Although the Brazilian team's strength is not what it used to be, it doesn't mean the Chinese team can win easily.

In fact, Lippi had made thorough preparations.

On the one hand, it would be great if they could resolve the battle in regular time.

On the other hand, they also had to consider what to do if the game went into extra time or a penalty shootout.

Especially the penalty shootout.

So after entering the knockout stage, penalty training became a regular part of every Chinese team training session.

Penalties are certainly a test of psychological quality, but it also requires active training to improve the ability to shoot penalties. People often overlook the impact of technique on penalties. The importance of psychological quality does not mean that only good psychological quality is needed, while other abilities are not.

If you usually skyrocket your shots during practice, how can you guarantee that you won't skyrocket under pressure?

In addition, psychological quality can actually be trained.

Continuous penalty practice allows the Chinese team players to understand and become familiar with the process, so that they will be much better when they actually face penalties.

After the last training session before the game, Lippi said to his players: "We are not afraid of Brazil, but we cannot underestimate them. This is their home field after all. Don't underestimate their determination to win the championship on their own turf. We must constantly create trouble for them in the game, but also be prepared to withstand tremendous pressure. This will not be an easy game... In fact, no game in the World Cup is easy. I believe that through the first three group matches, you have fully realized this."

Lippi stood in the middle of the field, while the Chinese team players and staff formed a circle around him.

Outside the training ground, a large number of media from China were taking photos of the Chinese team's last training session before the game with their long-range lenses.

"Some people say that we are extremely unlucky to meet the host in the knockout stage. But I don't think so. I think this is an absolute good opportunity for us—what could be more exciting than eliminating the host in front of their fanatical fans? If you do, you will all be forever engraved in the history of the World Cup. I firmly believe that we have this ability, if the outside world doesn't believe it... that's fine, let us give them a surprise."

"Everyone, have a good rest tonight. We won't have any more tactical meetings. Everyone must ensure sufficient sleep, good physical strength and spirit. Then prepare to welcome the game. Okay, dismiss!"

※※※

Outside the training ground, Zhou Yi was stopped by reporters. Everyone wanted to hear what prospects or plans he, as the captain of the Chinese team, had for tomorrow's game.

"We will do our best to win. This will definitely not be our last game in the World Cup," Zhou Yi said seriously.

Zhou Yi's aggressive attitude surprised the reporters. Most of the time, Zhou Yi, when appearing in front of the media, was the kind of person who spoke ambiguously, so that you couldn't find fault with him, but you also felt that he was talking a lot of correct nonsense.

But this time, he did not continue his consistent image in front of the media, but was very aggressive.

Such a decisive advance announcement of victory sounded a bit harsh to the ears of a few Brazilian media outlets.

One of the Brazilian reporters asked Zhou Yi in unskilled Mandarin: "Excuse me, I don't know if I understood correctly, did you just mean that you will eliminate Brazil?"

Zhou Yi spread his hands: "Otherwise? Did you want me to say that we will be eliminated by Brazil?"

The Brazilian reporter didn't ask any more questions, but a strange smile appeared on his face.

He didn't seem to believe Zhou Yi's statement.

His expression was of course seen by Zhou Yi, but Zhou Yi didn't say anything more, and also smiled at him.

In addition to this question, Zhou Yi also euphemistically talked about the referee issue: "I know this is Brazil's home field, they are the host. Why do many people think we are doomed to lose before the game? Because they know we have met the host, and I don't need to say more about the specific advantages of the host, right?"

The Chinese reporters understood that Zhou Yi was talking about the referee issue. After all, Brazil is the host, and it is inevitable that the referee will be biased.

Why did Zhou Yi say this?

As the captain of the Chinese national team, he certainly has the obligation to say these words that may anger the host, to remind the referee, create public opinion pressure, and avoid the referee being too biased towards the host in the game.

This is an offensive thing, and it doesn't quite fit with Zhou Yi's usual character setting, but only he can stand up and say it at this time.

After Zhou Yi left, the media reporters had a heated discussion about Zhou Yi's words and attitude just now. Some reporters believed that Zhou Yi said this to boost the team's confidence and morale, and they couldn't be timid before the battle, right? It's also quite normal.

But some people have different opinions.

"Zhou Yi rarely makes such statements, but it's not like he never has," one reporter reminded everyone. "Just in the season that just ended, do you remember what Zhou Yi said to the reporters? He said they would win the league title. At the time, everyone thought Zhou Yi was dreaming, and some people were surprised that Zhou Yi made such an aggressive statement. But what was the result? Dortmund won the league title and the Champions League title."

