Chapter 799: Escriva's Dreams Shattered in Doha (Bonus Update, Seeking Monthly Votes!)

Check Dongqiu Di pinned post: Was abandoning the final round the right choice? The United States and Mexico have qualified for the World Cup finals; on April 1, the draw saw Japan successfully lock in as a second-pot team, while the national football team falls into the third pot.

The FIFA rankings of the United States and Mexico are not high, yet their qualification has propelled Japan onto the throne of a seeded team.

As for the national football team, it is truly a pity; they were caught squarely outside.

However, the most regrettable part is not this; what is regrettable is that the Chinese team originally had hope of overturning Japan's ranking.

Had the national football team fielded their main lineup in the tenth round of the Asian qualifiers and defeated Oman away from home, there would have been a probability of surpassing Japan in the rankings.

But the Chinese team did not do that!

Considering this factor, one could say the Chinese team willingly handed the status of a seeded team to Japan.

【I'm really screwed, brothers; did we hand the second pot to the little Japanese?】

【6666666】

【Don't panic; actually, I feel the difference between the second and third pots isn't that big; raw strength is the key, kids!】

【I felt there was a problem with Ten Hag from the start; damn it, why did he let Tang Ye return early? As soon as Tang Ye went back, Wu Lei and Jiang Guangtai ran off too; Ten Hi truly deserves to take the blame.】

【Escriva should have been tougher back then; why didn't you all go on Weibo to persuade him?】

Although the status of a seeded team was given to Japan, in reality, Chinese fans do not need to be too sad.

A better pot placement only means you have a higher probability of getting a good group; it does not mean you definitely cannot get a good group otherwise.

Japan is in the second pot and China in the third, so will Japan's group draw results be better than China's?

Wrong, wrong, wrong! It is not like that! Absolutely not!

The final result still depends on the group draw on April 1.

When the Chinese national team, where ggbond resides, receives the favor of the Goddess of Luck, even if Japan becomes a first-pot team, it will be utterly useless.

No one can defeat the Goddess of Luck!

However, the teams participating in this World Cup are all fierce; relying solely on the help of the Goddess of Luck might not be enough.

Perhaps Chinese fans should unite and go to a temple to draw lots; that way, the probability of securing a good group should be somewhat higher.

Probably...

"Cristiano Ronaldo has lost all opportunities at Manchester United; Ten Hag's bias is destined to doom the Portuguese's return to failure."

"If Ronaldo's return had not been forcibly arranged by the club's upper management, I think Erik might not have held such great bias against him, but Ronaldo's return was indeed orchestrated entirely by the Glazer family."

A YouTube video; the screen shows some clips of Cristiano Ronaldo from this season.

The Portuguese sits very despondently on a chair.

Since the start of this season, Cristiano Ronaldo has developed a habit of pulling up the hood of his training jacket, because doing so allows him to hide his eyes.

The blogger edited the video extremely well; you can clearly see that whenever Cristiano Ronaldo lifts his head preparing to make eye contact with Ten Hag, the Dutchman immediately averts his gaze, completely indicating he does not wish to acknowledge Cristiano Ronaldo.

This shot appears multiple times, occurring in Premier League matches, cup games, and even Champions League fixtures, giving the video a sense of a fallen king's regrettable loneliness.

Hmm...

Tang Ye estimates that anyone watching this video would feel regret.

Even if that person is an anti-fan of Cristiano Ronaldo.

"What are you watching?"

De Jong's voice arrives; Tang Ye quickly turns off his phone, reflexively pressing the volume "-" button.

"Oh, sorry."

Realizing Tang Ye is handling private matters, De Jong hurriedly turns his head away.

Judging by the sound, Tom should be watching a YouTube video, so why is he acting as if he is reading a private letter?

Never mind; regardless of what Tang Ye is watching, judging by the Manchester United attacking midfielder's behavior, the content he is viewing must require privacy.

De Jong chooses to change the subject: "Do you think we will be drawn together in the World Cup?"

