Chapter 145: The Great Battle Is About to Begin

With about two weeks remaining before the final round of the Asian Qualifiers, the Chinese national team is set to face South Korea on March 23 at the Helong Sports Center in Changsha, Hunan.

Back in early February, coach Marcello Lippi arranged a training camp for the Chinese squad. The roster had already been finalized in mid-term January. Alongside veterans such as Feng Xiaoting, Zhang Linpeng, Gao Lin, and Zheng Zhi, Lippi also promoted newcomers Gao Zhunyi, Deng Hanwen, Chi Zhongguo, and Yin Hongbo following their performances in the earlier China Cup tournament.

During multiple press conferences at the China Cup, Lippi repeatedly stated that he would use the competition to evaluate young players. In the end, the players lived up to expectations, earning widespread praise for both their morale and their results.

According to the preparation schedule, the newly formed Chinese squad will begin training in Changsha on the 16th of this month, followed by the opening match of the second half of the final qualifiers against South Korea on the 23rd. Afterward, the entire team will relocate to Tehran, Iran, to play the away match against the Iranian team on the 28th. Because the outcomes of these two matches will likely determine the fate of the Chinese team, Lippi was exceptionally cautious in his selection, officially announcing the roster only after the conclusion of the first stage of the Chinese Super League.

The 25 players selected for this training camp include the vast majority of those who participated in the final qualifier against Qatar in mid-November of last year. However, with the full commencement of the new season's AFC Champions League and Chinese Super League, coupled with a lengthy pre-season winter training period, some players have suffered injuries or poor form, prompting Lippi to make appropriate adjustments to the lineup.

Following the conclusion of the second round of the Chinese Super League, the Chinese Football Association announced the new 25-man training roster. The team's mission is precisely to prepare for the upcoming crucial World Cup Asian Qualifiers matches against South Korea and Iran later this month. The inclusion of Fan Xiaodong from Changchun Yatai and Deng Hanwen from Beijing Renhe shows that head coach Lippi has called up players who have excelled recently in the league.

Currently, Lippi's primary concern is that, after a continuous string of matches in both the Chinese Super League and the AFC Champions League, several international players from Guangzhou Evergrande, Jiangsu Suning, and Shanghai SIPG are likely experiencing widespread fatigue. Internationals participating in the AFC Champions League have been granted permission to delay their arrival by two days, reporting to Changsha on the 18th.

The sole exception is the core of this Chinese squad, Dai Zhiwei, who will only be able to join his teammates the day before the match, as Villarreal's 28th round La Liga fixture is scheduled for March 20.

The headline clash of this La Liga round is the direct encounter between third-placed Sevilla and fifth-placed Atletico Madrid.

At the Vicente Calderon Stadium, in the 37th minute, Antoine Griezmann delivered a left-wing free-kick into the box, and an unmarked Diego Godin headed home from the edge of the six-yard box to give Atletico Madrid a 1-0 lead.

In the 61th minute, Atletico Madrid doubled their advantage when Griezmann directly curled a 25-yard free-kick from the right flank into the near corner, making it 2-0.

In the 77th minute, Atletico Madrid sealed the victory. Juanfran crossed from the right side of the penalty area, Sergio Rico only managed a weak parry, and Koke swept the loose ball into an empty net to make it 3-0.

Sevilla clawed a goal back in the 85th minute when Vitolo headed it across for Angel Correa to dart into the left side of the box and finish from a tight angle.

With this victory, Atletico Madrid drew level on points with Sevilla, trailing only on goal difference, and leapfrogged Villarreal into fourth place in the standings with a two-point cushion over the Yellow Submarine, who have a game in hand.

For Villarreal, this result could be considered ideal, as a win against Las Palmas in this round would allow them to overtake their rivals by a single point and claim third place in the table.

Just as the Villarreal players were anticipating the sweet reward of all three points, Las Palmas, considered by many to be easy prey, dealt them a stunning blow.

In the 22nd minute, Las Palmas player Kevin-Prince Boateng suddenly unleashed a thunderbolt from the center of the box, sending the ball flying into the bottom right corner to give Las Palmas a 1-0 lead over Villarreal.

This goal was like a bucket of cold water thrown onto the faces of the excited Villarreal players, leaving them in a thoroughly embarrassing predicament.

Stung with anger, they began a fierce siege around the opponent's goal, finally finding a breakthrough in stoppage time of the first half.

Jonathan dos Santos played a one-two combination with Dai Zhiwei down the left flank. Receiving the return pass from Dos Santos, Dai Zhiwei used his explosive speed to shield off a defender and burst directly into the penalty area.

Seeing Dai Zhiwei break into the box, the Las Palmas central defender hurried over to cover, but Dai Zhiwei decisively slipped a pass toward the center—although he did not see any Villarreal player actually there, he trusted the telepathic understanding between himself and Dos Santos.

