Shot

Chapter 70 Arrogant Football Association, Chinese National Team?
Al Bicerin Cafe is located next to a small square, not in the downtown area, and there is a small church next to it, a very quiet place.

If you are not a native of Turin, it is difficult to find here easily. This small cafe seems to carry too many memories of Turin people's life in the Middle Ages in Europe, whether it is the ancient Bicerin.Bicerin coffee passed down from generation to generation, It is still the ancient architectural pattern in the cafe with strong traces of the European Middle Ages.

Lin Han finally found this place. Fortunately, there is a free parking place in the square outside the cafe.

"Hello sir, what do you need?" Mrs. Costa looked at Lin Han. Since Andre came to Turin, there seemed to be a lot more Chinese in Turin than before.

"Hello, I made an appointment with a friend, and we met here." Lin Han was amazed at the beauty of Mrs. Costa, which is different from the current fashion beauty. The lady in front of her has the appearance of a European medieval lady. beauty.

"Ah~! You're Andre's friend, right? He called just now and asked if you've arrived. He has something to deal with, and he'll be here soon." Mrs. Costa led Lin Han to the coffee shop The seat by the window of the restaurant, "Please sit down, this position is Andre's favorite position, I believe you will like it too."

Lin Han thanked and sat down.

Through the rubbed glass, you can see the scenery outside. This location is facing the small church next to the square, giving people a sense of spiritual stability.

"Please use, this is the most distinctive Bicerin. Bicerin in the cafe, Andre said on the phone, please drink Bicerin. Bicerin, this is Andre's favorite, I believe you will like it."

"Thank you ma'am!"

"There is today's latest newspaper on the table. You can take a look. Andre will be here in a while."

"OK, thanks."

Lin Han is not surprised that he has such a familiar relationship with Xiangnan, the owner of the shop. The feeling of familiarity is like the relationship between the neighbor and the boy next door, without any snobbish elements. This is a common feature of some European stars. These stars who walked off the green field are just ordinary ones, with a gentleman's demeanor, without any appearance of being too proud or domineering.

Picking up the newspaper on the table, it was full of reports about the Serie A game that ended yesterday. Since this is Turin, it is obvious that the focus of the report is the thrilling Turin derby that just ended.

In this game, Lin Han watched the game on the spot, so he was even more touched.

"Prince Andre's Turin Derby!!"

That was the headline on the front page of the Torino Post, accompanied by a large photo of Xiang Nan kissing the Torino crest on his jersey after scoring the second equalizer.

Everyone in Turin now knows that "Torino Post" and "Turin Sports News" support Turin and Juventus respectively. The two media are on their own platforms. The confrontation between them has risen to a new height, and this different height is based on the sudden emergence of the Turin team this season.

Confrontation is based on a certain strength. Without strength, all confrontation or counterattack is empty talk and big talk.

The Turin Post wrote on the front page of its own article titled "Prince Andrea's Turin Derby!!":
"It's Andre again, Prince Andrea of ​​Turin, who once again hit back with a goal against all the rumors and attacks that despised the young prince, Torino, who were also in this derby, with His own performance proved to all the teams in the Apennine Peninsula that the once omnipotent Turin dynasty is back.

...

We have been waiting for 60 years, half a century of waiting, the sea water of the Mediterranean Sea is full of Turin people's tears, and the cold wind of the Alps is also pouring down the flame of Turin people's revival...

...

Onward to Turin! !We love you, Prince Andrey! ~….”

"Andre's performance is great, isn't it?" Mrs. Costa's voice awakened Lin Han from the nostalgic and revival atmosphere rendered in this article.

"Yes, it was great, Torino did a great job too!!"

"Uh no, I'm not a Torino fan, I don't care about football now, I just want to say that Andre is doing well, whether it's off the field or on the field, this big boy from China is the first time I know He has been to that distant country in China, he is excellent!!"

Mrs. Costa's words made Lin Han fall into deep thought.

