Chapter 225: World Cup Turmoil
After a fierce battle, the match finally ended.
The final score was fixed at 2:5!
The Italians ultimately failed to reproduce the Istanbul miracle.
England took their first World Cup victory with some drama but without serious danger!
Xia Qi produced a hat-trick and two assists, taking the Man of the Match award.
Wayne Rooney scored twice and is now tied with Mario Balotelli on the scorers' list, right behind Xia Qi.
With such firepower, the slogan "Bring Football Home" rang out again; in the title odds England pushed Germany and Brazil down the list, ranking just behind Argentina.
When the final whistle sounded, the atmosphere on site gradually calmed.
At the sidelines, however, reporters got busy, rushing crazily toward the mixed zone. Among the many players, their attention focused on Xia Qi.
Reporters swarmed Xia Qi, all kinds of microphones and cameras positioned in front of him, asking questions at once.
"Xia Qi, you were outstanding today. A hat-trick in your first World Cup match—how do you feel?" one reporter asked first.
Xia Qi wore a proud smile and replied steadily, "I'm very excited. To contribute to the team in such an important match is an immense honor."
Another reporter followed up, "How did you maintain such great form during the match?"
Xia Qi thought for a moment and answered, "The team's support is my driving force. My teammates' cooperation gave me the space to perform."
"Xia, a five-goal thrashing of Italy—does that mean we have a chance to win the Cup?" a British reporter asked.
Pointing at him, Xia Qi responded firmly, "Take away the 'chance'—go right now and buy an England-to-win-the-World-Cup ticket with everything you've got..."
On the other side, Mario Balotelli was also being interviewed. A reporter asked, "Mario, what do you think of today's result?"
Balotelli took a long breath and analyzed calmly, "Although the result is unfortunate, we tried our best. The opponent performed very well, and we'll learn from this."
Another reporter asked, "How would you evaluate Xia Qi's performance?"
Balotelli did not hold back his praise: "He's a very excellent player. Today's hat-trick was impressive. We almost replicated the Istanbul miracle, but after Xia Qi and Rooney swapped positions, our chase came to an end..."
...
At the post-match press conference,
Italy coach Cesare Prandelli wore a solemn expression. When asked why his team collapsed so badly, he slowly said, "In today's match, our team overall performed commendably.
"The players showed tenacious fighting spirit and resilience on the pitch. They gave their all; every one of them fought for the honor of the team.
"Although the final result was not what we wanted, I am proud of them.
"Our defensive organization was very good; we repelled many threatening attacks. In offense we created some chances, it's just a pity we couldn't convert them."
"This match showed the potential of our team. We will continue to work hard and strengthen our teamwork and cooperation. Every player is a pride of Italy— their efforts and contributions cannot be ignored."
"We will learn from this match and keep improving. I believe in future matches our team will achieve better results."
Such answers, of course, did not satisfy reporters eager to restore a little "World Cup" glory.
They pressed on unsatisfied: "We are roughly equal to England in strength—so why did we suffer a five-goal humiliation?"
Prandelli, driven to the edge, shouted loudly without concern for formalities:
"Where did our players fall short? When Mario pulled two goals back in succession, didn't you notice the English were shaking with fear?"
"I know what you mean—you all want to put the blame on my tactics. Ladies and gentlemen, tell me: what tactic did my opponent have?
'Give the ball to Xia Qi; Xia Qi up front, Xia Qi in midfield, Xia Qi in defense'—what kind of tactic is that? Why did we lose so badly?
"Isn't it simply because we don't have a Xia Qi!"
Prandelli's retort sparked reporters' imaginations; they began clattering at their keyboards...
"Italian rout, caused by Arsenal's prince."
"Give me a Xia Qi and we'd win! - The Blues feel robbed!"
"England had no tactics; Italy lost to a Xia Qi!"
"Three goals, two assists—the perpetrator..."
...
Thanks to Prandelli, the media heaped praise on Xia Qi.
After the match, Xia Qi had a small gathering with his parents.
His father warned him not to be arrogant and to keep working hard; his mother told him to manage relationships with teammates and to find a girlfriend soon.
Then they left to go to Salvador to watch the key match between Germany and Portugal.
"Darling, can you get me a Cristiano Ronaldo signed jersey?" his father asked.
Damn! That dad really is his own!
...
In the same group another upset occurred.
Costa Rica—once regarded as easy points—defeated Uruguay 3:1.
That result muddied the waters of the so-called Group of Death even more.
Such a result brightened the mood of the distraught Italians in an instant.
They considered Uruguay their main competitor for advancing from the group; this outcome was precisely what the Italians most wanted.
The next round would see Italy vs. Costa Rica, and England vs. Uruguay.
The Italians believed that if they beat their next opponent, they would regain the initiative in qualification.
Mario Balotelli, after receiving the intel about the qualification scenario, excitedly phoned: "Xia, I'm putting a circle around you—curse you! Lose to Uruguay in the next match, then in the last game I'll ride the rainbow and beat Uruguay to save you."
Well then, as long as you're happy!
Xia Qi rolled his eyes—wouldn't it be nicer to secure qualification with two wins in a row? Need your rescue?
...
After the D group matches finished, Group E matches also proceeded as scheduled.
Group E, the "no upsets" group, saw Switzerland and France both beat their opponents.
If nothing surprises, those two teams would advance together.
In Group F, the match between favorites Argentina and Bosnia-Herzegovina set a new viewership record for this World Cup.
You have to admit—Messi's popularity might be questionable in character, but his fanbase is huge.
In that match Lionel Messi scored and Gonzalo Higuaín assisted; Argentina beat Bosnia 2:1 to get off to a winning start.
In the early hours of June 17, the much-anticipated Germany vs. Portugal match kicked off.
Portugal, with Cristiano Ronaldo, were battered by the German machine.
Pepe was sent off; Cristiano disappeared; Portugal lost 0:4 to Germany.
Thomas Müller completed his second World Cup hat-trick of the tournament, tying Xia Qi on the top scorers list.
When in Group H Russia drew South Korea 1:1, all 32 World Cup teams had made their appearances!
Argentina, England, Brazil, Germany, Belgium... became sequential favorites to lift the trophy.
In the early hours of June 18, the second round of World Cup group matches began.
Group A: Brazil 0:0 Mexico,
Croatia 4:0 Cameroon.
Group B: Spain shockingly lost 0:2 to Chile; the Netherlands scraped a 3:2 win over Australia and became the first team to qualify for the next round.
Group C remained a tussle among underdogs: Colombia 2:1 Ivory Coast, Japan 0:0 Greece.
At 3 a.m. on June 20, at Estádio Parque São Jorge in São Paulo, England faced Uruguay led by Luis Suárez.
This was another blue-clad team!
Before the match, Xia Qi joked that he had a knack for playing against blue teams and suggested Uruguay shouldn't wear their traditional sky-blue jerseys...
Suárez angrily shot back: "This World Cup isn't the Premier League—screw your red-blue rivalry..."
England had never beaten Uruguay in World Cup encounters before; the last time was in 1966.
England's last friendly win over Uruguay was in 2006 at Anfield.
England had scored in their last eight World Cup matches against South American teams.
Uruguay's last friendly win over England was in 1990 at Wembley; in 15 matches against European teams they had 6 draws and 9 losses and had never beaten Europe.
England manager Roy Hodgson told the media he would keep the same starting lineup that faced Italy in the first round.
(END CHAPTER)
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