At this point, the group stage is over, and all the teams that advance to the top 16 are produced, and those eliminated teams can only go home. With the exception of Italy, the other traditional powerhouses are in the round of 16, which is a guarantee of a wonderful knockout round.

According to the schedule, the matchup for the round of 16 has come out, and the opponent of the French team is the South Korean team. The two teams were in the same group in the last World Cup, with France winning 3-1 thanks to a hat-trick, and the two teams met in the first round of the knockout round for the first time in four years.

France are full of confidence, while South Korea have declared that they will avenge the blow they made four years ago and advance to the quarter-finals. A war of words ensued in the media of the two countries.

The other teams are playing against Ghana, Netherlands vs. Slovakia, Brazil vs. Chile, Argentina vs. Uruguay, Germany vs. England, Paraguay vs. Japan, Spain vs. Portugal.

Germany's strong clash with England, Spain and Portugal are the two most intriguing matches in the quarter-finals.

In order to prepare for the first round of the knockout round, the French team arrived in Port Elizabeth two days early. Port Elizabeth is located on the southwest shore of Argoa Bay on the southeast coast of South Africa, bordering the southwest side of the Indian Ocean, and is one of the major ports in South Africa. Founded in 1799, it is South Africa's largest wool market. It is a port city bordering the Indian Ocean and has a pleasant climate with an average annual temperature of 20 degrees.

Since Tang's suspension has ended, the French team is actively preparing in a good atmosphere.

A one-game suspension and a fine of one million are not light. Tang Jue knew that there were many people's merits in this. Among them, the French fans have the greatest credit, without them, the French president and the British prime minister would not have put pressure on Blatter. Platini also has less important bargaining chips.

It's the same as two years ago, when the fans showed great strength at key moments. Tang Jue knew that he could only repay them with a good performance, because that was the only request from those fans.

As the clock ticked and the time for the knockout rounds drew closer, the war of words between the media of the two countries began to escalate. The South Korean media suddenly broke a striking news.

ON THE 25TH, THE FAMOUS SOUTH KOREAN SPORTS MEDIA "BESTELEVEN" PUBLISHED AN ARTICLE, SAYING THAT ACCORDING TO RESEARCH, TANG JUE'S ANCESTORS WERE KOREANS.

Public opinion was in an uproar. Especially the Chinese media. They refuted the news. Chengdu Business Daily also specially interviewed Tang Yuantian, who denied the news.

The French press scoffed at the South Korean claims, and the Paris daily newspaper said: According to information from China, Tang's ancestors were not Koreans. His father personally confirmed the news.

Other than that. What if Tang's ancestors were Korean? France is a country of immigrants. More than half of the players in the French team are not from France, such as Zidane, whose ancestral home is Algeria. But it still won't affect them playing for France.

What do Koreans mean by this?

Do you want Don to show mercy to them?

That's absolutely impossible. What kind of person is Don. He said after the start of the World Cup that he wanted to make this World Cup his own.

Could it be that the Koreans are looking for a foreshadowing of the defeat, and after the game, they can say, "It was the Koreans who beat the Korean team." ”

Listen to that, and after the game, they can go back to South Korea with their heads held high.

This is a good trick of the Koreans!

……

At 9 o'clock in the morning of the 26th, at the pre-match press conference, South Korean coach Heo Dingmao said: "We have only one goal tonight, and that is to defeat the French team and advance to the quarterfinals. We lost in the group stage four years ago and tonight is the best time for us to get our revenge! ”

"There is an old saying in our country - where you fall, you get up!"

The Chinese reporters in the audience frowned, damn, how did this sentence become an old Korean saying? This is obviously what the Chinese say, it's too shameless!

A Chinese journalist couldn't help but shout: "This sentence is Chinese, not Korean!" ”

Several other Chinese reporters called for peace, South Korean reporters did not blush or their hearts beat, and reporters from other countries looked at each other, and the scene was a bit chaotic.

Xu Dingmao's face did not blush, and continued: "France is very strong and is the favorite to win the championship, and it also has a number of superstars such as Tang Jue and Ribery. But we ......"

A voice sounded again, interrupting his speech, "Tang Je's ancestors are Chinese, not Koreans!" “

Xu Dingmao's face still did not change, he pursed his mouth, and said with some annoyance: "You are too rude, can this press conference continue?" ”

The French reporters gave the Chinese reporters a thumbs up, while the South Korean reporters looked ugly.

With the "noisy" of Chinese reporters, Xu Dingmao hastily ended his speech, and then in the question session, he was questioned by Chinese reporters. Koreans are smart enough not to answer positively.

Domenech came on the pitch at the following time, and he said into the microphone: "Our road to defending our title has officially entered the brutal knockout stage. South Korea are opponents to be respected, and the teams that can make it to the knockout rounds are not underdogs. We are ready and we will not disappoint the fans. ”

"Tonight, we're going to leave a classic at Nelson Mandela Bay!"

He seemed to remember some beautiful picture, and a smile appeared on his face.

"Don said to me last night, 'Coach, you can rest assured, since I won't ......die in a big disaster.'"