Lin Han could see that it was a compliment from the heart, not the usual flattery of foreigners. I don’t know when it started, but foreigners seem to have reached a consensus that Chinese people like to listen to good things, so, sugar-coated Cannonballs and ecstasy soup were thrown at the people of the country. As a football journalist, Lin Han knew this best.

The irony is that whenever these compliments from abroad—
'The performance of the Chinese team is very good, I really don't understand, how can such an excellent team not make it to the World Cup? '

'The World Cup without the participation of the Chinese team is not perfect. As the host, we feel extremely regretful! '

...

Thinking about these reports that made ZU——XIE complacent, Lin Han felt sick. This old football worker now knows the current situation in his country better than anyone else.

I drove the Hummer H2 that I finally got from Chioffi to the south. I was stuck in a traffic jam all the way, and finally arrived at the Al Bicerin Cafe when Simao, who was sitting in the back seat, was almost falling asleep. .

"Hello, Reporter Lin, I'm sorry to keep you waiting for a long time. There was a traffic jam all the way." Xiang Nan first apologized to Lin Han. From Xiang Nan's point of view, being late was a very rude thing.

"It's nothing. I've just arrived, thank you for the Bicerin. Bicerin, it tastes good."

"Let me introduce, this is my good friend Simao, who is also my manager now—" Xiang Nan pointed to Simao.

"Hello, Monsieur Simeon."

"Hello, Andre and I mentioned you!"

"Ma'am, have a cup of Bicerin. Bicerin, and another cup of pineapple tart ice cream. The fat man next to me ate the pineapple tart ice cream you made by yourself last time. It was delicious."

"Okay, Andre, I'm glad you enjoyed it!"

Lin Han felt a little unprepared for Xiang Nan bringing his manager here, "I should have expected it a long time ago. It is very common in Europe to ask a manager to accompany you." '

Xiang Nan looked at reporter Lin Han in a daze, remembering the call made by this reporter last night, and thinking about it...

"Reporter Lin, what you said on the phone is not very clear, can you repeat it in detail?" Xiang Nan took the Bicerin.Bicerin coffee that Mrs. Costa handed over, and stirred it carefully.

"Okay!" Lin Han calmed down his thoughts.

"I was entrusted by the officials of ZHONGGUO—ZUXIE to talk to you about the Chinese national team——" Lin Han said while watching Xiang Nan's expression, but he didn't see the popular Serie A player. Does the rookie have such a fluctuating expression?

"En, en!" Xiang Nan nodded, motioning for Lin Han to continue.

"The Chinese national team will start their 10 World Cup qualifiers in South Africa on October 21st. Now the squad for the match will be announced. As far as I know, your name Xiang Nan is also on it—"

"I want to say something. When Andre didn't know anything about it, ZHONGGUO——ZUXIE did this..." Simao interjected.

"The list has not been announced yet!" Lin Han explained, "There is a link that needs to be resolved—"

"May I ask what link it is?" Xiang Nan asked.

"This, this——" Lin Han hesitated, "Okay, ZHONGGUO—ZUXIE hopes that Mr. Xiang Nan can hold a press conference in Italy to express his strong desire to join the Chinese national team, ZHONGGUO— —ZUXIE will then express his consideration of accepting you to join the Chinese national team."

Lin Han finished speaking almost in one breath. He was afraid that he would not be able to speak out if he paused. These are the original words from China. Thinking about Lin Han, he felt a burst of sadness.

He couldn't understand how the old men in China thought about it. Is the so-called Zuxie's face so important?
"Is it because I grew up abroad?" Xiang Nan raised his head and looked at the embarrassed Lin Han.

"This——" Lin Han felt that he was a little speechless in the face of Xiang Nan's questioning eyes. At this moment, he was no longer that omnipotent reporter. He was just facing a big The torture of the boy's soul.

