Ribery, who is working hard to show off in order to be able to go to the World Cup, received a text message from Chu Zhongtian.

"I finally got a chance to play against you in the official game, ha!"

Ribery was surprised for a moment, and then remembered that they were going to play a warm-up match with the Chinese team on June 7. Could it be that Chu was selected for the national team?

He sent this question and received a positive answer from Chu Zhongtian.

"Then I have to congratulate you, Chu! But I won't let go of the water in the game!"

Chu Zhongtian did not return after receiving the text message from Ribery. The Chinese team is in Switzerland.

He didn't expect that he would go back so soon after leaving France. He was still looking forward to the duel against Ribery on the court.

But this may not necessarily happen.

During training, Chu Zhongtian discovered that Zheng Zhi was the core of the midfield in the team, and the team's tactics revolved around him, and he was positioned as a newcomer - how could a newcomer usurp the throne as soon as he came up?

Chu Zhongtian is very clear about the phenomenon of seniority within the national team, so he is not dissatisfied. Anyway, the team has no major competitions to play at the moment, and he is still young and can afford to wait.

Apart from training, Chu Zhongtian has not many friends in the national team, and it can be said that he has almost no friends. First of all, he is a newcomer, and secondly, he has no faction and does not belong to any small gang. Naturally, there are no people who have been close friends.

He and Dong Fangzhuo live in a room. The two were once compared by the Chinese media, calling it the hope of the future of Chinese football. Now Chu Zhongtian is obviously better than Dong Fangzhuo, although Dong Fangzhuo just scored 18 goals in the B League last season and won the top scorer in the regular season. He is sure to represent the team in Manchester United's South Africa trip this summer. But Chu Zhongtian is now the main core of the French Ligue 1 team. Needless to say, anyone with a normal IQ knows it. Moreover, Chu Zhongtian has a team honor - the French Cup champion, which is something that Dong Fangzhuo cannot compare with.

Because he lives in the same house with Dong Fangzhuo, this former Dalian player is the person who has the most contact with Chu Zhongtian. The two of them occasionally talk about football. Chu Zhongtian could feel that this player who is one year younger than him is a little envious of his current situation, but he is just hiding it.

At other times, Dong Fangzhuo was not a chattering chatter and was quite silent in the room. However, among the Northeast players, he would be more active. At night, he would visit the rooms where the Northeast players were, and Chu Zhongtian would not go anywhere, so he would send text messages to Emily in his room or talk to the phone.

He has just joined the national team and is not very adaptable to this environment. In addition, Chu Zhongtian himself is actually a little arrogant - he feels that his strength and fame are not as low as those of the current national football players, so he is really unwilling to let him take the initiative to make friends with them. Unless someone comes to know him on his own initiative, it is almost the same... so he seems a little independent in the team.

From training, Chu Zhongtian knew that he could not start in the game against Switzerland. On the day before the game, he did not make it to the starting lineup. Zheng Zhi is the core of the midfield of this national team. He has mature tactics around his team. Zhu Suishin would not change the tactics that he had been running in for more than a year for Chu Zhongtian.

Chu Zuosheng and Zhou Xiaoxiang were originally sitting in front of the TV, preparing to watch their son play the first game on behalf of the national team, but Chu Zhongtian did not start, which disappointed the two of them. Zhou Xiaoxiang even angrily scolded the national team for the shady scenes and looked down on others. "My son's level is a few streets higher than them! Why don't my son start?"

After watching the game for more than a season with her husband, Zhou Xiaoxiang gradually became more and more like that. At least she knew that the national football team was very bad at playing football, which was the sign of getting started.

I believe that many Chinese fans have always believed that Switzerland is a second-rate European team before this game, and that the Chinese team should be able to tie the team with Switzerland.

As a result, Switzerland told the Chinese fans who watched the game in front of the TV that although they were not really top-notch in Europe, they were more than enough to play the Chinese team at the bottom of Asia.

By the 73rd minute, they had already entered the goal guarded by Chinese goalkeeper Li Leilei for four goals.

In the 75th minute, Chu Zhongtian replaced Zheng Zhi. He wore a No. 39 jersey in the first game he played in the Chinese national team, and the No. 8 jersey he liked belonged to Li Tie.

The commentator was excited when Chu Zhongtian appeared - the Chinese team was beaten without temper before, which made the CCTV commentator weak and would only repeat that "there is indeed a huge gap between Chinese football and European football."

"Chu Zhongtian, one of the most successful representatives of Chinese overseas players, appeared! He is the same position as Zheng Zhi, playing in the middle of the midfield. His appearance may change the Chinese team's offense..."