"Haha, best not to be drawn together; you Dutch are too fierce; if we get drawn against the Netherlands, we will explode."

"Then if we were very weak, would you hope to be drawn against us?"

"Mm, of course!"

"Haha, shit!"

Time quickly arrives at April 1.

Today, Doha can be described as extremely lively.

This is not to say there are many people in Doha, but rather that Doha has gathered the eyes of football fans from all over the world.

Today is the day the World Cup group stage draw begins!

NetEase News — Qatar World Cup countdown: 230 days; group stage pot allocations announced.

First Pot: Qatar (Host), Brazil, Belgium, France, Argentina, England, Spain, Portugal.

Second Pot: Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Japan...

The first two pots consist of top-tier strong teams; even fans who never watch football have heard of these squads.

You may not like watching football, but you certainly know that the football of Brazil, Spain, and Argentina is strong; that is just how it is.

As for the third pot where the national football team resides, it is also relatively familiar to everyone.

There is no other reason; this third pot contains a very large number of Asian teams.

They are all next-door neighbors!

"Actually, I feel that in most scenarios, the outcome is acceptable for us."

Outside the venue, Marti speaks his thoughts to Escriva: "Ferran, our task was simply to qualify for the World Cup finals; we have already achieved that, so at least the fans will not blame us."

Marti's intention was actually to tell Escrivá not to be too nervous, but he never expected that after hearing his words, Escrivá would become directly agitated.

"No!"

"Once we enter the main tournament, we must achieve results! I am here to prove myself."

Escrivá pointed outside the room: "Back in Russia, China had already advanced to the knockout stage. If I lead China to stop at the group stage... Marti! What do you think the Chinese fans will think?"

"I must advance to the knockout stage!"

Escrivá gritted his teeth, his attitude resolute, but then realized his tone was inappropriate and quickly apologized to Marti.

He took a deep breath.

"... The Chinese fans have given me too much support; as you know, I must do something."

Escrivá looked into Marti's eyes, his gaze firm: "No matter who the opponent is, no matter what we draw, I will lead the team to advance to the knockout stage; there is nothing more to say about it!"

Having thrown down these words, Escrivá left directly, leaving a stunned Marti standing in place.

"..."

Marti sighed; he felt extremely worried about Escrivá's current mental state.

Ever since taking charge of the Chinese national team, Ferran had become increasingly abnormal.

Gently shaking his head, he said: "Good luck."

【CCTV-5 Sports】

"Good evening, dear audience friends (early morning April 2nd, China time); this is the DECC Doha Exhibition Center, the venue for the 2022 Qatar World Cup group stage draw ceremony! Today, China Media Group brings you the live broadcast of the draw ceremony!"

The screen displayed the seating arrangement below the stage.

Perhaps because the draw ceremony had not yet begun, more than half of the seats below the stage were still empty; in the frame, various famous coaches and reporters were searching for their assigned seats.

Hajime Moriyasu and Escrivá had arrived relatively early, and one could clearly see the scene of the two greeting each other.

"Sumimasen."

Hajime Moriyasu and Escrivá bowed; the latter also imitated him by saying "Arigatou," after which the two took their respective seats.

Although Japan suppressing the Chinese team had earned them the status of second-seeded team, Escrivá did not display any anger during his exchange with Hajime Moriyasu.

Obviously, the Spanish head coach was also clear about this in his heart.

The so-called second-pot and third-pot teams were only temporary.

The true result would still depend on the official draw!

Check Dongqiu Di pinned post: Qatar World Cup Group Stage Draw Ceremony (Currently in Progress).

【The Chinese team is awesome!】

【Betting 100 yuan that the Chinese national team draws Qatar; if it happens, I'll immediately draw a lottery in the comments section, limited to the first 10 replies, 10 yuan WeChat red packet per person.】

【Drawing Qatar? If the first pot draws Qatar, I will streak through the school cafeteria; I'm not joking at all, okay?】