On the football pitch, understanding between teammates is truly vital. If every attacking pass required waiting for a teammate to reach a designated spot before delivering the ball, it would be the Chinese men's national team.

Sure enough, the moment Dai Zhiwei played the ball inside, Dos Santos made a sharp and precise run forward.

After collecting the ball, Dos Santos did not choose to continue driving forward. Realizing he lacked a physical advantage, he quickly figured out how to handle the ball, gently using the tip of his boot to chip it delicately. The ball sailed accurately behind the Las Palmas defender, where a player wearing the yellow number 10 jersey was already sprinting forward at high speed, leaving the trailing Las Palmas players eating his dust.

Dai Zhiwei accelerated after receiving the return pass from Dos Santos, but the recovering Las Palmas central defender grabbed his shirt tightly to slow him down.

Feeling a surge of anxiety, Dai Zhiwei strained his legs to their absolute limit, pushing forward with all his might. Hampered by the pull of the Las Palmas defender and his own explosive exertion, his balance began to wobble. Watching the ball about to sail past him, he glared fiercely at it, forcefully drove off his supporting leg, and hurled himself through the air. In mid-air, he executed a flying kick with his left foot, his toe making clean contact with the middle of the ball to alter its trajectory and send it darting straight into the net.

1-1!

Seeing the ball fly into the back of the net, Dai Zhiwei leaped up from the turf, instantly letting out a roaring shout, waving his arms, and screaming with extreme excitement.

As his goal tally climbed, his goal celebrations were no longer limited to his trademark shooting gesture, otherwise, it would inevitably start to feel a bit monotonous.

With the referee's whistle, the first half came to an end, and the Villarreal players crowded around Dai Zhiwei, chatting and laughing as they headed into the locker room.

Seeing his disciples walk in, Fran Escriba intentionally patted Dai Zhiwei on the back.

Originally, according to a verbal agreement, and in order to preserve energy for Dai Zhiwei ahead of the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, he was only supposed to play the first half of this match. However, with the score tied at 1-1, Escriba did not dare to substitute Dai Zhiwei off lightly.

Dai Zhiwei did not say anything either. At a moment like this, asking the club to bench him for national team preparations was something he simply could not bring himself to do.

After all, regardless of the circumstances, his salary was still paid by the club, and the only thing he could do was secure the victory for the team as quickly as possible in the second half so he could be substituted off early.

The fifteen-minute halftime interval passed quickly, the teams switched sides, and the match resumed.

The Las Palmas midfield adjusted their tactics, focusing primarily on stability and slowing down the tempo of the match, but as it turned out, this was merely wishful thinking on their part.

In the 52nd minute, Dai Zhiwei supplied a pass from the edge of the box, and Samu Castillejo fired a powerful left-footed shot from 25 yards out on the left, which drifted wide of the near post.

In the 58th minute, Las Palmas conceded possession in midfield, and Villarreal immediately launched a counterattack. Dos Santos won a free-kick for the team on the right side just outside the penalty area. Dai Zhiwei took the direct free-kick, but it struck the defensive wall and bounced over the endline.

"Don't rush! Haste makes waste!" Dai Zhiwei muttered to himself repeatedly to calm his mind.

The previous free-kick had been a great opportunity, but overly eager for a quick goal, his rushed curling shot failed to clear the wall—a rare and substandard execution.

Six minutes later, Dai Zhiwei tried again, but his curling effort after driving into the left side of the penalty area once more sailed over the crossbar.

Dai Zhiwei grew increasingly anxious. In the 75th minute, after receiving a through ball from Manu Trigueros near the edge of the box, he took a horizontal touch and unleashed a fierce shot. It was hit too centrally and easily parried by the Las Palmas goalkeeper.

However, even though the placement of Dai Zhiwei's powerful shot was ordinary, the sheer velocity meant the Las Palmas goalkeeper could only manage a weak clearance. Cédric Bakambu followed up in the left side of the six-yard box to tap the rebound into an empty net, turning the score around to 2-1 in favor of Villarreal.

Once the team had finally taken the lead and seeing that Dai Zhiwei's performance in the second half had been average due to his psychological state, Escriba had no desire to butt heads with the team's star player. At the very next dead-ball situation after the restart, he substituted Dai Zhiwei off for Carlos Bacca.

In the remaining minutes, Las Palmas lacked the strength to mount a comeback, and Villarreal successfully secured the three points, jumping into third place in the league table with a one-point advantage.

After the match, Dai Zhiwei was once again named Man of the Match. A beaming Escriba brought him along to the post-match press conference.

Naturally, Dai Zhiwei became the main course in the eyes of the reporters, who swarmed to ask him questions. Among them, inquiries from domestic journalists regarding the upcoming China-South Korea showdown were inevitable.

"Zhiwei, what are your thoughts on the South Korean media's comments that Son Heung-min is the number one star in Asia?"

