Chapter 390: Why Should We Be Afraid? We Don't Need to Be Afraid

On the way back to the locker room, Tang Ye kept scratching his hair.

How to put it? Actually, the initial feeling was quite good; it was only after falling behind in the score that the team's problems were magnified.

The experience and confidence painstakingly accumulated over the first three warm-up matches were shattered by a 0:3 deficit in just one and a half halves.

Tang Ye found this result hard to accept, because in his plan, he was supposed to lead his national team comrades to shine at the World Cup.

He knew clearly the strength of those European national teams; if the Chinese national team went to the World Cup with the form they displayed in today's match, they would be completely routed!

"Hey, Tom!"

Dembélé ran up from behind and put his arm around Tang Ye's shoulder.

"Ousmane!"

Tang Ye raised his hand and said jokingly, "You scored too many, Ousmane; we were all stunned."

"Haha, my fault, my fault. I won't score in the second half, haha."

Dembélé replied in a joking manner, "Actually, you started off quite well. That number 7 of yours, the one whose name starts with 'W,' he's quite good, but I feel like is he not proficient at shooting?"

The person whose name started with 'W' in Dembélé's mouth was, of course, Wu Lei.

"Seems like it, but it's fine; I think he's doing okay. Brother Lei is much stronger than last year."

"You are also much stronger than last year."

Mbappé appeared from who knows where and fist-bumped Tang Ye.

Mbappé and Tang Ye had faced each other before; precisely because of those two matches, Yellow Submarine lost the qualification to play in the Champions League for the 16-17 season.

Thinking carefully, if Yellow Submarine had possessed not the Tang Ye of the 16-17 season but the Tang Ye of the 17-18 season, then Monaco, where Mbappé played, would probably have been knocked out in the Champions League qualifiers.

"Play a bit more aggressively; we won't really score five goals against you."

Mbappé said jokingly.

"No, Kylian, Ousmane, I can't chat with you two anymore; I need to go back and study tactics. We are trailing by too much now."

Thinking of the important matter at hand, Tang Ye immediately ran toward the locker room.

"Haha, go for it, Tom!"

Slap!

Shutting the locker room door, Tang Ye quickly found his seat and sat down.

Before the match, the atmosphere in the Chinese national team's locker room was quite good, but now it was not so great.

Everyone knew clearly in their hearts that during the last 5 to 15 minutes of the first half, their performance had not been very good.

"You need to stabilize your form; this is the most important thing in a match."

Maddaloni was not very happy; his brows were locked tight, and his tone was rather poor.

Lippi stood off to the side; matters of criticizing players were left to the assistant coach.

"The only good news in this match is that our forwards have found their feel; both Zhang and Lei played very well, and the overlapping runs by the full-backs were also done very well."

"But, but we only persisted for 30 minutes, or even less than 30 minutes."

Maddaloni feigned surprise: "Just because we temporarily fell behind in the score, does that mean our first three warm-up matches were all in vain? Where are the tactical arrangements we agreed upon? Were you thinking when passing and receiving the ball?"

"..."

The players remained silent.

Tang Ye, Wu Lei, and the few other overseas-based players were holding up okay, but those players in the squad who had developed domestically in the Chinese Super League now felt somewhat stunned.

Two wingers worth 100 million euros each, and one center forward worth 90 million euros.

Where had Zhang Zhang Linpeng and Wang Wang Shenchao ever played in a match like this?

After shouting a few sentences, Maddaloni stepped aside from the center position and handed the time over to Lippi.

Lippi was also not very happy, but compared to Maddaloni, his ability to control his emotions was much better.

"I know you feel uncomfortable playing, because the gap in strength indeed exists; we need to accept this fact, but the strength gap is not the sole reason for our loss."

"Even if the opponent is very strong, extremely strong, we must still find a way, find a way to win."

Adjusting his glasses, Lippi continued his unfinished speech.

"I know this is hard to accept, but the fact is, throughout the entire World Cup, we will have to endure under these kinds of circumstances."

"Our opponent in the first round is Germany; Germany is even stronger than France. If we play like we did today, what shall we do? Concede 10 goals? Or 15?"

"I am exaggerating, exaggerating, but you should understand my meaning."

Lippi briefly outlined the situation and then began analyzing the second-half tactics with the players.

At this moment, he noticed Tang Ye constantly trying to stand up, so he asked, "What's wrong, Tom?"

"Uh, nothing, nothing."

"It's fine; if you have a question, just say it directly."

The eyes of all the players in the locker room focused on Tang Ye; the latter felt somewhat embarrassed, but ultimately stood up anyway.

"Uh, it's just... I just want to say that actually, there's no need for us to be afraid."

