Chapter Summaries

The National Football Team beat Iraq 4–1 after Gao Lin completed a hat-trick and Lin Feng was injured during a counterattack. Singapore also defeated Palestine, allowing Singapore to overtake Iraq and claim Group E’s other qualifying spot.

• Iraq launched an all-out attack, but Feng Xiaoting tightly marked Younis and limited his chances.
• In the 81st minute, an Iraqi defender pulled down Gao Lin during a breakaway and received a red card; Gao Lin then asked his teammates to help him complete a hat-trick.
• Lin Feng broke through in the 87th minute, and the Iraqi goalkeeper fouled him, earning a red card and conceding a penalty.
• Lin Feng left the field with a minor ankle contusion, and Gao Lin converted the penalty to complete his third goal.
• The National Football Team defeated Iraq 4–1, and Singapore’s 2–1 win over Palestine secured Singapore the other qualifying place in Group E.

The Asian Cup draw placed the National Football Team in Group C with Iran and Uzbekistan, creating a group of death. Meanwhile, Lin Feng’s injury troubled Inter Milan, but the club beat Reggina and then took an early lead against Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League.

• West Asian media blamed the Chinese team and Singapore for Iraq’s elimination, while Chinese fans argued that Iraq had squandered its own chances.
• The AFC drew the Asian Cup groups, placing the National Football Team with Iran and Uzbekistan in Group C.
• Inter Milan’s doctors diagnosed Lin Feng with a soft-tissue contusion that required one to two weeks of rest, ruling him out of key matches.
• Inter Milan struggled against bottom-placed Reggina until Torres scored from Figo’s cross to secure a narrow win.
• Bayern Munich surrendered a two-goal lead against Spartak Moscow, leaving Sporting Lisbon needing a win over Inter to improve its qualification chances.
• Cruz scored from Figo’s pass in the fifth minute as Inter took the lead against Sporting Lisbon.

Inter Milan defeated Sporting Lisbon 3:0 despite Lin Feng's absence, securing first place in their group with one round remaining. Sporting Lisbon were eliminated from Champions League contention but could still qualify for the Europa League.

• Figo set up Cruz's opening goal in the fifth minute, giving Inter Milan a 1:0 lead at halftime.
• Maicon and Figo combined to create Torres's goal two minutes into the second half, extending Inter Milan's lead to 2:0.
• Sporting Lisbon's Caneira suffered a serious head injury, while substitute Abel strained a leg muscle and had to be replaced.
• Crespo scored in the 83rd minute, and Inter Milan finished with a 3:0 victory and thirteen points.
• Inter Milan secured first place in the group, while Sporting Lisbon were eliminated from Champions League contention with one round left.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Inter Milan secures top spot in the Champions League group after beating Sporting Lisbon.
• Mancini plans to field a reserve team in the Italian Cup round of 16 second leg against Messina.
• Inter Milan faces Palermo, the second-placed team in Serie A, away from home.
• Inter Milan scores first but concedes a late goal in the first half, ending the match 1-1.
• In the second half, Inter Milan scores again and holds on to win 2-1, maintaining their unbeaten streak and extending it to eight matches.

Character Developments

• Mancini remains cautious and focused on the team's performance despite their winning streak.
• Inter Milan players show resilience and determination, even when playing with an incomplete lineup.
• Barzagli and Grosso, former Palermo players, play well against their former club.

Significant Themes

• Momentum and confidence gained from a winning streak.
• The impact of injuries and suspensions on team performance.
• The resilience and determination of a team facing adversity.

Character Interactions

• Mancini scolds his players after they concede a late goal in the first half.
• Inter Milan players show unity and determination in the face of adversity.
• AC Milan fans express their desire to challenge Inter Milan's dominance in the league.

After returning from injury, Lin Feng came off the bench to provide two assists in Inter Milan's 4–0 win, while AS Roma struggled to keep pace. Mancini took Lin Feng to face Bayern Munich, whose full-strength lineup left Inter Milan under pressure from the start.

• Mancini brought Lin Feng on in the 68th minute against Robusena, and Lin Feng soon showed he had recovered his sharpness.
• Lin Feng assisted Cruz and Crespo as Inter Milan won 4–0 for their seventh straight league victory.
• AS Roma beat Atalanta 2–1 but remained four points behind Inter Milan, with a Champions League decider and the Rome derby ahead.
• Mancini chose to include Lin Feng and several regular starters in Inter Milan's trip to face Bayern Munich despite their early group qualification.
• Magath, under pressure amid rumors that Bayern were pursuing Hitzfeld, fielded his strongest lineup, and Bayern attacked aggressively from kickoff.

Bayern Munich and Inter Milan traded chances in a fast, tightly defended match, with both teams hitting the woodwork before halftime. Bayern broke the deadlock in the second half when Makaay scored in the 62nd minute, leaving Inter trailing 1–0.

• Lúcio and Samuel led strong defensive performances as both sides created chances during a goalless first half.
• Schweinsteiger hit the post for Bayern, and Vieira struck the crossbar for Inter before halftime ended 0–0.
• Inter pressed aggressively after the break, but Kahn tipped Samuel’s close-range header over the bar.
• Bayern protested several refereeing decisions as the home crowd booed, while the referee booked Van Bommel for a foul on Vieira.
• Salihamidžić sent a diagonal pass to Makaay, who volleyed past Cesar in the 62nd minute to put Bayern ahead 1–0.

Lin Feng equalized for Inter Milan against Bayern Munich, but Schweinsteiger restored Bayern’s lead from a penalty after Deisler was sent off. In stoppage time, Vieira scored from Kahn’s save to make it 2–2.

