory for the national team's World Cup finals.

But there are never ifs in this world. If you lose, you lose.

This uncomfortable feeling is even worse than it was four years ago.

However, as the captain, Tang Zheng had to adjust his bad mentality, because he is the team captain and spiritual leader.

Everyone can fall, but he...can't!

The teammates around Tang Zheng either sat on the ground or simply lay on the ground. Veterans like Hao Junmin and Zhang Linpeng, who missed the penalty kick, even covered their faces and cried bitterly.

If the penalty shootout can seize the opportunity, the national team will not be eliminated...

At the same time, Central 5 commentator He Wei looked at the England players shown in the broadcast and felt very uncomfortable. However, his professionalism was extremely high and he said loudly: Cheek scored a key penalty kick and the penalty shootout was over. ! Congratulations to England! They got the last ticket to the World Cup final!

German Sky commentator Marcel Leif said: The plot is full of ups and downs. The team that works hardest may not have the last laugh, and the stronger team may not have the last laugh, but the team that has the last laugh It must be the team with the best overall performance. Compared with the Chinese team relying on Tang, England is more like a team!

Think about it, at this moment, in London, in Liverpool, in Manchester, in the taverns by the Thames, there must be countless English people rejoicing, and there must be countless people in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen... Chinese fans are devastated, but...this is football, a cruel competitive sport.

Immediately, the on-site director switched the camera and scanned the Chinese players in turn.

As the sinners of the Chinese team's failure to qualify for the finals, Hao Junmin and Zhang Linpeng still maintained the same action, lying on the grass and covering their faces with their hands.

Through the broadcast, you can clearly see tears flowing from the fingers, dripping down the cheeks and onto the grass of the Luzhniki Stadium.

Hao Junmin is over thirty, and Zhang Linpeng is already twenty-nine.

The tears of a grown man are often more sad than the tears of a woman.

Men don't shed tears easily, but they are not sad yet.

It is hard to let go of the self-blame and sadness of personally sending the national team out of the finals.

Seeing this, He Wei changed his voice and said emotionally: Success in life is temporary, but failure is the main theme. I think true maturity should not be about pursuing perfection, but facing one's own shortcomings. This is... The essence of life, Romain Rolland once said, there is only one true heroism in this world, and that is to recognize the truth of life and still love it.”

Hao Junmin and Zhang Linpeng don't need to bear too much pressure for the Chinese team's elimination. Just like butterflies that cannot fly across the sea, no one has the heart to blame. Entering the semi-finals is our greatest success. Four years later, we can start all over again!

Countless Chinese fans sitting in front of the TV listened to He Wei's explanation and gradually accepted the result of failure. The semi-finals were already the greatest success of the Chinese team. Before the game, the media speculated that the Chinese team could only advance to the top 16. After all, Croatia was in the group stage. With three consecutive victories and a three-goal victory over the favorite Argentina team, almost everyone thought that the Chinese team’s trip to Russia was over.

However, Tang Zheng's winning goal brought the Chinese team into the quarter-finals, and they turned the tide in the quarter-finals and advanced to the semi-finals.

Although it was once possible to advance to the World Cup finals, one must be content.

The broadcast screen switched again, showing Lippi, the head coach of the Chinese team, coming down from the stands.

Now that he has turned seventy, he is no longer as disappointed as before. He took the initiative to walk to the England coaching bench and shake hands with Southgate to express his congratulations.

The Luzhniki Stadium completely turned into a sea of ​​joy for the English. Tang Zheng turned a deaf ear and comforted his sad teammates one by one.

What is a captain? This is a captain. Yang 5 commentator Xu Yang was passionate: When the whole team was in sorrow, Tang Zheng, as the captain, forgot himself and comforted his teammates. Tang Zheng has done his best and led the team for a time. The Chinese team wanted to create a new record for Asian teams in the World Cup, but unfortunately it backfired. The gap in overall strength prevented the team from getting past England. Come on! We will make a comeback in four years! Boys, don’t be sad, don’t be sad either. Because you have done your best!”