"I feel we are playing a bit timid; actually, there's no need for that. Mainly, this is a warm-up match, and even if it weren't a warm-up match, we still wouldn't need to be timid."

Tang Ye gestured with his hands, his movements somewhat stiff.

Mainly, he truly was not skilled at delivering such formal tactical speeches in a setting like the locker room.

"It was fine when playing against Saudi Arabia, but when playing against European and South American teams, I get this feeling: you are shrinking back, as if very afraid, and dare not make moves. Actually, there's no need for that."

As Tang Ye spoke, he began to get carried away.

"Why should we be afraid? Is Pogba very strong? What is so strong about Pogba? Kanté isn't that formidable either. Why be afraid? We should just play directly; why care who is on the other side?"

"When you have the ball, don't panic; just do whatever move you want to do. I'm always right there on the flank. Brother Lei, if you want to dribble past someone, just go for it; if you can't get past, it's fine, we'll just run back together."

Tang Ye first looked at Wu Lei, then turned to Zhang Zhang Yuning, and finally to Zhang Zhang Xizhe.

"When I lose possession of the ball, you all run back; now when it's your turn, you feel embarrassed to lose the ball. What is this?"

He spread his hands.

"Why be embarrassed about letting me track back? I'm not unable to run; if we lose the ball, we all run back together. If we don't attack more aggressively, we'll never score."

The team was always finding ways to create privileges for itself, which was nothing for Tang Ye to be happy about.

A squad had 23 players, plus 3 to 5 coaches, and 8 support staff.

Nearly 40 people in total; what he pursued was a status of equality. That was what teammates ought to do, and it was the environment he wanted to be in.

"Hiss... I know this isn't right, since I'm not the captain either."

"It's fine, say it, it's fine," Feng Feng Xiaoting quickly interjected.

"I don't mean anything else; I'm just saying that if we want to win, we can't be afraid of those European and South American teams."

"Mm, sorry..."

Tang Ye sat back down in his spot.

The locker room fell silent; the Chinese national team players looked at each other.

"Indeed, we shouldn't be afraid."

Captain Feng Feng Xiaoting stepped forward at this moment: "The opposition has players from the Big Five leagues; we also have players from the Big Five leagues. I think Tang Ye is absolutely right; there's no need for us to fear them. If they score, they score. If we don't concede in a friendly, we'll end up conceding in the World Cup."

"Come on, everyone gather round!"

Suddenly feeling the momentum, the players quickly clustered in the center.

"Three, two, one!"

"China!"

"Long live!"

Walking out of the locker room, Tang Ye kept replaying what had just happened.

He didn't know whether doing this was right or wrong, but he truly needed to speak the words he wanted to say.

Because only then could the team perform better.

This was what they needed to do.

"OK, brothers, welcome back. Although it's a 15-minute halftime, something seems to have come up on the Chinese side, so halftime has been extended to 20 minutes."

"But either way, the second half is about to begin."

"Tang Ye is bound by a verbal agreement to play a full 60 minutes, so brothers, don't rush to leave yet!"

"Let's see what kind of performance the Chinese team can deliver while trailing by three goals!"

Right at the start of the second half, neither side made any substitution adjustments.

The Chinese team's attack quickly materialized!

Slap!

A long through-ball was pushed directly to Wang Wang Shenchao making a run down the left flank.

Wang Wang Shenchao crossed horizontally, looking for Zhang Zhang Yuning in the center!

Controlling the ball and turning, Zhang Zhang Yuning came to a halt on the spot.

"Shoot directly!"

Tang Ye roared; after adjusting, Zhang Zhang Yuning decisively chose to shoot.

Lloris parried the ball away!

"Good, good!"

Tang Ye clapped, running forward to join the corner kick attack.

The Chinese team was suddenly playing very aggressively, which caught Deschamps somewhat off guard.

Because he truly hadn't expected an Asian team to mount such a fierce offensive!

The clock hit the 62nd minute of the second half!

France began making substitutions; Kante and Mbappe came off.

Surprisingly, Lippi chose to keep Tang Ye on the field and even increased the number of forwards.

The Chinese national team was now playing in a 4-2-3-1 formation!

Receiving a pass from a teammate!

Tang Ye, marked by Pogba, used his heel to knock the ball forward, easily shaking off the French defensive midfielder.

Then came the attack!

He dribbled toward the edge of the penalty arc!

Defenders stood ahead!

Seeking combination play with Zhang Zhang Xizhe, Tang Ye received the ball again.

Pointing at the penalty area: "Inside!"

A through-ball was pushed out, pinpointing Zhang Zhang Yuning inside the box.

A perfect chance!

Bang!

Zhang Zhang Yuning fired a low shot.

Being so close, Lloris had absolutely no way to stop it.

"Goal!"

"Damn, goal!"