The fact is that Chu Zhongtian's appearance did not reverse the decline of the Chinese team. After all, he trained with the team for a week and was completely unfamiliar with his teammates and had no sense of tacit understanding.

In terms of understanding football, he is indeed several levels higher than those of the national teammates. Many times no one can catch his passes at all. If it is only on the surface, Chu Zhongtian's pass was broken, but in fact, if these balls are placed at Metz, they will be caught without exception and can pose a threat to the opponent's goal. However, the Chinese players cannot understand his football awareness, so all the balls he passed were wasted - this is called the so-called "waste expression".

Chu Zhongtian also realized this problem. He began to reduce the passes that required in advance, because the result of his passes was just out of bounds again and again. Maybe he would be considered incompetent. Teammates in the national team were completely different from Metz's teammates. People here played football while standing, standing in place after passing the ball, or moving within a small range, and would never try to enter the new area to take risks. Metz players were running and playing football, not only Metz, but all Ligue 1 teams were like this. They thought it was natural to continue running after passing the ball. For Chinese players, they could not understand it, or they could understand it but were too lazy to do it.

After Chu Zhongtian realized the problem, he only passed the ball that was easy to catch but meaningless - the pass was able to pass to the teammate's feet, and it was not difficult to catch it, but it basically helped very little in the offensive advancement.

The only person who can cooperate with Chu Zhongtian is Dong Fangzhuo, who is in the same room as him. Because he has been playing football in Europe and is influenced by European football, his understanding of football is different from that of ordinary Chinese players, and he can be in line with Chu Zhongtian.

In the 91st minute, after Chu Zhongtian got the ball on the left side of the midfield, he did not pass the ball step by step like before, but suddenly passed it to the penalty area. At this time, Dong Fangzhuo happened to penetrate into the penalty area from outside the penalty area, jumped up and shook his head, and pushed Chu Zhongtian's pass into the net.

"Good ball!" CCTV's commentator shouted. "Dong Fangzhuo is so beautiful, and Chu Zhongtian's pass is also beautiful!"

This is a goal for the Chinese team to save face and cannot change the reality that they lost a big score.

After the game, the media praised Chu Zhongtian's performance. Even the Swiss commentator said that there was only one person in the Chinese team who could maintain calmness and perform normally under the fierce pressing of Swiss players. That person was Chu Zhongtian.

Chinese media believe that after two seasons of training at Metz, Chu Zhongtian's level has improved significantly now - in fact, this is nonsense. They don't know what Chu Zhongtian's level was before. They just think that Chu Zhongtian played in an amateur team for two seasons before, so his level must be no better than now.

There are also media calls for the next game to play in France, and coach Zhu Suishen should give Chu Zhongtian more playing time: "... He assisted with one goal in fifteen minutes. What if he was allowed to start? In the Chinese team, no one is more familiar with the French team than him. He has played against many players in the French national team in the league for a long time, and even his teammate - Frank Ribery. I think Chu Zhongtian will definitely give us more surprises when he starts playing in France."

Although the media said this, Zhu Suishin obviously had his own considerations, so Chu Zhongtian still sat on the bench in the game against the French team.

The game against the French team was played at the Giofirori Quicade Stadium in Saint-Etienne. Chu Zhongtian is not unfamiliar with this stadium, because he had been here with Metz and played in the league with Saint-Etienne.

In this game, French President Chirac also came to cheer for the French team. He also mentioned Chu Zhongtian specifically when he was interviewed by Chinese media before the game. "The first time I saw him was on the French Cup final field. He impressed me. I heard that he was here too? I hope I can see him play football at that time."

Chu Zhongtian has already made many people envious to being remembered by the French president. Of course, in this game, Chu Zhongtian has many other places that Chu Zhongtian has envied or jealous of his national teammates.

For example, in a stand, there is a portrait of French fans holding up Chu Zhongtian, and the portrait reads: "Chu is the king of Metz!"

This group of fans is obviously Metz. They are watching the French team's game, but they are also watching Chu Zhongtian's game. Chu Zhongtian's current status in Metz is quite high, comparable to Ribery, and in a sense even higher than Ribery. He is also the only person in the Chinese national team who can be named by French fans in the stands.

It was not just that. During the warm-up before the game, Ribery ran up and took the initiative to say hello to Chu Zhongtian. The two got together and chatted in French for a few words, and then Ribery introduced Zidane to Chu Zhongtian!

When the Chinese team players just ran to the stadium to prepare for warm-up, they all looked at Chu Zhongtian who came out in advance and were chatting with the French team's No. 10, the King of France, Zidane. Not to mention how envious he was... Judging from his expression, the two of them had a great time talking. The short man standing next to them seemed to be Ribery, a teammate in the club with Chu Zhongtian.