"I don't understand the procedures of ZHONGGUO-ZUXIE, but I would like to add one thing. A few days ago, I just received a call from the head coach of the Belgian national team, Mr. Van der Reychen. He invited Andre to join The Belgian national team!" Simao took out a fax from his body, "This is Mr. Van der Rejchen's fax, if Andre agrees, the Belgian Football Association will help Andre resolve the nationality issue in the shortest possible time."

Xiang Nan turned his head to look at Simao, who had never mentioned this matter before.

"Simao, why don't I know anything about it?"

"Andre, you have been preparing for the Turin Derby for the past few days. I was afraid that it would affect your game state, so I didn't tell you for the time being." Simao felt Xiang Nan's questioning eyes.

Lin Han felt a chill deep in his heart. He was like a proud master on his side. He wanted to face this big boy, crying and shouting to enter the national team. Over there was the Belgian country with the little red devil city in Europe. The team is already starting to put it into action, and this attitude is also very enthusiastic.

These are two completely different attitudes towards a football genius! !
'attitude decides everything'!Lin Han's mind suddenly remembered the words of Milutinovic, the head coach who once led the Chinese national team to the World Cup in history. These words were also on the lips of those masters every day , I feel that TMD is the most ironic joke in the world! !
This joke is not funny at all! ! !
Lin Han cursed extremely in his heart! !

Xiang Nan didn't speak, he was thinking, although Xiang Nan, who grew up in Brazil and Belgium, occasionally returned to China twice, but he has almost no impression of the Chinese national team.

If there is an impression, it is that when Xiang Nan was 13 years old, he once watched a game.

The match between the Chinese national team and Brazil in the World Cup.

However, after watching only half of the show, Xiang Nan turned off the TV in disappointment...

After that, regarding the Chinese national team, Xiang Nan did not pay attention to the news in this regard.

"Reporter Lin, can you tell me about the current situation of the Chinese national team?"

"Call me Lin Han." Lin Han hesitated for a moment. Where does this situation come from? In fact, if Lin Han really wanted to say something, one word is enough to sum it up.

That is "rotten!"

But can he tell the truth?
"Just talk about the opponents of the Chinese national team in the World Cup qualifiers." Xiang Nan felt Lin Han's unnaturalness.

"The opponent the Chinese national team will face is the Myanmar national team..." At this point, Lin Han felt as if his throat was stuck by something, and he couldn't continue.

"Myanmar national team? How is their strength?"

"Not too strong!!"

"What about the Chinese national team?"

"Not too strong."

"Compared with the Chinese team?" Simao asked next to him.

"Should be, not as good as the Chinese team." Lin Han felt that he was about to pass out from depression.

"Should?" Xiang Nan looked at Lin Han questioningly, but didn't say anything further.

A moment of silence.

"Okay, Reporter Lin, uh, Lin Han, I'm going back first, I have to think about it before answering you." Xiang Nan smiled kindly towards Lin Han.

"Okay." Lin Han's mood was not high, and he let out a long sigh of relief, as if he had finally completed some great task.

"Mrs. Costa, we are going back, today's coffee is great!!" Xiang Nan greeted Mrs. Costa.

"Goodbye Andre!!"

"Lin Han, I want to ask you a question as a friend, is that okay?" Walking to the door, Xiang Nan suddenly turned around and asked.

"Okay." Lin Han hesitated for a moment, but still agreed, but he could almost guess Xiang Nan's question.

"You know, I don't know much about the Chinese national team, and you are a domestic football worker. I want to hear your personal opinion. From a friend's point of view, what do you think?"

Lin Han was silent for a while.

After a while, as if he had made a big decision, Lin Han said, "Not bad!!"

Then, he turned and left.

When I went back, it was Ximang who was driving the car. Xiangnan felt a little tired. For a rare time, he gave up his favorite Hummer H2.

"Andre, you don't really want to hold that shitty press conference, do you? That's an insult to you, you know?" Simao turned around and said.

"I don't know!!" Xiang Nan lay weakly on the back seat, "You concentrate on driving, I want to be quiet."

