Chapter 394: France Team: China, Save Me!

China Men's Football Official: The purpose of French national team players Mbappé and Dembélé visiting the base was for Chinese team player Tang Ye, not the rumored "sneaking a look at tactics." Moreover, the French players had already contacted the Chinese team before their visit; it was only due to a staff mistake that the gate guards were not notified, leading to a series of blunders.

French Men's Football Official: What the Chinese team says is true.

Two French team star players being taken away by the police caused quite a stir worldwide.

The Football Association reacted quickly, sealing off the news at the first opportunity and contacting the police bureau. In less than two hours, they had the two French forwards out.

Click click click!

Football reporters surrounded the Moscow police station entrance, and Mbappé and Dembélé were exposed to the flashbulbs.

A microphone was thrust at Dembélé: "You only arrived in Russia this morning, and by afternoon you were arrested by Moscow police. Do you have anything to say about that?"

Dembélé first glanced at Mbappé beside him, then blinked: "Actually, we just wanted to go find Tom to hang out."

"So it was Tom who had you locked up?"

"Mm, eh, no, that's not right!"

Dembélé is naturally a bit slow, and going back and forth like this, the reporters had him cornered in no time.

"It wasn't Tom who locked us up. Mainly, Kylian and I wanted to go to the Chinese team's base to find him, to call him out. Because he hadn't replied to my messages."

"The gate was closed, so…"

Dembélé wanted to keep talking, but at that moment Mbappé, who had been silent all along, cut him off.

"We had already contacted the Chinese side in advance. The plan was to meet up at the office building and not go to the training ground, but we didn't expect the gate guards didn't know about this."

Mbappé spread his hands, then shrugged: "So we thought about going in from the side, and we didn't expect to be misunderstood."

The reporter took on a thoughtful look: "Back when Tom was still at Utrecht, his head coach was once detained by local police, and now you've also been arrested for looking for Tom. May I ask, is there some unique charm about Tom that attracts you?"

"…"

Dembélé and Mbappé exchanged a glance, thought it over carefully, and finally gave an answer.

"Mm… Tom, he's a really good guy."

"I don't think this is a big deal. If you're willing to wrap up this interview a bit earlier, Tom and we have a dinner date. If the interview goes on any longer, we won't make it in time."

Mbappé and Dembélé got into the car sent by the French Football Association.

……

"TA" — According to FIFA rules, the French team, who trespassed into another participating team's training base before a match, could be docked 3 to 6 points. But because China and France are not in the same group, the punishment may be lighter.

"The Sun" Headline — The Director-General of the French Football Association, Fernando, visited the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Russia.

"They hope to gain China's support. Being docked 3 to 6 points before the group stage has even started is unacceptable to the French people."

"The French FA hopes to use China's support to reduce the punishment, because they believe Mbappé and Dembélé were invited before their visit, rather than the so-called 'trespassing.'"

There are only 3 group-stage matches in total, and trespassing into a base once could cost 3 to 6 points — it does sound a bit extreme.

But the rules really are written that way. Whether entering the base directly or using a drone for remote control, in essence it's all spying.

Spying must be punished!

The next morning, taking the coach from the hotel to the training base, Tang Ye and his teammates started chatting about what had happened yesterday.

"Those two were too impulsive. I have a problem too — I should have brought my phone."

Dembélé and Mbappé being taken away by the police — Tang Ye felt deeply guilty about the whole thing.

Friends getting arrested is already a very unpleasant thing.

The worst part is that FIFA might even dock France's points!

"Hey Lei-ge, they won't really get points docked, right?"

"Hmm…"

Tang Ye's question stumped Wu Lei. The latter pinched his own chin between thumb and forefinger: "I don't really understand that rule either, but I feel like they probably won't, right? They only made it to the bathroom, and the FA will speak up for them."

Although Wu Lei didn't understand, his words put Tang Ye's mind somewhat at ease.

France won't be docked points!

"Osman and Kylian are really pitiful. They've been grounded by the team for 3 days, so I can't talk to them right now."

"Haha."

The teammates beside him couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing.

They were almost at the base. The team leader at the very front stood in the middle of the aisle: "After morning training, some leaders will be coming over. Pay attention. When they ask you things, just answer normally, and mind your bearing. There are a lot of reporters."

Mind your bearing…

Tang Ye started thinking.

What kind of bearing counts as good?

Does he need to wear a suit, or is it enough to just stand up straight?

Tang Ye was thinking it over when the coach soon pulled up to the base entrance.

There was a commotion outside, so the players on the bus quickly pulled the curtains open.

This was the time the players arrived for morning training, and as expected, a large crowd of Chinese fans who had traveled from afar had gathered outside.

Besides the Chinese fans, Tang Ye also spotted many foreigners.

They were wearing French team jerseys!

Mm, besides the jerseys, many French fans were also holding up signs.

The content on them was…

【China, save us!】

【China, France is your good friend, save us!】

【Mbappé and Dembélé just wanted to find Tom to hang out. We weren't looking at your tactics.】

【Don't want to lose points!】

"China!"

"China!"

French fans shouted the name of the Chinese team!

They begged for forgiveness from the Chinese Football Association!

If they were deducted 3 points...

A 3-point deduction would still be manageable; if the French team performed well, they could still advance.

But damn, if they were deducted 6 points, France could just board a plane and go home.

"This..."

The French fans outside made Tang Ye blush; after all, this matter concerned him greatly.