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Ouch-ouch——

The almost crazy roar of the English sounded in the Luzhniki Stadium, but the Chinese fans in the stands only saw the Chinese players who were gradually accepting the reality.

Although Hao Junmin and Zhang Linpeng missed penalty kicks, neither the fans at the scene nor the fans in front of the TV blamed them.

As He Wei and Xu Yang said, the Chinese team has done the best they can, and advancing to the semi-finals is an unexpected surprise.

It's hard to accept that you didn't advance to the finals in a good situation, but it is satisfying to see the facts clearly.

The broadcast screen showed many close-ups of Tang Zheng. After comforting his teammates, he took the initiative to greet the England players who were celebrating their promotion to the final and sent his blessings.

When he was young, Tang Zheng, who watched the Premier League all the year round, his favorite national team besides the Chinese national team was England.

The Chinese team failed to advance to the World Cup finals, and the Chinese team's advancement to the World Cup finals also fulfilled Tang Zheng's World Cup finals dream.

However, Tang Zheng is not optimistic about England's World Cup championship prospects, because the French team is stronger as a whole and the three lines are more stable. In addition, the French team's overall condition is adjusted to its best condition. It is really not that easy for England to defeat the French team. easy……

Closer to home, the Chinese team, which missed the finals, became the focus of the commentators in the on-site commentary box.

Of course, to be precise, the focus is on Tang Zheng, who single-handedly led the Chinese team to the semi-finals of the World Cup.

If Hao Junmin and Zhang Linpeng hadn't missed penalty kicks, the Chinese team might even have reached the final.

It's just that there is no if in the world, so I can only regret it.

I feel sorry for Tang Zheng.

With Tang Zheng's super personal ability, no matter which team is in the top eight of the World Cup, it is possible for this team to advance to the World Cup finals, and even win the championship.

After all... Tang Zheng has a nickname called King of the Finals.

In other words, Tang Zheng never lost in the finals and won them all!

At this time, Tang Zheng, who had been interviewed by reporters in the mixed zone, took his teammates around the field to thank the Chinese fans who were present.

On the other side, there are England players interacting with their home country fans.

Sadness and ecstasy, a huge contrast.

He Wei, the commentator of CC5, looked at the broadcast of the Chinese fans who were leaving the game and sighed: Football is like this. The joy of one side sets off the sadness of the other side. The extreme emotions of human beings are on a small green field, in a hundred and two. In ten minutes, it can be fully reflected, this is football and this is why we love it so much.

Friends in the audience, when you grow old, you will sit by the fireplace, hug your grandson, and tell him the story of the Chinese team in the World Cup. You will definitely not miss this semi-final of the 2018 World Cup in Russia. A classic battle that nearly set a record.”

The Chinese players who circled the field went straight to the tunnel. He Wei looked at the disappointed backs of the Chinese players: The most glorious day in our lives is not the day of success, but the desire to challenge life that arises out of lamentation and despair. , and on the day when we bravely take on this kind of challenge, we send these words to the boys of the Chinese team, they must make a comeback four years later! We congratulate England again, and farewell, audience friends.

He Wei turned off the headset and leaned against the commentary box, covering his face with his hands, but tears still flowed from between his fingers.

Guest commentator Xu Yang raised his hand but didn't take a picture for a long time.

As the current No. 1 brother of Yang 5, He Wei's deep feelings for Chinese football are well known to everyone. When the Chinese team once again failed to advance further with a penalty kick, his emotions finally broke out.

After all, He Wei at this time is just an ordinary Chinese fan.

He knew that the World Cup in Qatar four years later would definitely be different. Tang Zheng, who was over 30 years old, would never be able to perform in such an amazing competitive state again.

In other words, the World Cup in Russia is the most glorious moment of the Chinese men's football team in the World Cup.

He Wei's love for Chinese football is profound.