Later that day after the game, Lionel also sent a special congratulatory message to Li Zhao to congratulate the Portuguese team on their victory. Li Zhao also responded with his blessings and wished that the Spanish team could also stand out in the top 16.

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It was just that the start of the game the next day was not satisfactory. Although the host Russian team that Spain encountered seemed to be far behind in terms of overall strength, their opponents played very tenaciously. Although the Spanish team was in the game

They took the initiative on the court most of the time, but were unable to score. In the end, after 120 minutes of regular game time and overtime, the two teams tied 1-1 and had to go through the most cruel game.

A penalty shootout was used to determine the outcome. Unfortunately, luck was not on Spain's side. The final result of the penalty shootout was that the Russian team defeated its opponent 4-3, thus causing a big upset.

Lionel also had contact with Li Zhao once after the game, but he did not meet in person. He only expressed his unwillingness through online chat, but it is useless to be unwilling now that the outcome is a foregone conclusion, and Li Zhao

Zhao could only express his regret in words and comfort him. Lionel also gave his last blessings to Li Zhao, hoping that their team could go all the way, and if there is still a chance to meet

As for the host team, Li Zhao doesn't mind helping the Spanish team to take revenge.

The remaining five games in the top 16 were also played out within the next two and a half days. It is worth mentioning that the two games of Croatia VS Denmark and Colombia VS England also ended in a 1-1 draw within 120 minutes.

In the end, Croatia and England both won through penalty shootouts, and the results of the remaining three games were Brazil 2-0 Mexico, Belgium 3-2 Japan, and Sweden 1-0 Switzerland.

Among them, the exit of the Japanese team was the most regrettable. After leading by two goals, they were eventually overturned 3-2 by their opponents in the second half of the second half. At this point, the last Asian team had completely withdrawn.

The stage of the World Cup, and the only main candidates left to compete in the quarterfinals are European and South American teams.

The first game of the quarter-finals was Portugal's match against France, and the day before the game started, Li Zhaozeng had an in-depth conversation with Ronaldo.

"Richard, I know that you gave me the ball in the last game on purpose. And based on my understanding of you, you are fully capable of hitting that ball in, and you can even make Suarez attack you at all.

There is no chance for a foul." The first person to open the conversation and ask questions was Cristiano Ronaldo.

"Haha, you figured it out after all! But this is the only way a brother can help you." Li Zhaowei could only hide it with a helpless smile.

"I know what you are worried about. Yes, if it were someone else in the team, I might still be a little uneasy. But for you, I can rest assured, at least as long as I am here.

I will protect you. Even to a certain extent, you are not only my trustworthy brother, but also my most promising successor. Maybe you will need to pick up the future pillars of Portugal. So you have no idea at all.

It is necessary to deliberately reserve something, and you should try your best to give full play to it, so what if you surpass me, how can the big brother be jealous of your achievements." Ronaldo had already seen through his concerns,

Then he expressed his feelings from the bottom of his heart.

"I..." Li Zhao suddenly seemed a little hesitant at this time. Originally, he wanted to say thank you for the other party's concern and for thinking so highly of him. But he thought that his presence in the Portuguese team was only temporary after all, and

I will return to National Team C in the near future, and I am afraid that this will shake the military morale that I have finally gathered together. That is why I am speechless when the words come to my mouth.

On the other hand, today's Cristiano Ronaldo seems to many people to be a bit independent in handling the ball. Li Zhao has even heard rumors about him from outside, but in the final analysis, his majesty in the team has reached

A new height and his strong desire to win. However, Li Zhao can clearly feel that this is not how he treats himself. At least that sincerity cannot be deceived, and the real Ronaldo is by no means what the outside world says.

That way.

Fortunately, although his thoughts fell into chaos for a short time, Li Zhao was able to clear his mind in a very short time and quickly adjusted his state. Then he responded: "Let's talk about the future in the future! I feel that right now

The most important thing is to play well in the next game, and this is also the biggest challenge for us since the start of the World Cup. If we are lucky enough to win, we will not be able to further challenge for the championship.

"

"Indeed! No matter what happens to us in the future, even if we become rivals in the future, at least we have the same goal at this moment, and that's enough. So you have to cherish the opportunities on the court and give full play to your strengths.

Okay, but you shouldn’t have too many worries in your heart. Having said that, although I am also eager to get the top scorer award, I don’t want it to be because you deliberately gave it to me.” Ronaldo seemed to have already seen it.

He said something, but he did not criticize it, but agreed with it quite solemnly.

"Okay, I understand what to do." Li Zhao finally figured it out at this moment. While completely letting go of the burden in his heart, he also strengthened his belief. No matter how he and Ronaldo will develop in the future, at least they are now

You should abandon all distracting thoughts and go all out. Then he further admonished: "Cristiano, but I still hope that your intentions will not only be on me and some of the team members you trust, but also on other team members."

We should work hard to maintain the relationship with each other. Only in this way can the cohesion and combat effectiveness of our team be at its best."

"Okay! I understand all this, and I will pay more attention to it in the future." Ronaldo did not expect that the situation where he was supposed to be persuading the other party would eventually turn into being persuaded by the other party, and then he smiled helplessly in agreement.

Li Zhao’s statement.

Although this conversation may not change the two people's personalities and their respective plans, it still had a very good effect. At least the atmosphere and cohesion of the whole team reached an unprecedented new height in a short period of time, and this also made

I feel that Santos, who had not put much effort into this matter before, is a little confused, but he is still a little surprised by this but at the same time he is very pleased.

When the time came to July 6, the Portuguese team members were already ready for the first game of the quarter-finals. Everyone was full of fighting spirit. Although the outside world was generally more optimistic about this game.

On the side of the French team, there are also a lot of fans supporting the Portuguese team, and their fan loyalty is much more reliable than that of the other side. At the moment, the clock at Lokomotiv Novgorod Stadium is quietly

Pointing to 17 o'clock, the first game of the World Cup quarter-finals, which has attracted everyone's attention, finally officially started.

The starting lineup of the Portuguese team is goalkeeper: Patricio; defenders: Rafael Guerrero, Jose Fonte, Pepe, Cedric Suarez; midfielder: Bruno Fernandez, William

Carvalho, Li Zhao, Bernardo Silva; forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo Lee. Although the Portuguese team still uses its usual 442 formation, both Li Zhao brothers were able to return to the starting lineup.

The list is the biggest change in this battle.

The French team on the other side changed the formation to 4231. Its starting lineup is goalkeeper: Lloris; defenders: Pavard Benjamin, Varane, Umtiti, Lucas Hernandez; midfielder

Department: Pogba, Kante; Front of midfield: Mbappe, Griezmann, Tolisso; Single forward: Giroud.

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PS: There was an error in writing the starting lineup in Chapter 39 of this previous volume. The jersey numbers of Li Zhao’s cousin Leonard and B Fei conflicted and became two numbers 16, and Li Zhao’s jersey was also wrong. World Cup

Each team has a maximum of 23 people, so the maximum number is 23, so the number 24 seems a bit abrupt. I didn't notice this detail at the time, but the published chapters cannot be changed, so in order not to cause conflicts in the future,
Chapter completed!