The reporter spread his hands, and the others were silent.

Zhou Yi is not the kind of loudmouth who spouts nonsense. Most of the time, he smiles and is kind to others. But because of this, when he occasionally shows his fangs, it probably means that he is really determined to win.

※※※

On the night before the game, Brazil's main TV stations were paying attention to the match between the Brazilian team and the Chinese team.

Zhou Yi's words during the pre-match interview were naturally the focus of attention.

"...The star player of the Chinese national team, Zhou Yi, said in an interview with our reporter before the game that they will definitely defeat the Brazilian team and advance to the top eight... Our reporter confirmed with him, and he personally confirmed this meaning. I think that the Chinese team has indeed created history by reaching the knockout stage, but the group stage and the knockout stage are completely different. Maybe it's because the Chinese team has never played in the World Cup knockout stage before, so they have such thoughts about the knockout stage..."

"The Chinese team? Brazilian fans must be very unfamiliar, right? But in fact, we have really played against them in the World Cup. What was the score of that game? Let me think... Ah, it was 4:0, of course, we were the winners... Now the two sides meet again in the World Cup, let us review the history of the Brazilian team and the Chinese team in the World Cup..."

"Zhou Yi said they want to eliminate the host? Sorry, let me laugh for a while... We are the host, our goal is the World Cup championship, not to reach the top eight... Of course, if this was the Table Tennis World Cup, I wouldn't be surprised if a Chinese person said this... By the way, is there a Table Tennis World Cup?"

"In the past season, Zhou Yi performed well, helping Dortmund win the league title and the Champions League title. Perhaps such honors have made him a little carried away, forgetting that his teammates in Dortmund are completely different from his teammates in the Chinese team. The strength of the other players in the Chinese team cannot be compared with the other players in Dortmund..."

"The Chinese team does have several players playing in Europe. In addition to Zhou Yi, He Ying and Sun Pan are also players to watch out for. But I still don't think that with such a lineup, the Chinese team can compete with our Brazil. We are the kingdom of football!"

"We are the host, we are a world-class football powerhouse... So, can you imagine a top-notch host stopping in the round of sixteen?"

"Zhou Yi is also worried about the referee issue? What a petty mind... We Brazil don't need to rely on any referee's help, and Brazil has never won a game because of the referee's favor in history!"

……

In addition to the Brazilian media, the Chinese media and netizens are also very concerned about this game. The video of Zhou Yi's interview is not some sensitive video that cannot be released. Everyone can see it and know what Zhou Yi said.

This time, whether it is the media or the fans, they naturally stand by Zhou Yi's side. Although their reasons may be different.

Some people are Zhou Yi's brain-dead fans. Whatever Zhou Yi says, they think it is right and they will support him without reservation.

Some people rationally analyze it and believe that Zhou Yi, as the captain of the national team, can only say this at this time. Perhaps he may not even agree with his own words in his heart, but for the sake of the team's morale and confidence, and with the overall situation in mind, he cannot casually express his true thoughts.

But no matter what the reason, this approach is correct, it is very normal, and any ridicule of Zhou Yi and the national team, as long as it appears on the Internet, will be immediately drowned by the saliva of tidal waves of netizens and fans.

Indeed, there are really such short-sighted people, but these people are people who don't watch football games very often, and they can't even be considered "pseudo-fans", so they don't understand what the situation is now. The reason why they participate in the World Cup topic discussion is purely to gain popularity and want to become famous by any means.

In the past, mocking the Chinese men's national football team was a sure-fire, risk-free thing. It could not only boost a wave of popularity, but also get a lot of support.

But now, people who do this will immediately be slaughtered online and die miserably.

They are indeed famous, but everyone has to add an evaluation like "idiot" when mentioning their names.

※※※

On the night before the game, Zhou Yi conducted a simulated match in the virtual world for the last time.

He simulated a total of eight games. In the eight games, the Chinese team won three, drew one, and lost four.

Slightly at a disadvantage.

But Zhou Yi didn't think this result was bad.

This ratio is about the same as the results he simulated in the previous few days.

This shows that the Chinese team and the current Brazilian team can almost tie, and this conclusion is very stable and there is no fluctuation.

So does the fact that the Chinese team's win rate is not as good as Brazil mean that the Chinese team cannot win?

Zhou Yi certainly doesn't think so.

Strength is very important in determining the outcome of a game, as is on-the-spot performance, and even luck is very important.

Zhou Yi has made all the preparations, and the next step is to perform well in the real game.