Chapter 811: One of the Hot Matches
On June 19, 2018, at the Mordovia Arena in the city center of Saransk, Russia, the Chinese team was about to face their first opponent, Colombia, in the group stage.
Due to its proximity to the motherland, countless domestic fans flocked to the scene to show their support, turning it into a virtual home ground for China, with a sea of red visible in the stands.
The Mordovia Arena has an overall smooth oval shape, using orange, white, and red tiles as building materials, creating a strong visual contrast.
To meet FIFA requirements, the stadium adopts a double-deck design, with approximately 28,000 seats on the ground and an additional 16,000 temporary seats, which were in use for this match.
According to later statistics, about 80% of the crowd were Chinese fans, with the rest occupied by Colombian fans. Many local Russians were unable to get tickets, or they were scalped at high prices.
After the World Cup, the temporary structures at the stadium would be dismantled, and the upper space would be converted into a riverside promenade with leisure and commercial functions, offering tourists a view of the nearby Volga River.
It's worth mentioning that this stadium can also host high-level sports such as basketball and volleyball, maximizing its economic benefits.
As for the match itself, Colombia is best known for its attacking trio of "J-Rod," Falcao, and Bacca, who are among the top attackers in European football and are expected to put significant pressure on China's defense.
However, in the 4th minute, China got off to a dream start when Feng Miao intercepted a pass and sent a through ball to Wang Feng, who dribbled past Colombian defenders into the penalty area.
He then sidestepped the goalkeeper and shot, but defender Carlos Sanchez blocked the ball on the goal line, and in desperation, used his hand to bat it away.
This deliberate handball, similar to Suarez's infamous incident years ago, naturally didn't escape the referee's scrutiny, and Colombia received a red card.
Wang Feng took the penalty himself, deceived the goalkeeper, and slotted the ball into the bottom right corner, giving China a 1-0 lead!
Afterward, the team didn't become complacent with the extra man advantage but continued with their strategy of solid defense and counterattacks.
As a result, despite being down to 10 men, Colombia controlled possession, but they were wary of the threat posed by the Chinese superstar and didn't dare to go all out, especially after he nearly scored with just a slight attempt.
The game became a stalemate, but Chinese fans didn't find it dull; instead, they continued to cheer loudly, eagerly anticipating China's first victory in the World Cup.
In the 72nd minute, Wang Feng and Wu Lei combined on the wing, with Wu Lei crossing to the edge of the six-yard box, where substitute Dong Fangzhuo stabbed home, doubling China's lead.
The final score remained 2-0 until the end of the game, securing China's opening victory.
This result didn't come as a surprise to outsiders. Although China didn't participate in the previous World Cup in Brazil, that was just a chaotic aftermath. Now they have regrouped and regained the momentum of their past glory as winners of the Cup of Nations, becoming one of the favorites for the title.
It was Germany's 0-1 loss to Mexico that truly shocked everyone, leading to cries that the curse of the defending champions still existed.
The Chinese players would chat casually during their free time, but they had more important matters to prepare for, namely their match against Senegal on June 24.
This game was scheduled to be held at the Central Stadium in Yekaterinburg, the home of Russia's oldest team, Ural, founded in 1953.
After undergoing two renovations and adding 10,000 temporary seats, the venue can accommodate 35,000 spectators simultaneously.
In order to meet FIFA requirements, the rugged Ural residents directly carved out holes on both sides of the stadium, adding seats using scaffolding, making it a spectacle in the world of football.
Senegal made their second appearance in the World Cup finals since 2002, with their 42-year-old head coach Cisse being the former captain and hero of the team.
The biggest star in the team is Sadio Mane, who plays for Liverpool, while the rest of the team is similar to China's, consisting mainly of players from mid-to-lower-tier teams in Ligue 1, Bundesliga, Premier League, and Championship, as well as Ligue 2 and Serie B.
At the beginning of the match, the African powerhouse relied on their physicality to launch successive attacks against China, forcing them to defend deep.
In such a brutal battle, even Wang Feng felt a bit tired, not to mention his teammates, but they persevered with gritted teeth.
For a full 25 minutes, neither side managed to create any threatening shots, but four yellow cards were shown, illustrating how intense the game was.
In the 37th minute, En-Joy from Birmingham in the English Championship sent a cross from the wing, distracting the defense while Niang from Torino headed in a goal, despite controversy over a foul in the buildup, the goal was allowed, putting China at a disadvantage.
Coach Lippi on the sidelines urged the players to calm down and use their flexibility advantage instead of directly confronting the opponents. Wang Feng also moved around, inspiring and encouraging his teammates.
The first half ended with a score of 0-1.
"Senegal's playing style is very direct and physical, but it's very effective. Back then, they used this aggressive approach to upset defending champions France and eventually reached the quarterfinals."
"Yes, we could see earlier that Wang Feng struggled against the relentless marking. His teammates didn't provide enough support."
"After all, he's a 35-year-old veteran now. He can't drag defenders with him like he used to when he was younger."
"So, how China maximizes Wang Feng's threat in the next game will be crucial."
After the break, Senegal seemed to have endless stamina. Despite their attacks consuming more energy, it was the increasingly fatigued China, who were focusing on defending with all their might.
All Wang Feng could do was to retreat and cover for his teammates' defensive lapses with all his might. His sharp eyes scanned the field continuously, looking to seize fleeting opportunities.
In the 77th minute, the Chinese superstar and Feng Miao cooperated to intercept the Senegal ball, and seeing defenders closing in, Wang Feng changed tactics and passed to Zheng Zhi, who dribbled forward in a two-on-one situation with Feng Miao.
By this time, Wang Feng had already reached the edge of the penalty area and gestured for the ball.
His teammate understood instantly and sent a perfectly timed pass at a 45-degree angle. As soon as he received the ball, Wang Feng accelerated again, shaking off a nearby defender and lightly chipping the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper before he could reach it.
The ball sailed over the Senegal goalkeeper's head and into the net.
"Beautiful! It's a goal! In the 77th minute, Wang Feng finally helps China equalize!"
"A swift counterattack, the Chinese superstar personally participates in a defensive interception in the backfield and sprints all the way to the penalty area. Zheng Zhi's through pass is spot-on, and Wang Feng finds the perfect moment to shoot when faced with a tiny opening against the goalkeeper."
"As if effortlessly, the ball sails over the goalkeeper, neither too high nor too low, precisely over him. At a crucial moment, the Chinese superstar shows no sign of weakness!"
After that, neither team managed to score again, and the match ended with a 1-1 draw.
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