When the bus arrived at the entrance, several French fans rushed up immediately; the one leading the group held a sign covered in writing, right outside Tang Ye's window.

Pointing at the sign in his hand: "Tom! Good friends! China and France! We are good friends, don't kill us, please. Good friends, China France!"

"I know, I know."

Tang Ye shouted to the fans: "Our leaders are already communicating with that side."

Having received confirmation from Tang Ye's mouth, the French fans were now extremely happy.

"Thank you, thank you, Tom!"

"China will win!"

"Haha, thank you, we will do our best."

Tang Ye closed the window.

Tang Ye (40 years old)

【Ball Control: 86; Passing: 90】

【Shooting: 78; Heading: 56; Set Pieces: 77】

【Speed: 75; Stamina: 74; Physical Contact: 82】

【Defense: 73; Vision: 97】

Overall Rating: 84

During morning training, Tang Ye studied his status panel.

It seemed that due to the low intensity of national team training and friendly matches, Tang Ye felt no signs that any of his attributes were about to rise.

But it didn't matter anyway; gaining another 1 or 2 attribute points now wouldn't help much for the upcoming World Cup.

Adjusting his condition to the absolute best was far more useful than 1 or 2 attribute points!

Having just finished his shower, Tang Ye walked out of the bathroom preparing to blow-dry his hair, only to see Wei Wei Shihao holding a hairdryer and blasting his own head with it.

"Oh, Brother Hao!"

Seeing Tang Ye come out, Wei Wei Shihao turned down the hairdryer's setting, and only after the noise lessened did he speak: "So you take this long to shower; I went in ten minutes after you."

"I was thinking about some things."

Tang Ye walked over beside Wei Wei Shihao and picked up the hairdryer on the counter.

Just as he was about to turn on the hairdryer, Tang Ye stopped his movement again, looking at Wei Wei Shihao with an extremely serious expression.

"Uh... what's wrong?"

Being stared at like this by Tang Ye, Wei Wei Shihao couldn't help but feel nervous and quickly reviewed the content of the morning training session.

Could it be that missed follow-up shot on the free kick, making Tang Ye angry?

"Um, Brother Hao..."

"Is yours both dyed and permed? Your hair, I mean; I feel this hairstyle is very handsome."

Tang Ye observed Wei Wei Shihao's hair carefully.

Back when he first rejoined the team last month, Tang Ye had already noticed Wei Wei Shihao's hair, but there had been too many matters during the friendly match period, so he hadn't brought it up until now.

"Oh, this."

Wei Wei Shihao breathed a sigh of relief: "Yes, perm plus dye; I usually like dyeing my hair."

Tang Ye nodded thoughtfully: "Then is this hairstyle troublesome to maintain normally?"

"It's alright; just blow-dry it every morning, though I don't even blow-dry it; I just let it grow however it wants; anyway, I feel it's fine."

"Hmm..."

Taking a deep breath, Tang Ye finally turned on the hairdryer in his hand.

Who on earth invented dyeing hair other colors?

This is simply too handsome, damn it!

(Omitted)

Tang Ye frowned and thought carefully for a moment; soon the President arrived.

This visit by the French President to the Chinese national football team's base was primarily to address the issue of French players trespassing on the Chinese team's grounds.

"France and China are forever good friends; I have said this before, and this statement holds true for the national football teams as well."

Surrounded by Chinese players, the French President strolled across the training field.

"By the way, Tom."

The President suddenly stopped and called out to Tang Ye, who was hiding at the very back of the lineup.

The players quickly made way for Tang Ye.

"... Mr. President, what is it?"

"Do you chew gum?"

Tang Ye handed over the gum from his pocket, and the French President smiled as he accepted it.

He really wanted to taste the rumored "Tom's Gum," but after exchanging a glance with his bodyguard, he still did not eat it.

"Haha, thank you, Tom."

"By the way, local police officers said Mbappé and Dembélé had contacted you in advance; according to the plan, you were not supposed to train this afternoon. Is that correct?"

"Mm, that is correct."

Tang Ye nodded quickly, recalling in his mind the information he had just memorized last night.

"I had already informed the team, but the security personnel were not notified, forcing them to climb over the wall to get in. We were training at the time, but I happened to be using the restroom when I encountered the two of them."

Tang Ye pointed toward the distance: "That restroom over there. I saw them the moment they climbed over the wall. That spot is blocked by the office building, so I can confirm with certainty that those two saw nothing."

"Haha!"

The President broke into a happy smile, then placed his hand on Tang Ye's shoulder: "They say midfielders have sharp eyes; seeing it with my own eyes, it is indeed true."

"If there is an opportunity, perhaps I will invite you to visit the Élysée Palace as a guest."

Faced with the French President's invitation, Tang Ye simply brushed it off with vague replies.

To tell the truth, getting along with these fellows who love wearing suits is truly not a pleasant matter.

Tang Ye would not like that feeling!

"I will be staying in Moscow for a long time during the World Cup, so I might watch your matches live."

The President placed his hand on Tang Ye's shoulder, with the two of them facing the reporters.

"Just as I said a moment ago, the French team and the Chinese team are good friends, so I will cheer for you."

CCTV. com: The French President visits the Chinese men's football team, emphasizing the deep friendship between French football and Chinese football.

"XXX and Tang Ye mentioned French team players Mbappé and Dembélé multiple times during their exchange; this visit may represent national support for the French team, as they hope to receive some assistance, since the result of a three-point deduction is unacceptable for the French team."

(End of Chapter)