ASTNovels Chapter 497: There is no bottom line for overturning!
Chapter 497: There is no bottom line for overturning!
The Netherlands defeated Japan.
Finally, the World Cup in South Africa was not allowed to continue the recent trend of strong teams overturning every day.
European media labeled the Netherlands as the favorite to win the championship.
The performance of the Dutch team, coupled with the tyrant in white.
This combination is now worthy of being the favorite to win the World Cup!
Shen Hao returned to the hotel and prepared to watch another game in the same group.
The time between the two games today is longer than the first round.
So he could eat in the hotel, take a shower, and then watch the game in the hotel conference room with Stam, DeBoer and other coaches.
Players are not forced to participate.
But the vast majority of players came together to watch the game in a happy mood.
Since it's the World Cup, even if you don't go to the venue, it's good to watch the game through the screen and express your opinions.
It can only be said that they choose games to watch, but they don't pay attention to strong teams from the perspective of fans.
The match between Denmark and Cameroon... was pretty exciting.
In the end, the Danish team defeated Cameroon 2:1.
Cameroon, which lost both games, returned home one round early and bid farewell to the World Cup.
Because the Netherlands faced Cameroon in the last round, and Denmark fought a life-or-death battle with Japan.
No matter what the result is, Cameroon will not be able to finish second in the group.
The Dutch team advanced to the top 16 of the World Cup one round ahead of schedule.
Become the first team to get a ticket to the top 16 of this World Cup!
Shen Hao can focus more on examining his opponents.
The next day, the Dutch team started post-match recovery training step by step.
The players are in good condition and in a happy mood.
During low-intensity training, during breaks, players would also joke and play with each other like big boys. As long as it didn't go too far, Shen Hao would naturally not meddle in other people's business.
In the afternoon they set off early for the next competition city, Cape Town.
At the same time, the Dutch wives who are going to the World Cup this time also came here.
According to the established plan, if the Dutch team advances from the group stage, the players will be given one day to reunite with their families.
The team is now confirmed to advance.
After the last game of the group stage is played, the players will be separated from their families for almost half a month when they go to the World Cup.
It's time for them to be reunited with their families in reality.
Coaches and staff traveling with teams are no exception.
This is also a request specially made by Shen Hao to Kessler, chairman of the Dutch Football Association.
Let the Dutch Football Association pay for the air tickets and hotel expenses for all family members of the team.
Reduce general staff expenditure costs.
Although it will cost the Dutch Football Association some more expenses.
But they were able to offer Shen Hao an annual salary of 1000 million euros, which was obviously a huge investment.
At this time, there will be no fuss.
Kessler accepted it all because he trusted Shen Hao's team management ability.
Even the Dutch media paid great attention to the second round of Group F.
The Dutch team has entered the top 16.
Their knockout opponents will be from Group F.
Originally expected to miss out on Italy, both teams advanced as top group winners.
But Italy lost in the first round.
Maybe he will advance as second in the group.
Then the Netherlands and Italy will meet in the round of 16.
Of course the Dutch media will focus on it.
Paraguay took the lead and defeated Slovakia.
Then New Zealand and the defending champion Italy made their debut in the World Cup.
Shen Hao watched the game with the coaches in the hotel.
After the game, everyone looked at each other.
Stam couldn't help but sigh: "In the warm-up match with Italy before, I thought we won the game because we became stronger. Now, looking at it, Italy...has become too weak!"
De Boer frowned and said: "Now we may really have to meet Italy in the knockout round!"
After coming back to his senses, Shen Hao said nonchalantly: "It's Italy like this. If we fight 10 times, we can win 8 times, and we won't lose in the remaining 2 times."
Turn off the TV and go back to the room to rest.
Italy 1:1 New Zealand!
The defending champions tied with Paraguay in the first round and New Zealand in the second round.
Not to mention ranking on a global basis, Paraguay is not in the t1 echelon in South America.
New Zealand... If Australia does not enter the AFC, New Zealand will not even enter the World Cup!
Italy is hard-pressed to win.
The current situation is not too bad for Italy.
Paraguay has 4 points, Italy has 2 points, New Zealand has 2 points and Slovakia has 1 point.
Italy can advance as long as they defeat Slovakia in the final round!
But if Paraguay beats New Zealand, Italy will advance if they draw or win, but they will definitely be second in the group.
The Dutch media have already made plans and began to analyze Italy's performance, give advice to the Dutch team, and prepare in advance.
Shen Hao couldn't say that he wasn't worried. He still had to work, but he wasn't in a hurry.
Go at your own pace.
In fact everyone was surprised.
Italy is obviously the dominant team in this group, but it makes this group look like novices pecking each other.
