After lunch, the team headed to the stadium.
The group stage match was scheduled for the first game of the afternoon. This is precisely when people are most fatigued, making it not only a clash of skills but also a significant test of the athletes' mental fortitude!
Flick arrived with growing confidence, believing he possessed everything needed to defeat this Tangguo team.
During the pre-match training session, Li Gang delivered his final pre-game address to the players. His voice had to be loud enough to overpower the cheers and roars of the passionate spectators and fans emanating from the stadium beyond the locker room doors.
At this very moment, every athlete representing Tangguo was a warrior, ready to don their armor and bring glory to their nation, engaging in a life-or-death struggle against their opponents!
This battle could undeniably be called a fight with no turning back; the path ahead was bright, with no retreat possible!
The very first match of the World Cup pitted them against the powerhouse nation of Deguo. A loss here would be a disastrous start, inevitably impacting subsequent games, especially with the Matador Legion awaiting them!
"We must win!!"
"We can definitely win!!!"
As the official start time approached, the players let out their final rallying cry together.
Then, they lined up and walked out of the locker room!
The Deguo team members brushed past them. Each player stood well over 1.8 meters tall. The outside world's nickname for Deguo as the "male model team" was indeed fitting.
Any one of them possessed exceptional looks and physique, but now was not the time to dwell on such trivialities.
Since they were opponents, it didn't matter if they were handsome or not; they were to be treated equally!
Cao Baiming led the procession, the first to emerge from the players' tunnel.
As the first rays of sunlight streamed through the stadium's atrium and fell upon him, Cao Baiming raised his hands high, waving to the fans!
He knew that at least seventy percent of the spectators present today were Tangguo nationals! His fans!
Although he usually walked at the very back of the team during league matches, today was different. Senior club officials, the head coach, and even his teammates had strongly urged him to lead the way.
This was because he truly represented Tangguo football, and they wanted Cao Baiming to embody the genuine strength of Tangguo football!
Amidst his excitement, Cao Baiming did not forget to observe his opponents.
Judging by the expressions and body language of the Deguo players, it was evident they carried an air of disdain, looking down on Tangguo.
This was not exactly a novel occurrence!
Cao Baiming felt no anger; instead, his excitement grew.
He relished the opportunity to slap down those who were overly proud, because the higher they climbed, the harder they would fall!
The players entered the field, preparing for the pre-match ceremony, which included the national anthem.
The Tangguo team, clad in bright red jerseys, their vibrant colors symbolizing strength, transformed into a red river on the lush green turf!
Cao Baiming, as the team's core player, wore the number 10 jersey, despite playing in a defensive position. This was because, regardless of the position, no one dared claim to be stronger than Cao Baiming.
The number 10 also symbolized the legacy of football legends, a number typically reserved for players who truly possessed exceptional skill within a team, an unwritten rule that had become commonplace in various clubs.
The Tangguo fans in the stadium, also dressed in red, had practically taken over the entire venue!
They had gone to great lengths, using every available channel to secure tickets and attend in person, painting all the stadium seats red.
Perhaps it was only at this World Cup that the organizers truly felt the terrifying pressure exerted by Tangguo!
They had never witnessed a situation where the fans of a single team occupied such a significant proportion of the stadium!
Meanwhile, in Tangguo, fans had finished their dinners and turned on their televisions. All screens across the streets and alleys, even advertising screens on buses and the waiting interfaces of ATMs, were broadcasting the match!
The streets were already gridlocked, with fans gathered in every corner of the country!
Some people might not watch football, some might not play it, and some might not even know what football was, but no one could afford to miss this match!
From grandmothers buying groceries to elderly patients in hospital beds, from beggars on the streets to children just starting kindergarten, people across Tangguo were collectively following the game!
Such a scene had never been witnessed before; the entire nation united in a single endeavor, an unprecedented moment!
Security guards and government officials had abandoned all pretense of order, joining in their focus on the match. This was Tangguo's debut on the world stage, and winning the World Cup this time would be more glorious than winning a war!
The nation had waited for this moment for countless years!
The national anthem played! All Tangguo fans, both in the stadium and watching the broadcast, sang along to the familiar melody!
In an instant, those present could not hold back tears of emotion. The excitement was overwhelming!
Looking at the determination and confidence on Cao Baiming's face, his sparkling eyes, and the spirited Tangguo team led by him, a profound sense of pride surged from the depths of their hearts!
The opposing white-clad legion, Deguo, was likely contemplating similar sentiments at that moment!
But the difference was, they had no hope!
Opposing them was the Tangguo team!
The people of Tangguo were not to be trifled with; when serious, they could take on not only Deguo but even the world's strongest lineup.
Furthermore, behind these eleven players on the field stood over a billion supporters!
Over a billion pairs of eyes were fixed on the game, filled with anticipation and emotion!
The myriad small wishes, like countless stars, coalesced into a torrent in the universe!
After the ceremony concluded, the players on the field felt the palpable emotion. The entire Tangguo crowd stood up in unison, linking arms and swaying their bodies in a wave-like motion that circled the entire stadium!
In an instant, at least in terms of atmosphere, this had transformed into their home ground!
Amidst the tense anticipation of the many fans, a sharp whistle echoed!
The referee's signal pierced the air!
The referee blew the whistle, commencing the match!
"This is the first round of the group stage of the 2022 World Cup, the match between the Tangguo team and the Deguo team! With a signal from the referee on the field, the game has officially begun!"
A familiar voice boomed from the television!
At this moment, fans watching the game erupted in cheers and shouts!
The commentator for this match also felt immense pressure; his audience was tens, even hundreds of times larger than usual!
"Our Tangguo team, in their vibrant red jerseys, is attacking from the left. The Deguo team, in their white jerseys, is initiating their attack from the right!"