Early the next morning, a black Mercedes sedan departed from the side door of the hotel in England and drove to Valencia's Lafaite Hospital, which had successfully transplanted a woman's hand after 28 years and was influential in orthopedics.

Since the whole team has to rush to Sevilla, where the next game will be held, the time is very short. To this end, the England Embassy in Spain stepped in to contact the hospital for the team, and it was only in the shortest possible time that the examination was finalized. And it's a matter that must be kept secret from the news media, and it's complicated to get involved with the news media.

Fortunately, England's opponent in the quarterfinals was not Spain, otherwise the Spanish side would not have agreed to cooperate with the inspection so readily.

The people sitting in the car were Donn, Derek. White and George. Wood, as well as Professor Wallace, who has been watching the game on vacation in Spain during this time, are also watching the progress of Wood's recovery from the injury, and this time he went to the hospital for examination, and the team also notified him, and he rushed to Valencia overnight, just to give the most professional and authoritative advice.

The Royal College of Medicine, University of Nottingham, is a partner hospital of the English FA and players from the national team come to them for treatment when they have an injury. With Wallace, the FA has a lot of trust in the FA.

Except for the driver, none of the four people in the car spoke, and the atmosphere seemed to be a little dull. Tang En then joked: "How do I feel that we are going to the execution ground?" You don't all have a straight face, okay? ”

Wallace smiled, "Why don't we talk about yesterday's game?" That's wonderful, Tony. Reverse Germany, you leave the always resilient Germans helpless. ”

Don glanced at Wood: "Without George, the final result is really hard to say." ”

Wood was the most resistant of the group to going to the hospital for a check-up. "I feel like I'm doing well, I don't have any problems with my feet, and I don't have to go to the hospital for a check-up."

"That's not going to work, George. To ensure your safety, this check must be done. Since you think it's okay, what are you afraid of? Don winked at Wood.

"I'm not afraid ......," Wood felt a little weak.

When the group arrived at the hospital, there were indeed no reporters or media. It seems that the other party did keep its promise and did not notify the media.

Wood's right big toe was examined for half an hour, and Donn couldn't understand the medical terms, while White and Wallace and the Spanish doctors were studying the X-rays that had been taken. Don wasn't interested, he just wanted to know the end result.

So he waited for Wallace to finish the conversation, then walked up and asked. "What's the conclusion, Professor?"

"The good news is that he didn't hurt his right big toe again in yesterday's game. The bad news is that his foot is still recovering. Wallace looked at Don and said, the smile on his face was gone, and his expression was serious.

"Judging by yesterday's game, George. Wood's right foot still hurts when he touches the ball and gives power, although his endurance is super strong and not obvious to the average person, but it is not good for his recovery. My suggestion is that it's best not to let him ...... in the next game," Professor Wallace pondered, taking into account Wood's attitude, "...... Don't let him start. ”

Don frowned. After the medical examination, Wood was resting in another room and would not hear the conversation between them.

It's really not good or bad news. England's opponent in the quarter-finals has been released, not too strong, but not weak, and it has a lot of roots with England - Sweden.

Before that, England had not beaten Sweden for forty-eight years.

George. Wood is definitely the heart of the team and the most important pawn. This can be seen from the last ten minutes of the game against the German team, there is a big difference between him and him on the field. No George. Wood's England also reversed Germany, but it was always less reassuring, and as soon as Wood came on, everyone's hearts that had been hung up to their throats fell peacefully.

An opponent like Sweden cannot be taken lightly, and after being humiliated by Wales, Donn no longer dares to underestimate the enemy. None of the teams that can break into the knockout stages are those that England can beat with their eyes closed, including Wales.

Wood is important to the team, but Wood's career is just as important.

Donn thought about it for a moment and decided to take Professor Wallace's advice: "I'm not going to let him start." ”

A smile reappeared on Wallace's face: "How do you want to talk to him about a headache, he's a stubborn temper." ”

Don shrugged: "What else can I say?" Coax him like a child. Thirty-year-olds, still like seventeen or eighteen-year-old children......"