The overturning of strong teams continues.
However, in the second round of Group G, Brazil and Portugal defended their true qualities as strong teams.
Brazil defeated Ivory Coast 3:1.
Portugal beat North Korea 7-0.
The fans finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Brazil became the second team to advance to the last 16 of the World Cup.
Portugal's promotion prospects are also very optimistic.
Fans are really afraid that the final list of the top 16 of the World Cup is completely different from the expected feast of strong teams.
There was no upset in the second round of Group H group stage.
European Cup champion Spain suffered an upset loss in the first round, quickly won in the second round and took the initiative to advance into their own hands.
They beat Honduras.
Chile won two consecutive games by defeating Switzerland.
However, since the three teams may have the same score in the final round, Chile, which has 6 points in this group, did not advance in advance.
The second round of the World Cup group stage in South Africa has been completed.
Only the Netherlands and Brazil have secured their spot in the top 16.
There are still 14 places that will be announced in the final round of the group stage.
It can be regarded as making the World Cup group stage suspenseful and full of things to watch.
There are no byes from the start to the end of the group stage.
There are games every day, allowing fans to fully enjoy the game.
The football feast is in full swing.
The Dutch team prepares for the final round of the group stage in Cape Town in relaxed condition.
After all, they have already secured tickets to the top 16.
There will definitely be rotation in the final round.
Judging from the situation in the first two rounds.
The Netherlands and Brazil are in a better situation than other strong teams.
Because they can rotate in the last round.
This is especially critical in an intensive schedule.
Other strong teams have to fight to advance. The cost cannot be said to be huge, because there will be no overtime, but it will definitely not be small.
The final game of the group stage begins.
Both games started at the same time.
Group A took the lead and continued to upset!
Uruguay's defeat of Mexico was not an upset, but France's loss to the host South Africa disgraced the Gallic Roosters!
1 draw and 2 losses.
The group stage of the last World Cup runners-up ended dismally.
Only scored 3 goal in 1 games.
Unbelievable.
Uruguay joined hands with Mexico to advance to the last 16.
There are no upsets in Group B.
Argentina defeated Greece and won all three games, with soccer champion Maradona stealing the spotlight.
It seems that Argentina has seen the hope of winning the championship.
South Korea drew with Nigeria, but after Greece was defeated by Argentina, South Korea finished second in the group.
Argentina and South Korea advanced to the top 16 together.
In Group C, where novices competed with each other, the Three Lions narrowly defeated Slovenia and the United States defeated Algeria.
However, the disadvantage in terms of goals resulted in the United States taking first place in the group and England second.
The final match of Group D also refused to be an upset.
The German team, the runner-up in the last European Cup, defeated Ghana and advanced to the top 16. Although Australia defeated Serbia, they lost to Ghana in terms of goal difference. They could only watch Ghana advance to the top 16 with Germany with the same points.
After the dust settled in Group D, it created a strong dialogue among the top 16.
England vs Germany.
The Great War between Britain and Germany.
The battle of old enemies.
It is about to be the turn of the teams in Group E to make their debut.
Shen Hao attended the pre-match press conference in a relaxed state.
He announced without reservation: "We will conduct an overall rotation. I don't want to hear the outside world questioning my decision, because even the Dutch team's substitute rotation players are equally strong!"
Cameroon itself has already been eliminated early.
Therefore, whether the Dutch team lets go will have no impact on the life-and-death battle between Denmark and Japan.
Of course, the outside world will not find fault.
The Dutch team was the most ferocious team in the first two rounds.
Keep opponents clean and score 7 goals.
Even though Portugal scored 7 goals against North Korea in a single game.
But compared with the Dutch team's two consecutive victories, it is still far from a winning streak.
6 month 25 day.
Cape Town, Green Point Stadium.
The match between Cameroon and the Netherlands started on time.
The entire Dutch team rotates.
Cameroon is the main force.
Even so, the two teams are equally matched on paper.
The only star that Cameroon can use is Eto'o. Others like Macun, Nkulu, Mbia and the like, although they also compete in top leagues like Ligue 1.
However, the strength is still very limited after all.
Although there is no better star than Eto'o in the Netherlands, the overall quality of the players is more balanced.
After the game started, Shen Hao stood on the sidelines with a serious expression.
The Dutch team still plays defensive counterattack.
Cameroon's final game of this World Cup, how they perform is the key to determining the trend of this game.
African teams are not even as good as the top Asian teams at the technical and tactical level.
If it weren't for the outstanding innate advantages of individual stars, African teams would have no foothold in world football.