His words stopped suddenly, and his face was a little embarrassed because he forgot the second half of the sentence. A Chinese journalist said loudly: "If you don't die in a catastrophe, you will have a blessing!" ”

Domenech nodded again and again and said, "Yes! Yes, yes, that's it, if you don't die in a catastrophe, you will have a blessing! ”

Journalists from other countries cast envious glances at Chinese journalists. Several of the French journalists had made up their minds that after the press conference, they would make friends with the Chinese reporters and let them teach them a few words of the old Chinese language.

Who is to blame for this?

From time to time, this guy Tang pops out of his mouth a few ancient Chinese sayings and idioms. I don't understand Chinese culture. That's not a qualified football journalist.

"He said, coach, you can rest assured, since I will not die, there will be a blessing, and no one can stop us in the next game."

Domenech put away his smile and said sternly: "The Korean team is our first test after entering the knockout round, and we will take it seriously." We're not going to let tonight be Thuram's last game, we're going to keep going. Until the Hercules Cup is raised! ”

It was the first time Domenech had opened his heart. Say the goal of the French team in person. After finishing speaking, he seemed to be much more relaxed, his face calmed down, and he signaled that he could enter the question session.

An Italian journalist asked: "Some media think you can replace Henry with Benzema. Let him partner with Don. Because the two of them work well together at Real Madrid. What do you think about this? ”

After the start of this Cup. Tang Jue's partner has always been Henry. Benzema was only able to start the last game of the group, and the two of them were unable to star together due to Tang's suspension.

Given that Henry is less and less of a threat on the field. In France, there are voices for Benzema to replace Henry.

Bad answers to this question will hurt the hearts of both players, and Domenech frowned and said: "Benzema is still young, this is his first World Cup. Going to the World Cup at his age and sitting on the bench most of the time is a very normal thing and we can't pull out the seedlings to help it. ”

'As for Thierry Henry, he is still an indispensable player for France. His cooperation with Don at Real Madrid is still tacit. Don't forget that in our first game, he had a goal, and in the second, he had an assist. Such experienced players are what every team needs. ”

A Dutch journalist asked: "Four years ago, Don was eighteen years old, younger than Benzema now, didn't he become the main striker of the French team?" Why does Benzema sit on the bench when he comes here? ”

Some media reporters looked at the Dutch reporter with disdain, can Benzema be compared to Don? Tang is a demon, whoever compares with him is looking for death. Except, of course, for the likes of Pele and Ronnie.

Domenech shook his head and said: "Four years ago we had an aging squad and we desperately needed a young player like Don to bring energy to the team. Now we are in a situation where we are in the opposite situation and we need experienced veterans. ”

"In addition, there is a process to develop a young player, you can't rush, I am optimistic about Benzema's future."

……

Halfway through the World Cup, the brutal knockout rounds are about to begin. This marks a pivotal time for the World Cup, with one team returning home at the end of each match. And the winning team continued to move forward, sending a powerful impact on the championship.

There was a lot of enthusiasm from fans all over the world, and the media was busy, and they heard about the team from various sources. Interviews with the stars are a top priority.

Tang Jue is the number one star of the French team, and his words and deeds will arouse heated discussions.

At two o'clock in the afternoon of the 26th, a long queue had begun to form outside the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. Most of the reporters waited by the passage where the players walked into the dressing room.

There are also some media reporters who are busy interviewing fans from both countries for their views on the game.

The French fan shouted into the microphone: "Long live France!" France must win! ”

"Don tells us that he wants to win the Hercules Cup for us!"

"The Koreans are not our opponents!"

The Korean fan shouted into the microphone and said: "This is South Korea's chance, the defending champions are under too much pressure, we will have the last laugh!" ”

"Don is never a problem!"

"Even if we are defeated by Tang Jue, then we will be defeated at the feet of the Koreans!"

When the reporter heard this, he was dumbfounded.

……

At 2:15 a.m., when the reporters were about to see through it, the French bus slowly drove in, and the group of reporters began to surge. Led by Domenech, the French team stepped out of the car.

Tang did not evade, walked directly to the media, and said into the microphone: "The knockout round has begun, and the real test is coming." Tonight is the beginning, not the end, and I want to repay the people who support me with a good table! ”

The reporters knew what he meant, but that was in the past, and they were more concerned about the upcoming game. However, the focus of Chinese journalists is not on the game, but on the South Koreans.

A Chinese reporter asked aloud: "Previously, some Korean media believed that your ancestors were Koreans, and Mr. Xu Dingmao said at the morning press conference, 'Where you fall, get up!'" It's an old Korean saying. What are your thoughts on this? ”

Tang Jue frowned, his face was ugly, he had been concentrating on training in the past few days, and he didn't pay attention to the media at all. Fuck, I changed the nationality of my ancestors, this ......

"My ancestors were, of course, Chinese, there is no doubt about it. I've heard that Koreans often think of Chinese civilization as theirs, such as Chinese characters, such as the Dragon Boat Festival, and so on. ”

"As for 'where you fall, you get up!' I was taught by my father with this sentence since I was a child, and I believe that this sentence is Chinese. ”

He looked at the Korean reporters and said lightly: "Koreans are really a very strange nation, what is good, they just earn, why don't they say that Maradona is also Korean, so they can be proud for decades." ”

"It can be said that the Koreans have already won the World Cup, and the Koreans have already won the championship!" (To be continued......)