Fast forward to June, and the teammates of the national team finally saw their captain.

George. When Wood came to report on the national team, reporters gathered, and the media fans wanted to see how Wood was recovering from his foot injury. If he was still wearing slippers and walking on crutches, everyone's hearts would have sunk.

When Wood's agent Billy. As Wooks' grey Bentley pulled up at A.T. Kearney's gate, the security guards struggled to push the reporters away, but they couldn't stop the guns and guns from firing at Wood.

George. Wood ducked out of the car, all eyes on his right foot. They breathed a sigh of relief when they saw Wood wearing a pair of his usual Nike sneakers.

Then Wood didn't turn around and took out a pair of crutches from the car, and just got out of the car and stood in front of everyone.

Woods got out of the car, walked to the back and opened the trunk, and took out Wood's duffel bag. This suggests that Wood will travel to Spain with the team instead of continuing to stay at home for treatment.

The security guards felt a lot more pressure behind them, and it seemed that they were about to be unable to stop it. The frenzied media and fans were like a tidal wave, pounding the embankment formed by the security guards. Countless microphones and cameras went over the heads of the security guards and reached for George. Wood.

"George! How's your injury? ”

"Is it no longer a problem to walk on the ground?"

"What about running?"

"Are you sure you can make it to the European Championships?"

"George! George! The St George's Supporters' Association wishes you a speedy recovery, can you tell us a word? ”

"Mr. Wood......"

The security guards were in agony to keep order on the scene, and if those men launched another attack, the line of defense would fall apart. Thankfully, a voice saved them.

"If you keep squeezing like this, I bet you'll 'accidentally' hit George's right big toe."

A voice with an electronic howl sounded behind everyone, and it was so loud that no matter how noisy the environment was, no one was afraid of hearing it.

The sound was like a spell, stopping everyone from moving forward. Then they looked back at the source of the sound.

Tony. Don was standing behind them, a megaphone in his hand, staring at them with a straight face.

At this moment, everyone knows that it's time for the movie to end.

The crowd around Wood gradually dispersed, and the security guards finally breathed a sigh of relief, their uniforms had long been soaked with sweat, and some of them had left black handprints on them that they didn't know who pressed them.

Wood saw Don with a small smile on his face.

Donn's face was also cloudy and sunny.

Billy. Wools handed Wood his duffel bag, then beckoned to Don and turned into the car. Don tossed the megaphone at one of the security guards and strode over to Wood.

The reporters thought that Don might shake hands with Wood, but they didn't expect Don to hold Wood directly in his arms.

He hugged Wood hard for fear he would run away again.

Wood's arrival for the national team was known to Don a day in advance, and Professor Wallace personally called him to inform him that according to the recovery from the injury, Wood could already go to Spain with the team, but he still could not relax after returning to training. He has informed the team doctor of the national team to take care of it.

But when he didn't see Wood in front of him, Don wouldn't really be reassured. He had a lot of dreams at night, and he was afraid that he would wake up and receive a call from Professor Wallace, telling him that he had to say goodbye to this European Championship because Wood had stuck his big toe in the sewer pipe while taking a shower, resulting in a secondary injury......

Although this reason is absurd, it is not without precedent.

Well, now that Wood is here, the pressure on Donn's heart is much lighter. At the very least, he doesn't have to face the media questioning whether Wood can actually make it to the European Championships. And Wood's return to the team also injected a calming force into the somewhat panicked team, and everyone's restless hearts were calmed down - the backbone of the stadium returned.

"Welcome back, George." Tangne, hugging Wood, whispered in his ear.

※※※

Wood's return is big news, with major media outlets rushing to cover it, and the insecurity that has been haunting England fans for a long time has finally dissipated somewhat. Although the national team held a press conference to say that Wood's injury was not yet ready to train with the team, there was hope.

The European Championship kicks off on June 9, England's first game on June 12, and there are still 12 days to go, so it can always get better.

