Chapter 1987 Caesar's determination

"The Brazilian team eliminated the French team. If they beat Portugal in the semi-finals, they will be able to reach the final...We can meet them in the final! At that time, I will help you beat Kabanka!"

After watching the match between Brazil and France, Ramon Cantero said excitedly to Meli.

"You're thinking too far, Ramon. Brazil may not be able to pass Portugal's hurdle. You must know that Portugal is playing at home." Meli shook his head and poured cold water on Cantero. "Besides, we have to eliminate Italy first. Then win the semi-finals, and then we can meet Brazil in the final..."

Mellie shook her head at this point.

"Be cautious, Ramon. Don't worry about the Brazilian team. We will play our own game and play Italy tomorrow. It is not an easy opponent to deal with. You know, even Hu couldn't break Albertazzi's Goal, we have to work harder."

Hearing what Meli said, Cantero's face became more serious: "I'm really surprised, I didn't expect that Hu couldn't even break Albertazzi's goal..."

"Hey." Meli gave Cantero a blank look, "What is 'Even Lian'? Don't you know that the last time Hu scored Albertazzi's goal was almost two years ago?"

"Huh? Has it been that long?" Cantero was surprised.

"In the second round of the UEFA Champions League group stage in the 2028-2029 season, the Madrid Pirates beat the Turin Bulls 2:0 at home. Hu scored twice in that game. After that, in the sixth round of the group stage, the Madrid Pirates played 0:0 away A draw against the Torino Bulls, Hu started but didn't score."

Meli explained for Cantero.

But Cantero opened his mouth wide: "How does Mellie know about Hu's past?"

Meli gave him a blank look: "Isn't it necessary to know your opponent? Is this the point? The point is Hu's scoring ability. The last time he scored was in 2028. It has been two years now. Albertazzi's He's grown beyond a lot of people's expectations. He hasn't conceded a goal so far in this World Cup."

Cantero originally wanted to say, "That's because Hou Lai and Albertazzi haven't met in the past two years..."

The words were on the verge of his mouth, and he remembered the match that the Chinese team lost to Italy 0:1 in this World Cup.

Not only did the two meet, but Hou Lai really failed to break through Albertazzi's goal.

Using Hu Lai as a reference point can well explain how good Albertazzi is in his current state.

After all, Hu Lai has scored seven goals in this World Cup, ranking first in the scorer list. No matter how far the Chinese team can go, at least there is no suspense for Hu Lai to win the Golden Boot of this World Cup.

Since the 1982 World Cup with the Golden Boot award, the top scorer in a single session has not scored more than seven goals.

With the number of goals scored by Hu Lai, he has won the Golden Boot in the previous 12 World Cups.

In the last World Cup, Hu Lai was the Golden Boot, but he only scored five goals at that time.

He also became the first player in World Cup history to win the Golden Boot after playing only three group matches.

Four years later he played more games and scored more goals, and rightfully so.

Against the background of his performance, Albertazzi is even more powerful.

Of course, Italy's ability to seal a zero seal is not only due to Albertazzi.

Their mature and stable defensive system also contributed a lot.

So Meli's caution is justified.

In the knockout stage, Italy should definitely be an opponent that no team wants to face.

※※※

"Mateo, I will start the game against Argentina."

The day before the game, Caesar found the team coach Mateo Caviglia and put forward his own requirements straight to the point.

Caviglia was very surprised: "But your knee..."

After qualifying in the group, Caveglia knew that Caesar's knee was really injured, and it wasn't just for external reasons.

So Kaiser didn't play a minute in the game against Sweden.

After the group stage, Caesar has been receiving treatment.

The team medical team tried to make him able to catch up with the quarter-finals, but they couldn't guarantee that Caesar would definitely be able to return in the quarter-finals, let alone guarantee that he could start.

In the plan of the head coach Caveglia, Caesar was not considered to start. Even if Caesar could play, he was going to let Caesar come off the bench in the second half.

Just like what he did against China and Spain.

It is safer to come off the bench, and there are more options.

Facing Caveiglia's concerns, Caesar replied decisively: "I will go to the team doctor for a closed shot, and I will get another injection before tomorrow's game."