Cameroon took the initiative to attack and the attack was overwhelmed by the Dutch team's solid and dense defense.
The Dutch team has some space to counterattack, which is not bad.
Not particularly ideal.
But enough to create some threat.
The overall trend of the game has always been like this, without much change.
Cameroon's offense completely failed to see the exquisite coordination based on the basics, and the offensive organization had no creativity.
It's just the repeated impact of the players' personal abilities. The Dutch team's intensive defense may cause occasional dangers to the defense line because the personnel capabilities are not as good as the main force, but it is not fatal.
The Dutch team's counterattacks constantly tried to create threats.
In the first and second half, Van Persie and Huntelaar each made a contribution.
Afellay and Elia performed well today.
The counterattack allowed people to see their talent and strength.
The Dutch team finally defeated Cameroon 2:0.
Dutch fans stood up and applauded after the game.
Won all three games in the group stage and advanced to the top 16 of the World Cup!
Another match in the same group also came to an end.
The Japanese team defeated Denmark 3:1 and became the second Asian team to advance to the top 16 after South Korea.
Chinese fans are envious and jealous.
But there was nothing we could do.
Shen Hao positively summarized the game after the game and also looked forward to the top 16 opponents being announced tomorrow.
As for whether to fight Italy, he didn't seem to care.
No matter who it is, the Dutch team cannot take it lightly.
After returning to the hotel, Shen Hao announced in public that he would take a day and a half off.
The players can go to reunite with their families tonight, have free time tomorrow, and gather at the hotel the day after tomorrow. They are going back to Durban from Cape Town.
The 1/8 finals will be held there.
The players and staff are delighted.
After writing down three emergency phone numbers for each other in case of emergencies, the Dutch team temporarily disbanded.
After the news came out, even the Dutch media were dumbfounded.
They began to pray.
"Don't be so messy with these players!"
"It's best not to cause any scandal."
"Young Marshal Huaxia is too courageous!"
The Dutch media are not opposed to players reuniting with their families, but they believe it should be under the control of the national team. For example, the national team should give them a place to have dinner together.
Shen Hao is very free and easy.
He has a lot of trust in his players.
Even players who don't have girlfriends will definitely want to spend some time with their parents or siblings.
It doesn’t have to be about having fun.
And everyone knows his temper.
They were given a holiday before the expedition and the rules were explained clearly.
When you come to South Africa, don’t cause trouble!
Otherwise, he doesn't mind just asking the troublesome players to quit the team and get out.
Trust always goes both ways.
The Dutch players are certainly grateful for the holiday space that Shen Hao created for them.
Most other teams that advance to the top 16 of the World Cup do not have such a holiday.
Shen Hao also came to the top hotel on the beach in Cape Town.
"father!"
Arthur and Shen Xiu rushed towards Shen Hao.
Bai Muxin hugged Shen Zhiping, who was biting his fingers, and came forward with a smile on his face.
Shen Yao sat on the sofa and greeted Shen Hao: "Hi, brother."
Shen Hao was speechless for a while.
This evil brother is too precocious. Although there are obvious traces of deliberately pretending to be mature, Shen Hao still feels that his childhood seems to be different from other children.
Shen Guoqiang and Li Fen were sitting on the balcony chatting. When they saw Shen Hao arriving, they both smiled and said hello to him, and then did not disturb the happy time of his reunion with the children.
"Brother Hao, let's go for a walk and have a drink."
Chen Hao walked in happily from the suite next door with Chen Haichuan, who was four months and two years old.
"You took Xiao Haichuan with you and told me to have a drink?"
Chen Hao said carelessly: "Just let the children play together."
Shen Hao was surprised to hear Shen Yao's voice coming from behind.
"It's okay, brother, you go ahead, I'll watch them, just don't worry."
This brother...
Chen Hao laughed.
"The most reliable person in the room is indeed Shen Yao!"
Shen Yao had a matter-of-fact expression when he heard this, unable to hide the proud light in his eyes.
Shen Hao couldn't laugh or cry.
Bai Muxin also asked him to get together with his friends.
Tang Jinyu, Chen Hao, Zhao Xin, plus brother and sister Xiao Zheyuan.
They came to the hotel's bar and chatted while drinking. They shared anecdotes about their trip to South Africa, while Shen Hao relieved the stress appropriately and relaxed temporarily.
Suddenly, there was an exclamation in the bar.
Everyone looked around and saw that the guests in the bar were looking at the ceiling or wall-mounted TVs.
Slovakia vs Italy.
In the first half, Slovakia scored!
Even Shen Hao looked stunned.
Is Italy going to follow in the footsteps of France?
Champions and runners-up of the last World Cup, what are you doing?