George. Wood said in an interview that he is feeling good now and has no problems going to the European Championships.

In fact, that afternoon, after the whole team practice, Donn called Wood alone and conducted a secret test with the team doctors, and it was found that the big toe of his right foot was still very painful, and he couldn't run or touch the ball.

The result made Don frown. The situation is not fundamentally improving. Wood came to the national team, I'm afraid it was more to show a gesture and reassure everyone......

In the end, Wood had to continue training in the pool.

The next day, Wood flew with the team to Barcelona, Spain, where their first group game was at the Camp Nou, so England also chose the city for their pre-tournament training camp.

The beauty of Barcelona is not going to make Donn's mood better, the team's overall tactics have long been formed, but that is in George. Wood plays on the premise. For more than a month, Donn has been practicing how the team should play in Wood's absence. The fifteen-minute training session, which is only open to the media every day, is full of meaningless warm-ups, and the real things are hidden from anyone else.

During this period, Donn saw a lot of German reporters outside the training camp, and he believes that these reporters also collect intelligence for the German national team, because England reporters do the same, and the reporters who have a good relationship with Donn will deliberately collect some information that is helpful to the England team when they cover the training of other national teams, and then give it to the England team.

It was George who was most of the attention of German journalists. How is Wood's recovery from his injuries? They also know that Wood is now the central figure in the England team, and England without him is a two-team team. When they saw the England players gathered to warm up, it was only George. Wood smiled comfortably as he jogged alone in the corner - it seemed that Wood's recovery from his foot injury was not going well.

On the fifth of June, George. Wood finally had an open solo practice session with the ball. Although the opening time for the media was still only 15 minutes, the training pitch was packed with media from all over the world.

Wood did training maneuvers such as juggling and passing in front of the media, and there seemed to be no problem with that.

The English cheered, the Germans were a little depressed.

But how do they know that the truth is definitely not as simple as it appears.

※※※

Professor Wallace, who had flown from England to Barcelona, Spain, conducted a thorough examination of Wood's right foot injury, and then he had a secret conversation with Donn.

With seven days to go, this secret talk could decide whether Wood will play with the team at the European Championships.

"Wood is not in a position to compete in the official competition." Wallace said straight to the point.

Don wasn't surprised by the result, but his brow tightened.

"You also need to be cautious when training with the ball."

"Can you give me an exact comeback date now, Professor?" That's all Don cares about.

Wallace had obviously been thinking about it for a long time, and he replied without thinking: "He will definitely not be able to make it to the game against Portugal, and the game against Wales will depend on the specific situation of his recovery during this time." He paused, then added, "I think the safest way is to keep Wood out of the group stage. ”

"You're saying he'll be able to come back in the knockout rounds?"

"At the very least, it may be a big surname."

Don fell into deep thought.

The strength of this group is not weak, Germany and Portugal are strong opponents, Wales has also risen, and they must be confident and full of fighting spirit when they reach the European Championship finals again after 40 years, such teams often become dark horses.

No George. Will Wood's England be able to break out of the Death Gang and fight their way out?

Now Don has no bottom in his heart.

Seeing his troubles, Wallace said, "If you think it's risky, you can replace Wood." Anyway, even if he can play in the knockout stage, I can't guarantee that he won't get injured again. And more importantly, the state, he hasn't played for so long, and he hasn't practiced with the whole team, even if he can't guarantee his condition, even if he plays, there may not be a good result. ”

Wallace spoke to Done's heart. There are two things he worries about the most, injuries and fitness.

Wood's foot injury is not yet healed, and he doesn't know if he will be able to maintain his pre-injury level.

As long as Wood plays, he must be the core, and if the core is not in form...... The consequences would be unimaginable.

All in all, it was a risky gamble.

Wallace knew that Don needed to think carefully, there were too many things to hold him back. He quietly took his leave. Coming out of training camp, he was surrounded by the media, and he had to be asked to talk about what he had talked about with Donn.