In the current Premier League season, Son Heung-min has already scored seven goals, making him Tottenham's third-highest scorer.

"Heh, Son Heung-min is certainly a good player," Dai Zhiwei initially replied with a casual shrug. Then, pausing for a moment, he continued, "However... whether he plays for the South Korean national team or Tottenham, he has always been my defeated opponent, and I am certain this time will be no exception!"

However, Dai Zhiwei was unaware that this time around, Son Heung-min would have no chance to compete against him at all.

In this round of final qualifiers, Son Heung-min is suspended due to accumulated yellow cards. In the first leg between the two teams, it was Son Heung-min who frequently orchestrated plays down the flank, helping South Korea unlock the victory.

His suspension will undoubtedly alleviate a considerable amount of pressure on the Chinese team's defensive line.

Yet, apart from Son Heung-min, two other key attacking figures in the South Korean squad, Ki Sung-yuing and Koo Ja-cheol, are now fit to play.

Ki Sung-yuing originally suffered an injury during the Premier League matches at the end of January, but in the latest round of the league, the South Korean midfielder made a hurried return and delivered a solid performance. As the tactical playmaker of the team's offensive line, Ki Sung-yuing's return is a massive boost for the Taeguk Warriors.

Additionally, Koo Ja-cheol, who sustained an injury in training earlier this month, has now largely recovered. The emergency returns of these two central attacking midfielders spell very bad news for the Chinese team.

In contrast, South Korea's defensive line is facing several headaches. Guangzhou Evergrande central defender Kim Young-gwon is sidelined due to injury, while veterans Kwak Tae-hwi and Kim Min-woo have also withdrawn from the national team because of injuries. Furthermore, constrained by the Chinese Super League's new policies, Guangzhou City player Jang Hyun-soo has not played a single match this season, and Jiangsu Suning player Hong Jeong-ho has been inconsistent in form. Entering the match with a backline in such a state, it is little wonder that the South Korean media have widely expressed anxiety.

It is worth noting that the South Korean team had previously proposed chartering a flight for the entire squad to travel to Changsha, but this plan ultimately fell through. Left with no choice, the team had to arrive in separate batches, which will have a significant impact on the physical fitness of the South Korean players.

This China-South Korea clash has attracted the highest level of nationwide attention.

Tickets for the match are divided into six price tiers: 180 RMB, 380 RMB, 480 RMB, 580 RMB, 880 RMB, and VIP 1280 RMB. Compared to the China-Qatar match last November, which ranged from 160 to 1260 RMB, ticket prices for this match have soared significantly.

According to regulations, fans purchasing tickets must submit ID card information, with a limit of two tickets per person. Even so, ticket sales were intensely popular, and all tiers were completely sold out five days in advance.

Meanwhile, on certain e-commerce websites, listings offering tickets for the match have appeared, with prices vastly exceeding their face value. A ticket originally priced at 380 RMB costs at least 1,000 RMB to acquire, and tickets of other denominations have likewise multiplied several times over in price.

In the lobbies of hotels near the stadium, numerous scalpers clutching bundles of cash can be seen trying to buy back tickets for the match. According to one middle-aged man, "Even though it's been raining continuously in Changsha these past two days, a massive number of fans still chose to come and watch the game live. Ticket prices have been hyped up sky-high, and even with cash in hand, it's very difficult for us to buy back any tickets."

Previously, when the Chinese team played their final qualifier matches in Shenyang, Xi'an, and Kunming, "tickets being hard to come by" was a recurring theme, and public interest and box office numbers remain as high as ever.

Aside from the overwhelming support of the fans, CFA President Cai Zhenhua, Vice President Zhang Jiang, and CFA Executive Committee Member Lin Xiaohua will attend the match in person to cheer on the Chinese team.

At the routine press conference hosted by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying on March 23, the China-South Korea match even became a topic of discussion!

Two days before the match, Dai Zhiwei finally arrived fashionably late. Suffering from jet lag, he was brought directly by Lippi to attend the pre-match press conference.

Initially, a severely fatigued Dai Zhiwei wanted to decline, but a single sentence from Lippi moved him deeply:

"You are the soul of this team, and you are the only one who can bring hope to the fans of this country!"

Lippi said many things at the pre-match press conference, the most intriguing of which was in response to a question about whether Changsha is a lucky charm for the Chinese team. Lippi replied, "I didn't know beforehand whether Changsha was a lucky place, but I hope Changsha will prove it to me tomorrow."

Domestic journalists could easily tell that Dai Zhiwei was exhausted, but he still pushed through to answer two questions: "Every single one of us has a deep understanding of this South Korean team. We will cast aside all pressure and fear because we are defending the dignity of 1.4 billion compatriots. Once you put on the national team jersey, you must give everything you have on the pitch. As long as we can play to our true level, we are second to no one in Asia!"

"We must win. There are no other thoughts on our minds!"