Men with mother-love complexes don't grow up, and they always hope that they are still the children who can be spoiled in their mother's arms.

Don rubbed his temples and walked out. He's got to face George. Wood's eyes.

※※※ Wood looked at Don with no expression on his face, not even expectation. But this look gave Don a headache.

"The results are in, George." Donn struggled to make himself smile.

Wood didn't follow-up, "What was the result?" He just continued to look at Don in silence.

But it would have been easy for him to speak if he had spoken, but it was difficult for Don to do so if he didn't open his mouth.

"There's good news and there's bad news, which one do you want to hear first?" Don En must have played this set very vulgarly.

"Good news." Wood didn't think about it, and blurted out in reply.

"Your big toe didn't suffer a second injury in yesterday's game."

Wood wasn't surprised, his body knew it on its own. Although the foot-to-foot clash with Rolfes was the most intense of the game, he still staggered the injury at the crucial moment. It's the physical instinct of a seasoned pro.

"Where's the bad news?"

After this conversation, Don's mood has gradually calmed down. Without the slightest hesitation, he replied directly: "I will not arrange for you to start the match against Sweden." ”

Wood's face changed, his eyes widened as he stared at Donn, and there was even some anger in his eyes. He remembered what Donn had said to him before: he would be officially back in the knockout rounds.

Donne, of course, knew the meaning of Wood's expression, and he smiled bitterly, "Your injuries are not completely healed, and I can't let you risk the game." I don't want Michael. The scene where Owen played Sweden at the World Cup in Germany repeats itself on you, George. ”

Jean Michael. It was that injury that completely hit the bottom of Irving's career. He had just returned from injury at the World Cup in Germany, and after just 50 seconds of the opening game against Sweden, he fell to the ground in pain after touching the ball on the flank, and was then taken off the pitch on a stretcher, missing not only the World Cup, but also the rest of the season. After he recovered from injury again, he could no longer find the glory of the past.

Don wasn't willing to take the risk.

Wood wanted to say something, but was stopped by Donn's gesture: "Whatever you say, George." I won't change my mind. Yes, I admit that I broke my word and broke my word. But for the sake of your health and for the sake of your future career, I would rather break my promise than keep it. Rest assured, we'll keep a close eye on your recovery every day and once we've confirmed that you're really fine, we'll start you......"

Wood was still unwilling and was about to open his mouth to fight back, but was interrupted by Don again: "Think of your mother, George. Don't let your mom worry about you anymore. ”

This sentence hit Wood's soft underbelly at once, and he froze there, not knowing how to refute Don for a long time. After yesterday's game, he called his mother, but he didn't expect her to praise his performance on the court, and the first thing she said was to ask how his feet were. At that time, he said that it was nothing, but his mother was still very worried and didn't seem to believe him.

But how did the boss know that his mother would be worried? Wood looked at Don suspiciously.

Donn knew what he was thinking, "I didn't talk to your mom on the phone, but it's human. You don't care about your career, but you also have to think about your mom. No mother wants her son to live on crutches for the rest of his life. I'm not alarmist, you should know. ”

Wood was completely silent. He lowered his head and fell into deep thought.

Don knew he had been convinced, and turned and walked out the door.

Wallace and White were waiting anxiously outside, and when they saw Don come out, they hurriedly made an inquiring expression.

"It's okay." Donn shrugged and spread his hands. "He accepted."

Both of them breathed a sigh of relief at the same time.

"It's good now." The easiest is White, otherwise he would have to face George at all times. Wood's stubborn eyes made him in a dilemma.

But Done's next words made him nervous again.

"I hope he recovers soon, Mr. White. This is the job of your team doctor. In the quarter-finals, I'm going to start him no matter what! Don was categorical and didn't give White a chance to defend himself.

