r18novel Chapter 49 Fighter Escort!
Chapter 49 Fighter Escort!
Early the next morning.
The day has finally come for us to return to our motherland.
The special plane, carrying all members of the Chinese team, slowly took off from the runway and soared into the azure sky.
Ye Xian sat by the window, his fingertips gently tracing the edge of the medal, his gaze distant.
The details of his World Cup journey slowly surfaced in his mind.
From a tough run through the group stage, to defeating Japan and Senegal to reach the semi-finals, and then to a 6-0 thrashing of South Korea to win third place...
All of this feels like a dream!
But Ye Xian also knew that his professional career had only just begun.
Success in the national team really doesn't mean much.
Compared to club matches, national team matches are more like "temporarily assembled teams," often relying more on individual player abilities, short-term team cohesion, and on-field adjustments.
Sometimes, a short-term surge in popularity can lead to good results.
In other words, luck plays a relatively large role.
The club requires coaches to have all-around abilities.
Team building and player recruitment, system establishment, physical conditioning, multi-front rotation, long-term tactical development, long-term locker room management, and enduring the pressure of a long season...
If any one of these aspects goes wrong, it could lead to a season collapse and nothing being achieved.
This is why many coaches achieve great results with the national team, but struggle to find success at the club level.
To take a recent example, let's talk about the Brazilian team that just won the World Cup.
Their head coach, Scolari, later went to Chelsea to coach, but was sacked after only half a season...
Besides, it would be too boring to just be a national team coach.
On average, there is only one major competition every two years, and sometimes there are only one or two competitions every few months.
This is really not suitable for Ye Xian, who desperately needs more matches to hone his skills.
"When I get back, I'll have to seriously consider Everton's offer..."
As Ye Xian was thinking, a scream and cheers suddenly rang out in the cabin!
The team members all stood up and gathered by the window.
Hmm? What's wrong?
Ye Xian also looked out the window.
Before I could see anything, I heard a sound first:
"Respected Chinese National Men's Football Team, you have entered the airspace of the People's Republic of China. The Chinese Air Force will provide you with full escort throughout your journey."
Then Ye Xian saw two silver-white fighter jets slowly passing by the sides of the special plane, with the five-star red flag clearly visible on their wings.
Immediately afterwards, two bright red trails of smoke shot out from the tail of the fighter jet, stretching and spreading across the azure sky, dyeing the horizon a dazzling Chinese red.
That is the highest honor the motherland can bestow upon a triumphant team, and the best tribute to the national football team's hard work and glory in this World Cup!
"They're Chinese fighter jets! Escorting us!"
"Holy crap, that's amazing! So impressive!"
"Mom, I've made something of myself! The country has sent fighter jets to protect us!"
The team members cheered excitedly, their faces beaming with pride and joy.
Yang Chen patted Ye Xian on the shoulder with a smile, his voice filled with excitement: "Coach Ye, look, our motherland is welcoming us home! This honor is truly immense!"
At this point, Ye Xian was too excited to speak.
This kind of treatment is something you can't get in several lifetimes!
Suddenly, the melody of "Singing for the Motherland" began to play over the cabin's public address system.
The team members spontaneously stood up and sang in unison:
"The five-star red flag flutters in the wind, the victory song resounds so loudly..."
The singing was loud and firm, penetrating the cabin and echoing in the sky, intertwining with the sound of the fighter jet engines to create the most moving melody!
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Capital International Airport.
When the national football team's chartered plane landed, a large number of fans had already gathered at the scene.
"Here it comes!"
"Yang Chen and the others are back!"
"Where? Where is Ye Xian?"
Someone shouted something, and suddenly the entire arrival hall became lively.
A large number of fans, holding various banners and posters and chanting the names of national football players, swarmed around and completely blocked the passenger passage.
after awhile.
Wearing red suits and World Cup bronze medals, the members of the Chinese national football team appeared one by one at the arrival gate, coming into view of the crowd.
Despite being mentally prepared, the players were still taken aback.
"Holy crap, why are there so many people?"
"There must be tens of thousands of people here, right?"
"That's too much, too much..."
When has the Chinese national football team ever enjoyed this kind of treatment?!
In the past, fans would occasionally come to greet them at the airport, but those fans came specifically to curse them, not to welcome them.
It's fair to say that the third-place winners of this World Cup have truly earned the respect of the entire nation and are regarded as heroes!
Soon, the members of the Chinese national football team had passed through the arrival gate and entered the arrival hall.
As the Chinese national football team players moved closer together, the fans in the stadium became even more excited, and their shouts suddenly increased.
Seeing this, everyone reached out to greet the fans in the audience.
Their response further excited the fans in the stadium, and many began to instinctively try to push forward, hoping to get closer to their favorite players and perhaps get an autograph or a photo.
Among them, Ye Xian's side seems to have more fans, especially female fans.
"Ahhh, Ye Xian is so handsome!"
"Even more handsome than on TV!"
"Ye Xian, I love you!"
"Ye Xian, we will always support you!"
"Ye Xian, I want to have your babies!"
Everyone was filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment.
Li Tie couldn't help but touch his face and blow on his bangs: "I don't think I'm bad-looking, so why don't any female fans like me?"
Everyone: "..."
"Make way, everyone make way!"
The security personnel at the scene were on high alert.
Although we had made preparations well in advance, we really didn't expect so many people to come today!
Fortunately, the airport's dispatch center quickly arranged for more security personnel to come and provide reinforcements.
In addition, Ye Xian also stepped forward to urge the fans to remain calm and not to push or crowd, which gradually calmed the fans' agitated emotions.
After nearly an hour of fussing at the airport, the Chinese national football team finally left the airport and boarded the team bus "safely" under the escort of security personnel!
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief once they boarded the bus.
This bus is to take the national football team to the Football Association, not to hold any kind of parade.
Such public demonstrations are subject to extremely strict approval processes because they involve various aspects such as maintaining stability, transportation, and security.
Even when the Chinese national football team achieved an unprecedented third-place finish in the World Cup, this green light was not given.
Therefore, there were only some spontaneous celebrations by fans, and no official bus parade.
What awaits the national football team at this time is a series of lengthy and tedious commendation and award activities and meetings.
They were also received and offered their regards by leaders from the Chinese Football Association, the Chinese Sports Federation, and even higher-level officials.
It is said that there were originally plans for the national football team players to give speeches across the country to promote the spirit of the national team and to call on other organizations and individuals to fully learn from and carry forward the spirit of the national team...
Milutinovic flatly refused.
It's already July after the World Cup.
European leagues will resume in August, and many teams will begin their summer training camp in mid-July.
With so many players in the Chinese national football team already playing or about to play abroad, if they hold some kind of speaking tour, will they even be able to play football anymore?
Fortunately, the team has achieved good results, and the coaching staff led by Milutinovic still has a lot of say, which saves the national team from a lot of trouble.
Therefore, after receiving commendations and awards, the Chinese national football team was officially disbanded!
The team members went back to their respective homes and found their mothers.
Ye Xian, on the other hand, stayed in Beijing for a few days first.
He still has a lot of things to take care of...