Simao wanted to say something more, looked at Xiang Nan's current state, and finally didn't speak.

*****
Sleepless night.

"Andre, I don't agree!! You have to know the current situation of the Chinese national team. I checked it just now. Now the world ranking of the Chinese national team is 73, while the world ranking of the Myanmar national team is 151. You know what it means What are you talking about?" Simao almost roared out!

"What does it mean? Football doesn't rely on statistics!!" Xiang Nan shouted at his good friend, but when he said this, he also felt powerless in his heart. He knew how empty his words were. , Powerless! !

"The national team ranked 73, playing against the national team ranked 151, you have to work hard. If nothing else, that bullshit press conference is absolutely unacceptable. This is a disapproval of you!!"

"Have you ever thought about how much impact it will have on your future once you join the Chinese national team!!"

"European Cup!!"

"The World Cup!!"

"All these honors will be fucked away, and your football career will be ruined!!"

The whole room was filled with Simao's roar.

"But, that's my motherland!!!"

"Your country? Don't forget, you were born in Italy, first in Brazil, and then almost all your memories are in Belgium, and you left countless footprints on the banks of the Meuse!!!"

"Me, Hansen, Lennon, and Uncle Alexander, Mr. Carl, the lame old breadman in Walloon, here are all your memories!!"

"And Turin, Joanna, Demi, your teammates!!"

"Tell me, how much do you have with your motherland?"

"But my body is flowing with Chinese blood!!!"

"Please, Andre!! You are a football player!!! Not a soldier!! Playing football is not fighting!! If your country is in danger and you want to go back to save the country, I will never stop you!! But, this is just Kick the ball!!!"

"Where's your childhood dream? Champion!!!"

Throughout the night, Xiang Nan was in a state of extreme mania, almost fighting with his best friend Simao.

The two of them were also exhausted from the quarrel, sitting on the sofa, gasping for breath, like two Mediterranean sea crabs that had been fighting fiercely for a long time, bubbling with wheezing.

Glancing at each other, both of them smiled.

Xiang Nan also knew that Simao was completely thinking about himself, but the relatively weak awareness of Europeans in this regard made Simao unable to understand Xiang Nan's current mood.

"Simang, I think you should seek someone's opinion!!" Xiang Nan said suddenly.

Simao was taken aback suddenly, and nodded thoughtfully.

****
"Grandma, are you asleep? I'm disturbing you so late."

"No, son, what's the matter? You must have something to call so late, don't I know you yet?"

Hearing the familiar voice on the other end of the phone, Xiang Nan felt his tears slowly fall. He always thought that he had grown up and could face all problems, but when he was most confused and in need of help, he The first thing he needed was the only family member that this award had raised by himself! !

"Grandma, it's like this..."

Xiang Nan told his grandma completely about what happened today.

Then, just like when I was a child, I waited for my grandma's decision.

...

"Child, do you love football?" Grandma didn't directly express her decision.

"Love, love it so much!!"

"Are you happy because of football? I mean, when you keep achieving the honors and achievements that football brings you."

"Yes!" Xiang Nan said firmly.

"Well, boy, make up your own mind."

"Grandma——" Xiang Nan didn't expect his grandma to say this. When he got on the phone, he already had the awareness of "joining the Chinese national team" in his heart. He was very clear about his grandma's deep feelings for the motherland.

"Son, you just think about it simply, just play football. Be patriotic, in your heart." The old man's voice came from the other end of the phone.

"Son, you have grown up, this is the most important decision in your life, you need to make it yourself!"

"Okay, Grandma. I'll make up my own mind."

After hanging up the phone, Xiang Nan felt that his heart was no longer so depressed, and he was thinking about things quietly by himself.

"Andre, I just called Demi, I think you should be more interested in his opinion!!" Simao hurried over...

*****
PS: Regarding the episode of the Football Association, Xiao Qi will end it in one or two chapters as soon as possible. Everyone doesn't like it, and Xiao Qi doesn't like it either.

(End of this chapter)