Chapter 482: Unpopular
The matchups for the quarterfinals have been finalized: Netherlands vs. Brazil, Uruguay vs. Germany, China vs. Argentina, Paraguay vs. Spain.
In a series of showdowns between Europe and South America, the Chinese team stands out as the only exception, leaving the eliminated Japanese and Korean media extremely envious.
The Japanese sports newspaper "Sports Wisdom" believes that currently only the Chinese team in Asia has the potential to compete for the World Cup. "We have to admit that Wang Feng's contribution to the overall strength of the team is crucial, not only at the club level but also at the national team level."
"He is about to turn 27 years old, entering the golden age for athletes, with his physical condition and technique at the top level. Numerous experiments have proven that he is the key figure who can determine the outcome of the game!"
However, "Sports Wisdom" also pointed out that the world-class competitiveness of the Chinese team is likely just a flash in the pan. Overall, Japan's football and youth training development are far superior to China's and are healthier.
As the Chinese superstar ages, his technical and tactical level will inevitably decline gradually. By then, a team without a systematic reserve of talent will inevitably decline, and relying on one or two superstars alone will be unsustainable. "Wang Feng is unique."
"Japan is already eyeing the future! In a few decades, European countries will be filled with Japanese players, and a strong reserve force will help the national team win the World Cup!"
The South Korean media is even more envious of the emergence of a global superstar like Wang Feng in China, as they care deeply about their "face" on the world stage.
The "Seoul Sports Report" believes that South Korea also needs to actively cultivate local superstars. Park Ji-sung is the most successful example, but in the future, the quantity and quality of such players must surpass him.
The first quarterfinal battle will kick off at 4:00 PM local time in South Africa on July 2nd, with the Netherlands facing Brazil.
The Samba Army took the lead in the 10th minute when Melo made a direct pass, exploiting a fatal gap in the Dutch defense. Robinho scored with a solitary shot from the edge of the penalty area.
It wasn't until the 53rd minute of the second half that the Netherlands equalized. Sneijder crossed from the right side, and a collision between Brazil's goalkeeper Cesar and his teammate Melo resulted in an own goal.
Fifteen minutes later, Robben took a corner from the right side, and Kuyt's header was nodded on by Sneijder from 4 yards out, helping the Oranje reverse the situation. Wang Feng's two Real Madrid teammates were key to the Dutch victory.
The trailing Brazilian team became increasingly frustrated. In the 74th minute, Melo was shown a straight red card by referee Yuichi Nishimura after repeatedly fouling Robben and then maliciously stomping on him.
After that, both sides intensified their confrontations, on and off the field, with conflicts erupting continuously and the whistle blowing incessantly. The most interesting moment came in the 76th minute when Dutch defender Ooijer interfered with a quick throw-in from the Brazilians off the field. Yuichi Nishimura initially showed a red card but then corrected himself by showing a yellow card.
The score remained unchanged until the end of the match. The ten-man Samba Army suffered a shocking elimination, creating the biggest upset in the World Cup quarterfinals.
Brazil was the top favorite to win the championship in this World Cup, followed by Argentina and Spain. Among all eight teams, China's chances of winning the championship ranked seventh, just above Paraguay.
Before the match, the famous "jinx" Pele said, "Brazil will definitely win. They are the most stable among all teams. I think the future of other teams is unpredictable. Only Brazil reaching the final is without any suspense."
Unexpectedly, the result turned out to be quite the opposite. In fact, this was not the first time Pele had "jinxed" in this World Cup. Previously, he had stated that African teams would perform well, but they were all defeated in the group stage.
Brazil's head coach Dunga stated after the match that he might not continue as the head coach of the Brazilian team. "This is a sad and unexpected result. We played well in the first half, but couldn't maintain the same rhythm in the second half."
"It's a sign of lack of concentration. World Cup matches last for 90 minutes, and the details determine the final result. Unfortunately, when we were behind, everyone was anxious."
Although Dunga did not blame anyone specifically, the media still considered Melo, who received a red card, as the biggest culprit for the team. Not only did he score an own goal that equalized the score, but he also committed a malicious foul resulting in a red card, leaving the Samba Army with one man down and no chance of a comeback.
In fact, this Brazilian midfielder has a checkered past even in his club career. During the 08-09 season with Fiorentina, he got into a conflict with Lopez, the captain of Cagliari, in the player tunnel, resulting in a fractured wrist for the opponent and a five-game suspension for himself.
After transferring to Juventus, Melo received the most yellow cards in the team, and even had face-to-face arguments with coach Zaccheroni. Therefore, the club is planning to sell him at a low price.
Many Brazilian legends expressed dissatisfaction with Melo after the match. Ronaldo even wrote on Twitter, "Honestly, Felipe shouldn't come back to Brazil for vacation at this time." It is unclear whether he was concerned about Melo's safety or felt that he did not deserve to return to the country.
Of course, apart from this culprit, Dunga's national team roster also sparked controversy. Ronaldinho, Adriano, Pato, and Marcelo were all left out.
There are rumors that Dunga will select some unknown players from the Brazilian domestic league to enter the national team. These players will use the national team as a means to increase their value and salary, in return giving the coach tribute.
This is also why there are always some strange figures in Dunga's national team selections, and even if some players perform exceptionally well, they often find themselves on the bench.
Compared to the tumultuous and chaotic Samba Army, the Netherlands showed lofty ambitions. Head coach Van Marwijk stated that the team played a magnificent game, leaving those who mocked them speechless.
"Trailing 0-1 in the first half, I believe everyone would be worried, but I wasn't. I told the players at halftime that they could do better, and they did in the second half. To be honest, if we were more efficient in seizing opportunities, maybe the Netherlands could have won by four or five against Brazil!"
"Next, needless to say, our goal is the World Cup!"
Wesley Sneijder, who was named the best player of the match, said in an interview that all players performed excellently, and together they worked hard to eliminate a strong opponent. They are not afraid of any opponent.
Although the Oranje are full of confidence, and their chances of winning the championship have greatly increased, some media pointed out that historically, teams that eliminate the biggest favorites in the World Cup mostly end up as runners-up.
For example, in 1986, France was widely regarded as the favorite, but they were defeated 0-2 by Germany in the semifinals, and in the final, the German team lost 2-3 to Argentina.
Similarly, in 1990, the host Italy was the biggest favorite, but they lost on penalties to Argentina. Then in the final, they were defeated 0-1 by Germany.
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