Chapter 163 The Most Economical Way to Change a Game

The unparalleled excitement of Zhou Jianliang was just a microcosm of countless Chinese fans in front of their TVs at this moment.

At this moment, countless people were roaring and screaming in front of their TVs for Yang Xu's goal, for the Chinese team's sudden-death victory.

On TV, Yang Xu in the screen didn't run off to celebrate the goal by himself. Instead, he turned and ran toward Zhou Yi.

He pounced in front of Zhou Yi in the penalty area, and then hugged him.

He had to thank Zhou Yi.

As Liu Hong had said, Zhou Yi had done 95% of the work for this goal. Hao Junmin accounted for 4% of the credit for sending a through ball to Zhou Yi in time, helping Zhou Yi receive the ball in the penalty area.

He, Yang Xu, only accounted for the last 1% of the credit. Anyone could have headed in that ball. Zhou Yi had provided a nanny-level assist!

Not only Yang Xu had to thank Zhou Yi, but the entire Chinese team had to thank Zhou Yi.

Everyone swarmed up and pressed Zhou Yi directly to the ground in Jordan's penalty area. This was the first time the assisting player enjoyed the treatment of the goal scorer…

The Jordanian players stared dumbfounded at the ecstatic Chinese players celebrating the goal right under their noses.

They never expected that at the last moment, the lead had turned into a tie…

With so many people, how could they not have stopped Zhou Yi?

They just lay there, sprawled on the ground, watching him pass the football out and then get scored on!

What a nightmare!

The Jordanian goalkeeper, who was also the captain, Shafi, jumped up and roared at his teammates, "Why couldn't anyone stop him?!"

No one could answer the captain's question.

So many people had failed to stop him. It was really embarrassing…

※※※

In the end, Zhou Yi's sudden-death assist helped the Chinese team draw 2:2 with Jordan on the road, earning a valuable point.

When the game ended, the TV broadcast gave Zhou Yi a long close-up shot.

In the close-up, Zhou Yi hugged and celebrated with his teammates, and then walked with his teammates to the stands of the Chinese fans, to express their greetings and gratitude to those Chinese fans who had come to cheer them on.

Playing away from home, there were very few Chinese fans who could travel with the team from China. They were mainly employees of local Chinese construction companies, overseas Chinese, and students studying abroad.

In times of peace, sports can inspire national pride and unite the people.

After the game, the Chinese team would rest in Jordan for one night before embarking on their journey back to China the next day.

However, players who played abroad didn't have to return to China with them.

Zhou Yi would go directly from Jordan back to Germany.

The last time Zhou Yi went back to Germany with Hao Junmin after participating in the Asian Cup in Qatar. This time, he was alone.

At the national team level, Zhou Yi was the only player from the Chinese team playing abroad, which was a bit lonely.

But he believed that it wouldn't be long before he wasn't alone…

After drawing with Jordan on the road, the Chinese team and Jordan both had four points, but the Chinese team had more goal difference than Jordan, so they still ranked first in the group. This showed the importance of the Chinese team's game against Singapore…

Iraq beat Singapore 2:0 on the road, but it couldn't threaten the Chinese team's position.

The next game for the Chinese team in the top twenty would be on October 11. The Chinese team would face Iraq at home. If they could beat Iraq at home, the Chinese team's chances of advancing from the top twenty to the top ten would be higher.

※※※

On the plane returning to Germany from Jordan, Zhou Yi put on an eye mask and quickly fell asleep.

After arriving in the fifAoL3 training space, he summoned Chu Ling.

"I want to practice dribbling!" he said to Chu Ling.

This was the idea he had after the game with Jordan.

At the last moment, although he assisted Yang Xu in scoring, it was actually very dangerous. This opportunity was entirely due to his breakthrough, which completely disrupted Jordan's defense, giving Yang Xu a chance to take advantage of it.

If he was still passing the ball around outside, he couldn't change anything.

Through this goal, he also realized that as a midfielder, it was useless to just be good at passing. At critical moments, you need to stand up yourself.

Super strong individual ability can change the game. This is more economical than passing the ball around to find opportunities.

And Zhou Yi's dribbling ability was actually very average before. Although it wasn't to the point where he couldn't get past anyone, dribbling was definitely not his strength.

It was a bit like the early Beckham, who was criticized for his poor dribbling and only knew how to cross and pass long.

