***Source of this chapter                                                                                                                           �

Italy relied on the penalty kick created by Balotelli and scored by himself, 1:1. In the following game, no goals were scored again until the end of overtime... Until the start of the penalty shootout, although the fans of Shenyang Olympic Sports Center kept shouting Xiangnan's name, Maldini still let Xiangnan sit on the bench for protection of the players...

In the penalty shootout, Italy eliminated Russia 5:3 and became the last team to reach the quarterfinals... At the post-match press conference, Italian national team head coach Martini praised Balotelli's performance, saying, 'The hug of Mario and Andre? This is the friendship between great players... We are all waiting for Andre to return to the team!!'

Facing Ji Ji's constant inquiries about Xiangnan's injury, when will he appear on the court, he smiled and said, "We have already waited, why don't we wait any more... Importantly, Andre is already with his national teammates..."

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In other quarterfinals, the results are as follows:

United States 1:N;

Brazil 2:1 Uruguay; Brazil veteran, left-back Felipe, became the biggest contributor to Brazil's victory over the rivals from South America. Felipe was behind Brazil: 1, and within 5 minutes, he helped Brazil perform a reversal show... At 83 minutes, when Brazil's head coach Cafo replaced Felipe with Fernandez, thunderous applause also sounded over the bird's nest...

Germany 5: Gran (1201:1, penalty kick 3); England fell again at the feet of the arch-rival German team, and in the most tragic way of losing the penalty kick...

Montenegro 1: Sir; Jotic scored his second goal in this World Cup;

Sweden 2:1 Mexico; Real Madrid's Swedish scorer Berry scored a goal to tie the scorer's list;

Artin 3:1 Netherlands;

Spain: 1 France; substitute Benma. (Qian Zai Chinese->He headed to score the only goal in the game;

…………

This is the quarter-final matchup situation as follows:

United States vs. Montenegro;

Brazil vs Germany;

Sweden vss Italy;

Argentina vs. France;

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July 1, 2018, Tianjin Jinao Sports Center.

The sea breeze blew with a light salty smell, and the dark clouds above the city gradually dissipated. However, the drizzle that lasted for two days seemed to be still nostalgic about something... The drizzle of rain fell under the floodlights, and the green grass was so beautiful and holy...

Xiangnan picked up the ball and walked slowly towards the free throw point. These steps were so long and firm...

In this quarter-final against Sweden, c: The score has not changed until the end of the game. Xiangnan made up for the game in 1 minute, but did not get a better opportunity... In today's game, the focus of the Italian team was on defense, facing the starry Swedish scorer Berry of Real Madrid, who shined with stars in this cup. Maldini chose to be safe when Xiangnan was injured...

"Andre!!! Andre!!! He stood at the penalty spot again!!! As long as this ball is scored, Italy will advance to the semi-finals. His eyes are so firm!!! He is a warrior!! A true brave!! Andre!!!... He is running up!!! One step... 2 steps... shot... gooooooooooooaaaaal!!!!!! The ball is in!!! The ball is in!!! This time, the tears in the front will not appear again, Andre!!! Thank you, our King!!!!" Tosica yelled in tears. The old man has been excited too many times in this World Cup, but at this time, he cannot help but cry with excitement!!

Xiangnan stood in front of the goal like that, raised his arms high, and said no, proudly holding his head. At this moment, everyone applauded him!!

At this moment, it belongs to a man named Xiangnan, a truly brave captain who takes responsibility!!!

At the post-match press conference, Xiang Nan confessed that when he was heading to the free throw point, at the scene at Maracana Stadium before the New Year, "it was spinning in my mind countless times...'

"Andre, why do you still have to stand at the free throw point? If you don't take the penalty, Montelivo can also take the penalty. He is the penalty kicker in the club!!" asked.

"I have to bear some responsibilities!! This is the captain's responsibility!!" This man who is nearly forty, just answer!!

After the game, the front page title of "Milan Sports" was 'Goodbye, Maracana's tears!!!'...

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In the other three quarterfinals----

United States c:1 Montenegro, Jovitic increased his goals to 3;

Brazil 1: Country, Pato received a header from Kyrison and shot with an irregular right foot, defeating the German tank;

Argentina 0:2 France. Although it cannot be said to be an upset game, Zidane's French team can beat Argentina 2: C, which is a small accident. However, Argentine captain Messi was a French right-back Mavenga less than 3 minutes into the game.

The game, it can be said that the Argentines fell into an unexpected situation at the beginning of this game, was that the Bosnian referee Kronoski of this game just verbally warned Mavinga, which caused an angry protest from Argentina coach Redondo... There were also booing over the Shenyang Olympic Sports Center...

In the first and second half, Nasri and Ginniak each scored one goal, 2: The country advanced to the semi-finals.

After the game, Argentina national team coach Redondo was angry with the French team's bad foul behavior. 'I can now understand that Paul (Maldini) was angry after Dre was tackled by Mavenga in the game between Italy and France. Players like this should not appear on the football field at all!!!'

After this game, facing the strong pressure from the media and fans, the 18th China World Cup Organizing Committee also had to suspend Mavinga for 3 after the game. ‘In view of the mistakes made by Bosnia and Herzegovina referee Kronoski in this game, it will not be enforced in other World Cup games!!’

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This is the situation of the semi-finals:

Brazil vs. France; whether in the 1998 World Cup in France or the 2006 World Cup in Germany, France is Brazil's miserable once, and the defending champion Brazil team does not know if this curse can be broken...