"Zhang Zhang Yuning! Zhang Zhang Yuning!"

"1-3! China has breached France's goal!"

Zhang Zhang Yuning's face turned red; he desperately wanted to roar at the stands below.

But remembering this was only a friendly match, Zhang Zhang Yuning ultimately held back.

The French team's goal!

He had opened the French team's goal!

"Haha, Brother Ning!"

Tang Ye spread his arms and embraced Zhang Zhang Yuning.

Check Dongqiu Di live match report: Tang Ye's through-ball assist, Zhang Zhang Yuning scores from a rush in the box, China pulls one back!

【Awesome!】

【What the hell?】

【Lloris is still too green.】

【Maybe it's time to make Zhang Zhang Yuning the starter; Gao Lin is getting old.】

【Tang Tang Qiuwang easily shakes off little Pogba~】

After the goal, Lippi immediately started making substitutions; Tang Ye and Zheng Zhi were both subbed off, while Zhang Zhang Yuning and Wu Lei remained on the field to experience the intensity of the match.

This substitution revealed a piece of information.

That Lippi had decided to rejuvenate the national team's forward line!

The young Tang Tang Qiuwang deserved to be supported by a young forward line!

"Brother Hao!"

Tang Ye fist-bumped Wei Wei Shihao, then sat down on the sidelines.

"Zhang Yuning is truly damn awesome, holy shit."

Wei Wei Shihao's eyes were shining.

Although it was a friendly match, this was, after all, the French team's goal.

Something he could brag about for the rest of his life!

"Exactly, he's already very powerful, so why be timid?"

Glug glug!

Tang Ye gulped down water: "As long as you take shots, goals will come sooner or later; that's what my coach always says. Even though I'm not very good at shooting."

……

Check Dongqiu Di match report: In the friendly, the national football team lost 1:3 to France; Tang Ye provided an assist, Zhang Zhang Yuning scored, becoming the first player in the national team's history to breach the French team's goal.

Baidu Hot Search No. 6: Chinese men's football team scores against France in friendly match.

"Wowhoo!"

Tang Ye and Wu Lei returned to the locker room together, kicking the door open with a "Bang!"

"Uh, won't there be trouble doing that?"

Wu Lei stared with wide eyes.

He felt Tang Ye's method of opening the door was a bit too rough.

"This is just how locker room doors are opened."

Tang Ye, puzzled by Wu Lei's question, answered matter-of-factly.

Pointing at the locker room door: "We all open it this way; I've been at Manchester United for a year, and apart from Eri... apart from Ten Hag and Fan Fan Dejiahe, no one has ever opened this door with their hands."

"Actually, I used to open doors with my hands too, but they all use their feet. Brother Lei, don't you think kicking it open looks cool?"

"... Okay, fine."

If Tang Ye saw a teammate do something, he might try to learn it.

But there was a prerequisite for following their example: what the teammate did had to be cool enough.

Things like Rashford's donations, Ashley Young's door-kicking, and Uncle Mata's grass-eating were all extremely cool acts, making them objects of Tang Ye's emulation.

The national football players boarded the bus one after another; Tang Ye helped Zheng Zhi pick up his hat that had fallen on the ground.

Just as Tang Ye stepped onto the bus, he was called out from afar by Dembélé and Mbappé, who were passing by.

"Hey Tom!"

"See you in the knockout stage!"

"Haha, even if we both make it to the knockouts, we might not necessarily meet, right?"

Tang Ye raised his hand in acknowledgment while holding his hat.

"Then we'll meet in the final!"

Perhaps because Dembélé had been on a winning streak in LoL recently, climbing many ranks, he was feeling extremely confident now.

But what he didn't know was that the difference between LoL and football was huge!

"Haha!"

……

【Russia World Cup Preview of the 32 Teams: The German War Chariot, Germany】

"The German national team, with head coach Löw, the meritorious manager of the 2014 Brazil World Cup!"

"In goal stands Bayern's divine guardian, Neuer, who has defended the national goal for nine years, alongside Barcelona's little lion ter Stegen, a case of 'since Yu was born, why was Liang born'!"

"On the defensive line is Bayern's mainstay, known as the world's number one defender, Jérôme Jerome Boateng!"

"……"

"In midfield, Real Madrid's playmaker Toni Kroos from La Liga, Arsenal's core midfielder Özil, and Dortmund's soul Reus!"

"Up front, veteran hero Thomas Müller partners with Leipzig's reconnaissance aircraft, Werner!"

"The four-star German War Chariot, Germany, with a total squad value of 785 million euros, is the top favorite to win this World Cup; they will face the Chinese national team, ranked 54th by FIFA and third from the bottom in championship odds, in their first group stage match!"

……

(End of Chapter)