"We talk about Wood's injury, but I can't tell you anything, I'm sorry."

Somewhat embarrassed, he got into his car and walked away.

※※※

There were indeed a number of factors that held Donn back from making the final decision. He has to consider how his decision will affect Wood's career, positively? Or is it negative? He also has to consider whether Wood's recovery from a foot injury is progressing and he will be ready for the knockout stages, as Wallace predicted. The other thing is how Wood is doing, he's always recovering from injuries, he's training alone, and there's no sign of it. Then there is the results of this competition, which is also an important factor that cannot be ignored. Give up George. Wood, what will the team achieve? What will be the impact of insisting on keeping Wood in Spain?

This is not simply a contradiction between the professional life of a player and the pursuit of glory...... If it was just like that, Don would have been more relaxed.

With the European Championships just around the corner, Donn decided to talk to Wood one more time, and this time might be the last chance to choose. Whatever the outcome, he has a decision to make. He didn't want such a disturbance to remain in his mind until June 8.

※※※

Wood climbed out of the pool, wiped the drops from his face, and saw Don crouching in front of him.

"How does it feel?" He asked.

"I think it's fine." Wood replied.

"I'm annoyed right now, George." Donn watched as Wood climbed up and handed him a dry towel.

Wood didn't answer, wiped the water off his head, and sat down on the edge of the pool next to Donn.

"I spoke to Professor Wallace just now, and he said that you can't play in the group stage with your injury. That is, England need to break into the knockout rounds if they want you to play. I'm a little worried about ...... group stage"

"No problem." Wood interrupted Done, and said this without asking.

"Huh? What's okay? ”

"They were fine in the group stage." Wood trusts his teammates.

Don nodded, and he said that it was no problem, so it would be no problem. "Okay, so what about your status?"

Wood replied honestly: "I don't know, I haven't played, I don't know how I feel. ”

"I haven't touched a football in so many days, and my feet are rusty, right?"

Wood moved his ankle and shook his head, "Not really." ”

Don smiled.

"George, we still have the ...... of the World Cup"

"I know. I want the European Championship too. Wood was a bit "insatiable."

This time Don laughed so hard that he almost fell into the pool.

"You're greedy, George!"

"Don't you want it?" Wood asked rhetorically.

Don grinned, "Greed is my favorite original sin. ”

There was silence between the two of them for a while before Don En spoke: "George, do you really want to participate in this European Cup?" ”

"Yes."

"It's a very risky decision, it's like a gamble."

Wood didn't answer, he waited for Donn to continue.

'I've been insisting to the media that you're in time for the Euros, but now I have to admit to them that it's not the case.

Wood's brow furrowed, he had a bad premonition.

"It's going to put a lot of pressure on me and the team, but I want you to prove to them that it's worth it. Remember what I said when I was in the hospital? As long as you have hope of recovery, I will take you to Spain. Donn looked at Wood, "Now Professor Wallace told me your recovery is in the knockout stages. That means you need to miss three group games in order to play, and I can't guarantee that your wait for those three games will make sense. I don't know if there will be any surprises in between, so even if you get to the knockout rounds, I don't know if you'll be able to play, maybe because you haven't fully recovered from your injury, maybe because you're in terrible form...... Still, do you want to keep going? ”

Wood nodded, "I'm going to stay." ”

Don clapped his hands: "Okay, I've decided." We went to the European Championship together. I'm giving you three group games and I hope you can come back healthy and make it to the quarter-finals. ”

"If it doesn't work, just close it."

Don laughed. He stroked Wood's wet hair, and a stone in his heart hit the ground. From now on, no matter what the outcome is, he has to face it.

But he wasn't worried, because it was his own decision. No one forced him, no one begged him to make decisions that were not in his own hands, so what was there to worry about?

"I want both a champion and a healthy George." Donn winked at Wood, "Am I more greedy?" ”

(To be continued)