"Are you crazy, Caesar?!" Caviglia widened his eyes.

"What are you fussing about, Mateo? Isn't that normal for me? Every World Cup game I have now could be my last. What do I have to hold back?"

"Uh..." Matteo Caviglia was speechless when Caesar asked back.

Because Caesar was right.

What future does the 38-year-old veteran need to consider?

The most important thing is every game right now.

Besides, this is the quarter-finals of the World Cup, not an ordinary league.

After passing the quarter-finals, even if they become the semi-finals of the World Cup, they can still play two more games, one semi-final, one... either the final, or the final of the third or fourth place.

In short, it is considered to have played the entire World Cup.

Italy's opponent in the quarter-finals is Argentina with Meli again.

Meli has been in good form lately...

Caviglia immediately understood why Caesar had to play closed for this game.

Seeing that Caviglia hadn't responded yet, Caesar said again: "Let me start this game, Mateo. Before you made me a substitute, I was a substitute. I understand and respect your work. Now I hope you You can also understand and respect me."

"Why do you have to start, Caesar? You can come off the bench in the second half like in the previous games and give them a fatal blow..." Caviglia asked.

"Because our opponent is Argentina, which has Meli. If we can't create a threat to them in the first half and let them attack, I am worried that we will not be able to defend." Caesar gave his answer.

Caviglia thought for a while, then nodded and agreed to Caesar's request: "Okay, you will start. But I can't guarantee that you can play the whole game."

"No problem." Caesar expressed understanding.

※※※

"Caesar actually started the game?!"

After lunch, the players of the Chinese team who were taking a lunch break in their respective rooms received an amazing news.

After they rest, they will leave the hotel by bus and go to the quarter-final match venue.

An hour after the match between Argentina and Italy, it was their turn to play the Netherlands.

Both teams, Italy and Argentina, chose not to announce their starting rosters until two hours before the game.

It was almost exactly the lunch break for the Chinese team.

Everyone was surprised to see the prominent name in the Italian starting lineup.

During the game against Sweden, Caesar sat on the bench for the whole time and didn't play for a minute. Everyone knew that the rumors about his knee injury before the game were not smoke bombs, but real news.

And some media further revealed the secret, saying that Caesar had actually injured his knee in the group match between Italy and Spain. He finished the game against Spain with his knee injury and assisted Di Kunzo to score the winning goal.

The 38-year-old veteran suffered a knee injury, making everyone think that Caesar may not have many chances to play in this World Cup.

Unexpectedly, in this quarter-final with Argentina, Italian coach Matteo Caviglia actually put Caesar in the starting list!

You must know that before this, there is no news that Caesar will start. Has he really recovered from his injury?

But there are no reports of his recovery either...

※※※

When the players of the Chinese team were shocked by Italy's starting list, they were also caught off guard in Argentina.

Argentina's coaching staff was eager to find out whether Caesar had returned from injury and his physical condition fully met the requirements of the game.

If true, it means Argentina's defense is under threat.

Before this World Cup, many people felt that it was impossible for the 38-year-old Caesar to play high-level football matches, and his presence on the field was actually a drag on the team.

But after the three group matches of the World Cup ~lightnovelpub.net~ saw Caesar's performance of one goal and one assist, at least professional footballers, it is no longer possible to hold the previous view.

In the long league, Caesar is limited by physical factors, and it is normal that he cannot perform at his best.

But in the shorter and more concentrated World Cup, Caesar's experience and ability can help him help the team at critical moments.

He is not only not a drag on Italy, but the biggest boost.

It can be said that the Italian team was able to reach the knockout round and enter their most familiar and comfortable rhythm, thanks to Caesar.

"Before this, there were no reports of him coming back from injury. And just yesterday, he was training alone, not with the team."

Faced with this result, the coaches looked at each other in blank dismay.

In the end, the Argentine coach Carol Ojeda said: "Don't worry about that, when the game starts, we will naturally know whether he is really recovering from injury or forced to come back. Then we will make adjustments according to the situation. Now Don't scare yourself, just play according to our original tactics, it's too late to make adjustments now, the players don't have time to adapt..."

(end of this chapter)