However, before the game started, French team head coach Zidane praised Brazil in an interview with the media, thinking that the championship game was exciting...

Italy vs Montenegro; it is also a direct collision between south and Jovitic, a collision between new and old European footballers... Jovitic led Montenegro to the semi-finals and the mountain team became the veritable biggest dark horse in this World Cup...

However, Jovitic was already the young man who provoked Xiangnan in the Manchester United Champions League final at the beginning of that year. In an interview with French "People" Tefan Jovitic said, "Andre is a great player, greater than all of us... He is a role model for football players... It is interesting and challenging to be able to compete with Andre again!!"

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On 7th, 2018, the Italian team watched the semi-finals between Brazil and France in the conference hall of the hotel where they were staying...

Before the game started, Costa Cuta headed south, "Andre, which one do you think will win, Brazil or France?"

I thought about it, "I still hope to meet Brazil in the finals!!"

When he said this, he looked very serious, and everyone could feel Xiangnan's tone was so firm...

Old Billy smiled and patted the guy who had watched himself step by step into professional football, "Okay, the game has begun... Andre, you still haven't changed!!"

Xiangnan shook his head, didn't he change? He knew that he might have changed a lot, but his desire for football and the battle had not decreased at all...

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In the 611th minute of the game, the Brazilian team made a wonderful cooperation. Rafinia passed a long pass. After Elnanes headed the ball, Kellison turned his back to the goal, leaned against the French central defender Cabrou, and gently slapped it with his left foot. The ball reached the back point. Pato, who followed, knocked the ball to the middle again without the shooting angle. Neymar had already bent his bow and shot, and the ball quickly stuck to the turf and rolled into the goal from the armpit of the French national goal Loris...

1:!!

This is also the only goal in the whole game!!!

Defending champion Brazil 1:c eliminated its archenemy France team, and Ang advanced to the final!!!

"This ball is so beautiful!!! Brazil is so amazing!!" Christian Martini said. At this time, he saw his father glaring at him and quickly shrank his neck.

Looking south, he patted Christian Martini, "What? Are you scared?!! This is our final opponent!!"

"I'm afraid!!! I can't wait to hold up the Hercules Cup!!" Christian Martini shouted at the age of being unable to stand the excitement. At this time, when he saw Xiangnan laughing at him, he realized that he had been teased...

"Christian, be honest!!!" Maldini shouted to his son.

************

"Hi, Alexandro, congratulations on entering the finals." Xiangnan was calling Pato.

"Haha, Andre, we're waiting for you in the finals. Don't worry, we'll beat you like it was the same as before the New Year!!!" Pato laughed loudly, and he could hear it, he was very happy.

In this Brazilian national team, there are many teammates who look south, Rafinia, Thiago Silva, Elnanes, and Pato. In addition, on the bench of the Brazilian national team, there is also Mattioni...

In addition, Italy and Brazil met in the previous two World Cup finals, which can be said to be very familiar with each other...

Uh... Of course, Italy has to enter the finals, first and defeat the biggest dark horse of this World Cup, Jovitic's Montenegro national team...

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July 5, 2018...

It seemed that after God accidentally touched the ground axis, Shanghai Ran felt a little cold after it...

Xiangnan is wiping his sneakers in the locker room of the 80,000-person stadium in Shanghai.

The "Andre Ultimate Edition" sneakers designed for Xiangnan have been launched in stores. Just like the name of this sneaker, the "Andre Ultimate Edition" has only limited editions for 2018 sets worldwide...

Originally, Didas Commercial opened a department and planned to name this sneaker "Andre 20118" as usual. Xiangnan said that this is his last World Cup, so it is called the ultimate version...

"Andre, do you think you will reach the final?" Although Christian Martini still looked relaxed before the game, "Maltini" who participated in the World Cup for the first time could not help but feel nervous.

"Don't worry, Christians will enter the final!!!" Xiangnan did not answer yet, and Qiao Wenke spoke. The Juventus star looked at Xiangnan and said that he had understood a lot from this extremely familiar look. This is Andre's last World Cup... He will not allow others to disrupt the situation!!

Xiangnan put on sneakers, tied his shoelaces, got up, clapped his hands, and gathered everyone together. At this time, the Italian coaching staff had not entered the locker room. Now, it is the time for the players. In today's game, Xiangnan will confirm his appearance and serve as the captain on the field.

"Okay!! Let me say two, this is the semi-final. I won't say much more. What I want to say is that it is not how important this game is, but, please remember that the subsequent game is even more important. For that final, I waited, and we all waited for the year!!!" Xiangnan looked at his teammates, and even the new member of the national team, Christian Martini nodded heavily...

In the previous final, he was eliminated by the Brazilian team. After Robert Baggio that year, Italy shed tears again on the stadium... This became a new pain in the Italian team's heart... and an eternal pain in Xiangnan's heart!!

"So, today, my task is very simple, defeat the opponent and advance to the final!!! Are you confident?"

"have!!!"

"Surely win!!!"

"Surely win!!!"

The men's roar sounded, and at the door of the locker room, Maldini and Costakuta, who were about to enter the locker room, stopped.

"Please, I think someone has done the job you want to do, maybe you are going to be unemployed!!" Costakuta joked with a smile.

Maldini didn't say anything. This scene had long been thought of. After taking over as the head coach of the Italian national team, he immediately used his personal friendship with Xiangnan to urge him to return to the national team. This is the reason. As long as Xiangnan is, even on the bench and in the stands, he is the soul and backbone of the Italian national team!!

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The score on the field is still: c!!!
To be continued...