After chatting for a few words, Zidane patted Chu Zhongtian on the shoulder and left with Ribery.

Chu Zhongtian then turned around and warmed up the half of the Chinese team.

Dong Fangzhuo was the first Chinese player to come over and ask Chu Zhongtian what he and Zidane had talked about.

"It's nothing. I asked about my current situation and encouraged me to play football well." Chu Zhongtian shrugged. His movements and expressions have gradually become westernized after living in the West for five years.

The actual content is that Ribery introduced Chu Zhongtian to Zidane, and then Zidane took the initiative to talk about Chu Zhongtian's affairs in Metz.

"You played well at Metz. Mr. Jean Fernandez is a very skilled coach. It is your luck to be able to follow him."

Then he gave Chu Zhongtian some advice from a football perspective: "You should work hard to improve your skills, and excellent skills can help you deal with those tight defenses."

Finally, Zidane patted Chu Zhongtian on the shoulder: "Do it well, you are still young, Chu."

Chu Zhongtian did not expect that he could get the guidance of the legendary master on the spot. When he left, Ribery blinked at him, and he gave Ribery a thumbs up and thanked him.

The conversation with Zidane made many people in the national team look at Chu Zhongtian completely differently... They all know what Zidane's status in international football. Some people in the national team have played against Zidane - in the summer of 2003 and the summer of 2005, but they would never have the opportunity to let Zidane talk to him so intimately. The Frenchman was actually a bit arrogant.

As the game began, the French commentator noticed that Chu Zhongtian was not on the starting list and began to speak up for Chu Zhongtian: "Chu is the only player in the Chinese team to play in the top European league today, Ligue 1 Metz! But today it was indeed sitting on the bench... The decision of the Chinese team head coach is really hard to understand - the best player in their team is a substitute..."

Not long after the game against France began, Zheng Zhi, who started the game, was in a fight with Xisai, causing Xisai to fracture the calf and injured it.

This sudden accident changed the atmosphere at Giopheroli Quiccard's stadium - booed... After that, the French team missed a penalty kick opportunity, Zidane slipped and shot the football high.

The French team scored a goal in the 30th minute and led 1:0.

After that, the French team played a little carelessly. Their legendary cooperation pace was too slow and they could not penetrate the Chinese team's defense line. In this game, Zhu Suishin's strategy was to counterattack defensively, requiring the team to stabilize the defense first.

In the second half, the Chinese team equalized the score. Zheng Zhi broke through on the right side of the penalty area and was tripped by Abidal. The referee awarded a penalty kick. Zheng Zhi personally scored a hit, 1:1.

In the 75th minute, Zhu Suishen replaced Chu Zhongtian again with Zheng Zhi, who was exhausted. Coincidentally, on the French team, he also made a substitution adjustment at the same time - Ribery replaced Vieira.

The two of them stood side by side, waiting for the fourth official to hold the sign.

Ribery winked at Chu Zhongtian and said, "What a coincidence, you are here too." He hadn't forgotten to joke yet.

"Yes, I didn't expect you to be here too..." Chu Zhongtian also joked. He was in a good mood today to be able to be an opponent with his friends.

"Also, thank you." He was referring to Zidane's affairs.

"What do you thank? I'm thanking you for letting Emily come to our house. You don't know, after Emily came, Vahiba was happy for several days."

The fourth official raised the sign and replaced the player of the home team France first. Ribery and Chu Zhongtian were playing high-high, and the person he replaced was Vieira.

Then Chu Zhongtian also came on the court and replaced Zheng Zhi. Zheng Zhi and Chu Zhongtian, and walked back to the bench panting.

After seeing Chu Zhongtian appear, the French commentator performed the same as the Chinese commentator - he was excited.

Putting aside information on the entire Chinese team, the one he is most familiar with is Chu Zhongtian. How can he not be excited?

"Wow! It's Chu! This is a very familiar face. I still remember his two goals in the French Cup final, haha! He is the most threatening player of the Chinese team, and our people must keep a strict eye on him!"

Originally, because Xise broke his legs, French fans had no good impression of Chinese players, so the Chinese team players, especially Zheng Zhiyi, took the ball, and there was a booing sound in the stands. However, Chu Zhongtian's appearance changed this situation, and a burst of applause against Chu Zhongtian rang out in the stands.

Zhu Suishin gave Chu Zhongtian the task of defending and strengthening the Chinese team's offense. So Chu Zhongtian had a one-on-one opportunity to face his idol.

The first time Zidane shook him away easily and passed the ball out.

