[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-emperor-of-football-julien-de-rocca":3,"chapter-emperor-of-football-julien-de-rocca-emperor-of-football-julien-de-rocca-chapter-136":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Emperor of Football: Julien De Rocca",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1555973,2020,"Chapter 136: Chapter-136 Before Match","emperor-of-football-julien-de-rocca-chapter-136",136,"\u003Cp>June 24th.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>5 PM.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The area around Kyiv's Olympic Stadium was already packed with people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Spain's 2-1 victory over England last night, only one spot remained among the four semi-final teams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would it be Italy or France?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both teams could be considered European powerhouses, but Italy's morale was soaring while France had barely emerged from the whirlpool of internal strife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both coaches naturally expressed confidence in their teams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the fans knew better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many French supporters were already displaying their fine tradition of surrender, acknowledging defeat, after all, the French flag did contain white.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>French fans were sighing everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Nasri and Ben Arfa completely absent from the squad, some French journalists reported that Blanc would continue using new players.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the entire French squad, who was the \"newest\" player?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, it was Julien.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reports from L'Équipe and other newspapers had successfully shifted the fans' discussion from Nasri's reckless behavior to whether France needed such radical changes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had to be said, this was journalism's magic moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a turn of the pen, the whole narrative changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>French fans were successfully led astray, and they weren't particularly optimistic about this match either: this was a divided France team without a core, and they would repeat the disaster of 2010.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, when French fans gathered waiting to enter the stadium, their expressions were clearly less confident than the Italian fans nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some Italian supporters were even discussing, \"Germany won't be easy to play against. Hopefully Buffon can stop Klose.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were already thinking about the semi-final match against Germany.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this European Championship, Germany and Spain were the two teams with the highest championship odds, with Italy close behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the internal strife incident, France's championship odds were as high as Czech Republic's.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Czech Republic had already been eliminated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, it seemed perfectly natural for Italy to act superior in front of France.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, the waiting fans heard the sound of boots stepping on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They all turned to look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two groups of people dressed in military uniforms were \"escorting\" a crowd wearing specially designed jerseys, half France national team jersey, half Bastia jersey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Bastia jersey on the right chest, the France team jersey on the left chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two team crests positioned on the chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the back of the jersey, the number was formed by France's \"1\" combined with Bastia's \"9\".\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Above the number was the same name: \"De Rocca.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd let out surprised exclamations. There were hundreds of people wearing such jerseys, a dense mass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their leader carried a large flag.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the flag was a famous French painting: Napoleon Crossing the Alps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Italian fans saw this painting, most had little reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They simply knew it was a famous portrait of Napoleon by Jacques-Louis David, the founder of Neoclassicism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just this year, a replica of this painting had been exhibited at Sforza Castle in Milan. According to the curator's interviews, only 12% of visitors could accurately explain the painting's connection to the Italian campaign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The artwork was even included in Italian high school art history textbooks, but usually taught as an example of Neoclassicism rather than historical events.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, some people still didn't understand what this was about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An Italian fan exclaimed in the crowd, \"Oh, there's a relief version of this painting at the Great St. Bernard Pass in the Alps! I've been there!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Modoso waved the flag, the Bastia fans behind him let out deep, synchronized roars. \"Roar! Roar roar!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On both sides of them were fully armed cosplayers, stone-faced, dressed as Napoleonic-era military uniforms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two armies of soldiers!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Escorting the Bastia fans to the stadium!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The few hundred meters instantly attracted everyone's attention, with many quickly pulling out phones to take pictures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, some Italians knew what this painting meant to Italy, from 1796 to 1797, Napoleon led French forces in a triumphant campaign, conquering the entire Italian peninsula.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This war not only marked Napoleon's rise but also established France's hegemony in Europe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, what did these French want to do?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did they think the French team could still win like in Napoleon's time, defeating Italy and then aiming to conquer Europe?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many Italians seemed irritated and wanted to say something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But seeing this massive crowd of Bastia fans, especially with their continuous low roars emanating that stay-away fighting spirit, they dared not speak up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, the stadium officially opened for entry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Italian fans quickly queued to enter the stadium, still muttering, \"Once we eliminate you, you'll quiet down.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Modoso was like a general under Napoleon's command. He proudly waved the flag, earning applause from numerous French fans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cosplayers escorting them stopped at the stadium entrance, these were extras Modoso had hired.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Bastia fans began entering the stadium. The flag naturally couldn't be brought inside. It was left behind, protected by these \"Napoleonic soldiers\" and displayed at the entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did sharp-eyed people notice something odd, why were there numbers on Napoleon's uniform?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two numbers: 19, 29.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were Julien's jersey numbers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After passing security, when Modoso reached the top of the steps, he suddenly turned and shouted loudly: \"Cunquista di l'Europa!!\" (Conquest of Europe!)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Cunquista di l'Europa!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Bastia fans also roared wildly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound startled everyone present.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Journalists quickly captured this scene, it was very novel sideline news.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At 6:45 PM. Players from both France and Italy stood in the tunnel, waiting to enter. Julien stood among them. He attracted the attention of many Italian players.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially the Juventus players.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, Bonucci, Barzagli, Pirlo as Juventus core players, they had actually known last season about the club's interest in signing Julien.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marotta hadn't hidden this matter. However, before the summer transfer window officially opened, Julien had announced his intention to stay with his club.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This surprised them somewhat. What kind of young player could refuse an olive branch from a Serie A powerhouse?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tonight, they were eager to see what this young man, highly regarded by many Italian scouts, was truly made of.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It so happened that Italy's defensive line was the \"Juve setup.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Consider it a test!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the time was right, the referee gestured for the players to enter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>ROAR!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Julien entered the stadium, he was hit by a wave of sound mixing countless cheers, boos, and other noise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like countless arms. \"Doubt\" was pushing him backward, \"Expectation\" was pulling him forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>________________________________________________________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Check out my patreon where you can read more chapters:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>patreon.com\u002FLorianFiction\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanks for your support!\u003C\u002Fp>",1086,"2026-06-06T07:35:06.180Z",1,"novelbin.me","96fbf31024f4707d01685cbdf4189774272f9a10abf98bf9b203d1aceea4e64e","emperor-of-football-julien-de-rocca-chapter-137","emperor-of-football-julien-de-rocca-chapter-135",628,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Femperor-of-football-julien-de-rocca-cover.jpg"]