[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-football-at-16-let-me-retire-and-come-back":3,"chapter-football-at-16-let-me-retire-and-come-back-football-at-16-let-me-retire-and-come-back-chapter-861":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Football: At 16, Let Me Retire and Come Back?",{"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},2300831,4499,"Chapter 861: Tang Ye vs Luo De","football-at-16-let-me-retire-and-come-back-chapter-861",861,"\u003Cp>FIFA official website: China's midfielder Tang Ye elected MVP of the Qatar World Cup group stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>China national team retweeted FIFA news: Tang Ye elected MVP of group stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Good news, certainly—but to many of Tang Ye’s detractors, this news is clearly their opening shot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was MVP of the group stage in Russia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now he’s MVP of the group stage in Qatar again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Conclusion: China’s team is a group-stage god, only capable of playing group stage matches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Munich Metro reporter: China often overperforms in the group stage, a major reason for Germany’s repeated failures. But objectively, China’s strength is insufficient to support victories in the knockout rounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Commentator Owen: To advance to the quarterfinals, China needs to face Japan in the Round of 16—but unfortunately, their opponent is Spain, greatly reducing their chances of progression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some statements by European journalists and commentators were painfully sharp, almost like slaps across the national team’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But objectively, you really can’t refute these remarks—these painful words are largely true!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whenever someone is bullied, they always think of calling their mother. Chinese fans now hope GGBond, the national team’s emotional crutch, will step forward and say something—anything—to boost fan morale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But due to the Li Tie and Chen Xuyuan incidents, the national team has been extremely cautious about press conferences; no one except Escrivà has been allowed to speak to reporters before match day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Chinese fans thought they had to endure humiliation in silence, the Portuguese press conference began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Portuguese journalists are talented—they asked Ronaldo about Ten Hag and Tang Ye, and Ronaldo, as if possessed, showed intense interest in these questions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Spain is truly excellent. We faced them in the group stage in Russia and failed to beat them—that’s one of my regrets.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tang Ye faces Spain in the Round of 16; for them, this is truly unfortunate. As everyone can see, Spain may be superior to China in many aspects.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ronaldo smirked: “But… I believe Tang Ye has already delivered an outstanding performance in this World Cup. Fans who don’t recognize him only attack him for winning group-stage MVP. We must understand that some team-related matters are beyond one’s control. Tang Ye won the group-stage MVP—that alone proves his ability.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As for those who belittle Tang Ye and the Chinese team… as a Portuguese player, I shouldn’t say much. But as a veteran of football, I find such belittlement inappropriate. We must respect a player who, at age 23, has won four Ballon d’Or awards.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Moreover, Tang Ye won those four Ballon d’Or awards despite Eriksson’s interference—their value speaks for itself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ronaldo was cunning—he slipped in a subtle dig at Ten Hag at the end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To make Ten Hag suffer, Ronaldo even claimed, “Tang Ye won his Ballon d’Or awards despite Ten Hag’s interference—I believe they carry more value than some of my own.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This reveals the Portuguese people’s furious hatred toward the Manchester United manager.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To belittle Ten Hag, Ronaldo was willing to cut himself!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Uwuu, Boss Luo really… I’m crying so hard】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Wait, what did Tang Ye even do to Ronaldo? Is he now brainwashed into being his little brother?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Hahaha, every interview he spends at least half the time talking about Tang Ye and Saint Ten Hag—I think Ronaldo should follow Saint Eriksson’s example and invite Ten Hag to dinner】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Saint Ten Hag: Ronaldo wants to have dinner with me, but you know—I can see there’s some trickery here, so I won’t go. But that doesn’t mean I’m afraid.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After watching Ronaldo’s interview video, fans cursed they couldn’t use a god’s-eye view to spy on Carrington Base—they had to find out what exactly happened between Tang Ye and Ronaldo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>GGBond’s super lollipop’s exact influence over the proud Portuguese man will forever remain unanswered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Ronaldo firmly stood on Tang Ye and China’s side—that is now a confirmed fact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>James posted on social media in support of Tang Ye: Eternal GOAT. Capable people never care about others’ doubts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>James, Ronaldo, Tang Ye—three superstars stand on the same line, all loyal supporters of the Chinese team!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【FIFA & Qatar FA & Ruiyang Industrial University Sports Management Center】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【China National Team Training Base (Temporary)】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Conventional thinking is useless!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Sports Ministry office, Escrivà reached his conclusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Di nodded quickly in support, then suddenly remembered something: “But would unconventional thinking work?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shit, are you seriously saying this now? Are you even on the China team?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh oh, sorry, sorry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Di stepped back: “The online comments are just too bad—I’ve been affected by them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Speaking of which, Ma Di had to marvel at Ferran’s transformation—under this online atmosphere, the Spaniard still maintains calm. That’s a rare quality indeed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Online comments are online. What do they have to do with our match?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Escrivà’s tone was firm: “Whether we win or not, we must play the match as well as we possibly can!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Di glanced over—on Escrivà’s desk computer was the record of China vs. Brazil from the Russia World Cup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Four years ago, in the Round of 16, China under Lippi lost 5-3 to Brazil and was eliminated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surpassing Lippi’s record must be Escrivà’s knockout-stage goal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But… keeping the goal difference against Spain within three goals is absolutely not easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alvaro (Morata) is in average form—we need to worry more about Luo De…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Escrivà shared his thoughts with Ma Di.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They would hastily devise a tactic—if both coaches agreed, they’d implement it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no choice. China’s time was running out. In such a short window, a flawless tactic was impossible to devise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good afternoon, King Tang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yuning walked into the gym and handed Tang Ye a chilled cola.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, thanks!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Ye clinked bottles with Zhang Yuning, but only set the drink beside the bench—the national team captain seemed thirsty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You seem under a lot of pressure…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yuning sat beside Tang Ye and placed his hand on the latter’s shoulder, hoping to offer some comfort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t you feel pressure too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Ye spread his hands: “We’re all in the same boat. Nothing to talk about.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, my pressure isn’t high—I got Haaland cheering for me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing about Haaland’s support video, Tang Ye finally laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait, how did you threaten him into making that video? That’s brutal—20 million views on Douyin already.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No threat needed. I just told him we’re about to play knockout football—could he cheer for our striker? That’s just a simple favor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Okay okay, simple favor—but that script was yours, wasn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Ye leaned back, surprised: “How did you know?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course I knew. The King’s aura is unmistakable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Ye slapped Zhang Yuning’s back: “So, the King cheered for you—don’t you feel your form soaring now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cool.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yuning gave a thumbs-up: “Honestly, I do feel pretty good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yuning grinned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A €180 million superstar striker recording a video to cheer for you? That’s a great feeling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If we were facing Japan instead of Spain in the Round of 16, I swear my form would be flying right now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn, so you still lack confidence!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Ye shoved Zhang Yuning away: “Spain is Spain—does facing Spain mean you can’t be confident?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, I watched your livestream—you didn’t say that during it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tang Ye sighed helplessly: “I didn’t expect Japan to play so well. But mostly it was just Moqi  football—nothing we could do.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1229,"2026-06-20T06:50:12.695Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","1a5daf31c1afe8dc3a13b79d9d644611a9d49070bc4e53fdfcf373f3a42fb2ef","football-at-16-let-me-retire-and-come-back-chapter-862","football-at-16-let-me-retire-and-come-back-chapter-860",918,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Ffootball-at-16-let-me-retire-and-come-back-cover.jpg"]