Zhou Yi hoped that he could have the ability to turn the tide of the battle with his own strength at critical moments.

Dribbling and breakthrough were obviously the best way.

So he wanted to practice dribbling.

Chu Ling wasn't surprised by Zhou Yi's decision. "You should have done this a long time ago."

Next, Chu Ling switched Zhou Yi to the dribbling training scene.

Starting with the simplest cone dribbling, this was the foundation. Even if Zhou Yi had already learned it, he still had to practice it in the virtual space.

Because in the past, when Zhou Yi practiced cone dribbling in his daily training, he would just practice it simply and finish it. Now that he had a clear goal, the training effect was different.

After the cone practice, there were also various advanced exercises, including confrontation training with people.

But Zhou Yi couldn't practice these yet.

So on the plane from Jordan back to Germany, Zhou Yi put the first-class seat flat into a sleeping position except for eating and going to the toilet. He was just trying to seize the time to train.

※※※

When Zhou Yi woke up from his sleep again, he found that the plane was preparing to land.

They were in Dortmund.

When the plane stopped, Zhou Yi turned on his phone.

As soon as he turned it on, he received a message from Schulze.

"There's an emergency. I can't pick you up, but I've asked a friend of mine to pick you up. His name is Okata Serkan, and this is his phone number… If you don't meet him after you come out, you can call him. I've also given your phone number to my friend, so he should contact you."

Zhou Yi was a little strange. An emergency?

He replied, "I've landed. What's the emergency?"

Schulze didn't reply to his message.

So Zhou Yi put his phone back in his pocket and started packing his luggage.

After the cabin door opened, he picked up his suitcase and stepped out of the plane, following the crowd through the long corridor and into the terminal.

On the way to the exit, Zhou Yi received a strange call, which should be Okata Serkan that Schulze had mentioned. So he answered it, and sure enough, the other side introduced himself as Serkan.

After the two agreed on where to meet, they hung up the phone. Zhou Yi glanced at his inbox again before putting the phone back in his pocket. Schulze hadn't replied to him.

As agreed, Zhou Yi easily met Serkan after he went out.

"Hello, it's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Serkan." Zhou Yi took the initiative to extend his hand to the other party.

"Ha, just call me Okata. I'm also very happy to meet you. I've always wanted to meet you, but Tino is very strict, as if he's afraid I'll steal you away. By the way, I'm also an agent." Otaka was very enthusiastic.

Zhou Yi also laughed.

On the plane, Zhou Yi had been training his dribbling, and the effect was good. He was improving very quickly, so Zhou Yi was in a good mood.

After exchanging pleasantries, Otaka took Zhou Yi to his car.

After sitting in the car, Zhou Yi received a text message from Schulze: "Have you arrived? Have you contacted Otaka? He's a very enthusiastic person and a friend I can trust."

"I'm already in his car. What's going on on your side?"

After a while, Schulze's reply finally came: "Uh… Mark is injured. I'm at the hospital…"

Mark is injured?

Zhou Yi was shocked.

What was going on?

He quickly tapped on the screen of his phone, asking Schulze: "What happened?"

After sending it, he remembered that Schulze probably couldn't explain it clearly in a text message, so he simply called him directly.

Tino Schulze was Mark's agent. Zhou Yi had introduced him. Mark's contract renewal with the club last season was negotiated by Schulze, and Mark was very satisfied with the agent Zhou Yi had introduced to him.

The ringtone rang for a long time before it was picked up, and Schulze's slightly tired voice sounded from the other side.

"What's wrong with Mark, Tino?" Zhou Yi asked anxiously.

"Uh, he… he was injured in the game against Azerbaijan just now and was sent to the hospital…"

Sent to the hospital?

As soon as Zhou Yi heard this, he felt that something was wrong.

What kind of injury would send someone to the hospital?

Of course, it wouldn't be a minor injury or illness. It must be a very serious injury!

"Is it serious?" he asked.

"A little…" Schulze hesitated.

There was some noise on Schulze's side, and Zhou Yi felt that he couldn't communicate clearly over the phone, so he asked, "Which hospital are you in? I'll come and find you directly."

"You just came back from Jordan…"

"Tell me which hospital!" Zhou Yi said to Schulze in an almost commanding tone.

Schulze sighed. "Dortmund State Hospital…"