The second time Chu Zhongtian used a foul to stop Zidane. After he pushed Zidane to the ground, he reached out and pulled Zidane up.

The third time, Zidane did not give Chu Zhongtian a chance to steal, and passed the ball to Ribery who was on the side in advance.

Facing this legendary figure, Chu Zhongtian was completely at a disadvantage. However, he was not upset. Instead, he enjoyed it and enjoyed the fun of fighting against the world's highest-level players. Only by playing against such opponents can he continue to improve. To be honest, Chu Zhongtian felt that after Metz's second season, his progress was slower than before, which may be related to this.

Of course, Chu Zhongtian did not only defend Zidane. He first used a reasonable position to grab Henry's ball, and then protected Henry's ball. Later, he used a fierce tackle to knock Ribery down to the ground. After Ribery fell, he quickly shook his hand to indicate that he had not committed a foul. Then he ran to Ribery and said to him: "Stop pretending, Frank. You have to pretend again, I will come to the real next time!"

Ribery jumped up from the ground quickly and patted Chu Zhongtian on the head: "I don't want to be that unlucky guy in Cice... you killer!"

Although Ribery jumped up by himself, the referee still showed Chu Zhongtian a yellow card, which was his first yellow card in the national team.

After seeing the referee daring the card to Chu Zhongtian, the TV broadcast camera captured the cunning smile on Ribery's face and Chu Zhongtian's helpless expression.

The French commentator, who knew their relationship well, laughed. "Although they were teammates in Metz, they are enemies now, well done, Frank!"

The final result of the game against France was that the Chinese team lost 1:3 to France. The French team's last two goals were scored at the last moment of the game, and they were all related to Ribery. First, Ribery made a cross near the bottom line of the left side, Wang Yun made a mistake in the middle of the penalty area, and the football hit the outside of his right foot, drew an arc and hanged into the upper left corner of the goal. Goalkeeper Li Leilei could only look at the ball and sigh.

A minute later, Ribery Henry passed Ribery again, and Ribery broke through and formed a one-on-one strike. Li Leilei rushed out of the penalty area to clear the ball. Ribery stabbed the ball back to Henry before him. Henry scored directly with an empty goal, 3:1.

After the game, many Chinese players wanted to exchange jerseys with the players of the world champion French team, but many French players refused their request, and only Chu Zhongtian successfully exchanged jerseys with Zidane.

Originally, Ribery wanted to exchange jerseys with Chu Zhongtian, but Chu Zhongtian waved his hand at him and went straight to Zidane. He was so angry that he rolled his eyes behind him - I wouldn't have introduced you to you if I had known!

The last impact Chu Zhongtian gave to all Chinese team members was that after the game, French President Chirac suddenly visited the Chinese team's locker room - this was not arranged before.

Chirac first had a brief chat with the head coach of the Chinese team, Zhu Suishin. During the conversation, the translator accompanied him throughout the whole process. Everyone heard his sentence: "It's a pity that Chu did not start." A group of people immediately turned their eyes to Chu Zhongtian, and Zhu Suishin was no exception. Chu Zhongtian could only pretend to be calm and pretend that he didn't care that the president was just speaking for him... After communicating with Zhu Suishin, he talked to the player representatives. He did not choose anyone else, but found Chu Zhongtian and patted his shoulder: "We're meeting again, Chinese boy."

"I really didn't expect you to remember me, Mr. President."

"Of course, I still remember your invitation to me, haha! Although you lost the game in this game, your performance is OK. The only pity is that you have less playing time. If you start, we may not win this game...ha!"

There was no need to translate the exchange between the two of them. The players watched Chu Zhongtian and the French President communicate fluently in French, and they didn't know what it felt... At least after seeing this scene, Zheng Zhi made up his mind to play football abroad no matter what, and would never stay in China anymore!

Then President Chirac encouraged Chu Zhongtian to continue playing well and contribute to the football exchange between China and France... This is a mandarin saying, and Chu Zhongtian nodded and agreed - in fact, he himself didn't know whether it could be done or not.

After chatting with Chu Zhongtian, Chirac waved goodbye to all members of the Chinese team without communicating with other Chinese players.

After the French president left, Chu Zhongtian could clearly feel that his teammates looked at him differently. He was as usual, and did not show off his experiences tonight. He just took off Zidane's jersey and stuffed it into his backpack. This is a gift worth cherishing for a lifetime... He had used Zidane's locker and put on the jersey that Zidane wore, which was so honorable.

After returning to the hotel room that day, Dong Fangzhuo and Chu Zhongtian, who were in the same room, talked a lot about playing football in Europe.
Chapter completed!