Wallace, who was next to him, looked at his counterparts with some schadenfreude. Fortunately, I don't have much to do with the national team now, just to help. Otherwise, it would be miserable to serve such an unreasonable head coach...... when the four people came out of the hospital and were about to get in the car and leave, they were startled by the scene in front of them:

At least 50 reporters crowded the entrance to the hospital, and the police officers who had been brought in to maintain order were sweating profusely, but they could not control the surging crowd. Especially when the four of Don appeared at the door of the hospital lobby...... When Don and Wood walked out of the hospital, the reporters no longer ignored the police's obstruction, and the waves rushed up, throwing their questions at Don and Wood with the microphone.

"The reason why I suddenly came to the hospital for a check-up is because of George. Has Wood's injury worsened? ”

"May I ask Mr. Donn, is this inspection related to the match against Germany? George. Did Wood's right big toe hurt again against Germany? ”

"Can you easily reveal what the results of the test are?"

"Mr. Wood, how are your injuries?"

"Can you catch the Swedish game, George?"

"Mr. White, shall I tell you about Wood's foot injury?"

"Professor Wallace, Professor Wallace ......"

None of the four apparently wanted to answer questions, and the police at the scene surrounded them tightly in the middle, escorting them towards their car.

Some of the microphones had even struck four people over their heads, and they had to raise their hands to protect their heads, looking like criminals who were full of evil, beware of rotten eggs and tomatoes thrown by the angry crowd.

In just ten meters, they squeezed for five minutes before squeezing into the car. After slamming the door shut, Donn teased, "Let's see if the wallet is still there, gentlemen." ”

White was a little shocked: "We are here, how do those media know about it?" ”

Don shrugged: "Who knows, the paparazzi are everywhere, they are more omnipotent than God." As he spoke, he glanced at Wood, who was sitting in the back row, and Wood looked preoccupied with his head down.

"Let's go." Don gave the order to leave, and the driver started the car, slowly drove out of the crowd, and then sped away.

Half a day later, when the whole England team arrived in Serbia, the online version of the major media had already issued the latest news - the morning of the day. Wood is under the head coach Tony Murphy. Donn, team doctor leader Derek. Accompanied by White and Professor Wallace, a renowned surgeon, they went to the Lafite Hospital in Valencia for an examination, but the details were not known and the results of the examination were unknown. But rushing to the hospital for a check-up on the second day of the match against Germany was too much to think about...... For a time, "George. Rumours rife that Wood will miss the game against Sweden and that he will miss the rest of the European Championship are rife.

On the Internet, such rumors are flowing around with the help of fiber optic cables buried in the ocean or satellites hanging high in the sky.

Don't you believe it? Maybe that's true.

Can you believe it? Maybe it's all a scam.

During the afternoon training, within fifteen minutes of being open to the media, everyone clearly saw George. Wood was with the team for warm-up exercises, and he even kicked two balls!

So what's going on with the morning news?

Fifteen minutes were fast approaching, and the reporters were a little reluctant to ask Donn what had happened to Wood.

Don ruthlessly expelled them and refused to answer any questions.

"We have the right to know the truth!" A reporter protested dissatisfiedly.

"I have the right to refuse to answer questions." Donn responded. "Get them all out!" He shouted to the security guards. So the security guards were no longer polite, and pushed and dragged the reporters out of the gate of the training ground.

"Here we go again!" England's journalists were disgruntled, and there was nothing they could do about the coach who had just eliminated Germany. As long as the results are good, Don can continue to dominate the national team. They could do nothing but spit on their own one-third of an acre.

The Swedish journalists were thinking a lot more complicated than their English counterparts – was there some conspiracy for Donn to be so nervous about refusing to be filmed and interviewed by the media? George. Was Wood's visit to the hospital really for a check-up, or was it a smoke bomb released?

England and Sweden match, George. Will Wood be able to start?

They are desperate to get to the bottom of it, because it's about whether Sweden can go one step further in the Euros.

(To be continued)