Chapter 469: Opener
On June 11th, at 2 p.m. local time in South Africa, a brief World Cup opening ceremony was held at the Johannesburg Classic Soccer City Stadium.
A total of 1581 performers contributed to a program consisting of six sections. It's worth mentioning that three girls from China appeared on the stage.
Of course, the performances were just decorations. The real importance lay in the upcoming 64 matches, as the World Cup unfolded slowly with Colombian singer Shakira's "Waka Waka."
At exactly 4 p.m., the opening match between the host country and Mexico kicked off as scheduled. South Africa's head coach is a 67-year-old Brazilian named Pereira. This was his sixth World Cup journey, making him the coach with the most appearances in World Cup history.
In the 2002 World Cup, South Africa had three forwards with different styles: Mashego, Zuma, and McCarthy. However, the first two had faded out of the national team due to age.
McCarthy, as the team's all-time top scorer, was expelled from the national team due to being overweight. Without McCarthy, South Africa was left with only a mediocre front line, and the only returnee, Parker, was just a substitute for the Eredivisie champion, Twente.
Therefore, Pereira deployed a conservative 4-5-1 formation for this match, while Mexico adopted a 4-4-2 formation. The match started with both sides in a stalemate, and the score remained 0-0 until the end of the first half.
In the 54th minute of the second half, Digaorgel sent a through ball to the defense, and Chabalala quickly inserted from the left to the penalty area, taking a powerful left-footed shot without adjusting from 15 meters out on the left side.
The ball flew straight like a cannonball towards the upper right corner, hitting the junction of the right goalpost and crossbar and bouncing into the net, 1-0! The host took the lead!
Mexico equalized in the 79th minute when Guardado crossed from the left, delivering the ball to Marquez, who had infiltrated near the far post from the defensive midfielder position. The Barcelona midfielder calmly pushed the ball into the near corner facing the goalkeeper.
Marquez, a defensive midfielder by trade, is versatile in multiple positions within the Barcelona team. In this national team match, his performance was equally outstanding, with 72 passes, 61 of which were accurate, 3 tackles, and 1 interception, playing an important defensive role.
Before the final whistle, South Africa still had a chance to take the lead, with the lone striker almost facing an open goal, but he hit the post. No wonder the post-match evaluation by Sky Sports in the UK described him as "knows only how to stand around, nothing else."
1-1, the first match of the World Cup ended in a draw. Chabalala, the 26-year-old midfielder who scored first for South Africa, was named the best player of the match not only for his goal but also for his significant role in midfield organization and passing.
The Chinese team did not choose to watch the opening match but continued with their final training. However, in the information age, the results would soon be received by everyone.
"I didn't expect the hosts to be so strong, able to draw with Mexico in the first round," said 21-year-old newcomer Zhang Fanlin, who was selected for the national team for the first time, feeling excited throughout.
Taking this opportunity, Wang Feng addressed everyone, saying, "We absolutely cannot underestimate any team that has made it to the round of 32. The actual strength on paper can be very misleading, so we must approach every game with full spirit and attention."
Everyone nodded in agreement. Such cautionary words coming from a Chinese superstar were particularly impactful. If even he was so cautious, how could others slack off?
On the first matchday, there was another match in Group A, France vs. Uruguay. As Wang Feng had predicted, despite Uruguay receiving the World Cup's first red card, France still failed to win the game, ending in a goalless draw.
The performance of midfield core Ribery was controversial, with 36 successful passes out of 29, but only 3 successful crosses, failing to create good scoring opportunities for teammates.
Of course, in Wang Feng's view, it's not entirely Ribery's fault. France, whether in tactical system or personnel configuration, is quite awkward, so it's no wonder Ribery and Anelka have some disagreements and conflicts in their playing styles. Coach Domenech's handling of the situation is inadequate.
Uruguayan forward Forlan was named the best player of the match, contributing 5 shots with 2 on target, putting considerable pressure on the French team.
In the first match of Group B, Asian team South Korea made their debut, defeating European powerhouse Greece 2-0 with goals from Lee Chung-yong and Park Ji-sung, securing a winning start to this World Cup.
Players such as Cha Du-ri from Freiburg, Park Ji-sung from Manchester United, Lee Chung-yong from Bolton, Ki Sung-yueng from Charlton, Kim Ki-hee from West Bromwich Albion, and Park Chu-young from AS Monaco were the six overseas players who guaranteed South Korea's victory.
Park Ji-sung was named the best player of the match. Although he didn't have many chances on the ball, he was still the most threatening player for South Korea, creating a decisive scoring opportunity and scoring a brilliant goal.
In the other match of Group B, Argentina narrowly defeated Nigeria 1-0, with Heinze scoring a header. However, the front line of the Albiceleste still showed signs of weakness.
Messi ended a 209-day goal drought for the national team, but Aguero missed three clear chances, and Tevez was invisible throughout the game. Therefore, Heinze, a defender, took the only goal of the match and was named the best player.
In the first match of Group C, England drew 1-1 with the United States. Gerrard opened the scoring for the Three Lions, but Dempsey equalized in the end. Former Manchester United goalkeeper Howard was named the best player of the match.
In the other match of Group C, Algeria lost 0-1 to Slovenia. These are two teams lacking star power, with their combined market value being approximately 85 million euros. Koren from West Bromwich Albion scored the only goal of the match and was named the best player.
The matchday for Group D has arrived, marking the beginning of China's journey.
On the morning of June 13th, head coach Alirhan convened all the players and announced the lineup for the first group stage match. The formation was 4-4-2, with goalkeeper Qiu Shengjing.
Defenders Li Weifeng, Sun Jihai, Zheng Zhi, and Feng Xiaoting.
Midfielders Shao Jiayi, Hao Junmin, Deng Zhuoxiang, and Zhao Xuri.
Forwards Wang Feng and Dongfang Zhuo.
"Everyone, Germany is the strongest opponent in this group, but don't forget, anything is possible on the tournament stage. I don't demand that you must win, but I demand that you bring out your highest level!"
After the team doctor completed the final physical examinations, the entire team boarded the bus to Durban Stadium. Along the way, both sides of the road were filled with fans from various countries, with the Chinese faces being the most numerous.
As they saw the national team bus passing by, they waved flags and banners in support. Even though there was a layer of glass separating them, the familiar cheers could still be heard, making it feel like they were playing at home.
Wang Feng quietly touched the badge on his chest. Perhaps this is the meaning of wearing this jersey.
Arriving at the destination, what caught everyone's eyes was a magnificent stadium. Its exterior design was very novel, especially the overhead bridge spanning east and west, resembling a rainbow hanging in the sky.
This comprehensive stadium can accommodate 70,000 spectators. The attendance for this match was bound to set the highest record since the start of the World Cup because of the passionate domestic fans who traveled from afar.
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