• In the 77th minute, Cesar and Zanetti launched a quick counterattack, Cruz flicked the ball on, and Lin Feng beat Lúcio and Van Bommel before scoring past Kahn to equalize.
• After Lin Feng’s goal, Kahn wondered whether his declining form meant he should retire, while Magath brought on Demichelis, Deisler, and Santa Cruz to increase Bayern’s pressure.
• In the 82nd minute, Deisler shoved Grosso after falling in the penalty area, and the referee sent Deisler off and awarded Bayern a penalty.
• Bastian Schweinsteiger converted the penalty to put Bayern ahead 2–1, prompting Mancini to replace Grosso and Figo with Solari and Recoba.
• In the third minute of stoppage time, Recoba set up Cruz, Kahn saved Cruz’s shot, and Vieira scored the rebound to level the match 2–2.

Bayern and Inter drew 2-2, while Barcelona beat Werder Bremen 2-0 to advance from Group A and eliminate Chen Tao’s side. With the group stage over and several strong teams finishing second, attention turned to the Round of 16 draw in Nyon.

• Bayern twice took the lead against Inter, but Inter fought back to secure a 2-2 draw.
• Barcelona attacked aggressively against Werder Bremen, scoring through Ronaldinho and Eidur Gudjohnsen to lead 2-0 at halftime.
• Werder Bremen created several second-half chances, but Klose and his teammates failed to score, and Barcelona held on to win 2-0.
• Rijkaard brought Feng Xiaoting on for Motta and moved Max Alvasrei into midfield, leaving Thuram frustrated at being overlooked.
• Barcelona finished ahead of Werder Bremen and advanced as group runners-up, while Chen Tao and his teammates were eliminated.
• UEFA held the Champions League Round of 16 draw in Nyon after a group stage in which many strong teams had finished second.

Inter Milan drew Real Madrid in the Champions League Round of 16, and Mancini began preparing intensively for the tie as the team extended its Serie A winning streak. Lin Feng earned a place in UEFA's Best XI and rose into contention for the Ballon d'Or top five, while Messi won the Golden Boy Award.

• At the Champions League draw, Inter Milan were paired with Real Madrid, while Porto drew Bayern Munich.
• After returning from Switzerland, Mancini shut himself in his office to study opponents' footage and left daily training to his assistants.
• Inter Milan beat their opponents 3–0 away and Messina 3–0 at home, extending their league winning streak to nine matches as Lin Feng scored and assisted in the first match.
• Lin Feng was selected for UEFA's Best XI of the Year, and fans debated whether he would finish fourth or fifth in the Ballon d'Or rankings.
• Messi won the 2006 Golden Boy Award, but he was not particularly happy with the victory.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Italy's Cannavaro wins the 2006 Ballon d'Or, becoming the first defender to do so.
• Lin Feng ranks fifth in the Ballon d'Or, the first Chinese player to enter the top five.
• Lin Feng and Kaka engage in a goal-scoring competition in Serie A.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng maintains a confident mindset despite the pressure of high expectations.
• Kaka feels frustrated and plays aggressively due to not making the Ballon d'Or top ten.
• Adebayor shows improvement in form and attitude at AS Roma.

Significant Themes

• The impact of high expectations and pressure on players (Bojan, Lin Feng).
• The competition and rivalry between Lin Feng and Kaka.
• The importance of a balanced approach to work and rest, as seen in the varying winter break lengths across leagues.

Character Interactions

• Lin Feng and Kaka engage in a friendly rivalry, pushing each other to better performances.
• Lin Feng and Adebayor, though no longer teammates, still interact through their performances and positions on the scoring chart.
• Fans and media outlets enjoy the competition between Lin Feng and Kaka, fueling excitement and anticipation for future matches.

Inter Milan beat Atalanta 3–1 to record their eleventh consecutive league win, then Lin Feng returned to Germany for Christmas. The Olympic team was established with Klopp as head coach, but the Football Association’s demanding overseas training plan left Klopp and Lin Feng uncertain about how overseas club players could take part.

• Lin Feng and Torres scored in the first half, and substitute Figo added a late goal as Inter Milan defeated Atalanta 3–1 and matched their Serie A winning-streak record.
• Mancini warned Inter Milan’s players to stay fit and disciplined during their Christmas break before the squad dispersed.
• Lin Feng flew back to Germany, where he learned that Klopp had been appointed head coach of China’s newly established Olympic team.
• The Football Association announced a fifty-day training camp in France and the United Kingdom, followed by the Toulon Tournament and the South Africa Eight-Nation Tournament, despite Klopp’s objections to the plan.
• Klopp called key players to discuss their availability, and Lin Feng worried that joining the camp would disrupt his Inter Milan season and risk exhaustion or injury.

Lin Feng joined the Olympic team’s European training camp in Marseille, where he learned he would have to leave early for a club match. As he met the squad, his teammates’ admiration made him realize his fame could help unite the team.

• The Olympic team arrived in Marseille after a long journey, while Lin Feng traveled there directly from Munich and arrived well rested.
• Lin Feng learned that his teammates would stay through January 25, but he had to leave by January 10 for his club’s match on January 14.
• Lin Feng trained with the large Olympic squad and considered the strengths and weaknesses of its goalkeepers, defense, midfield, and forwards.
• Lin Feng’s recommendation helped bring Yu Dabao to Klopp’s attention, though Yu Dabao could not join because he was trying out at Benfica.
• The young players asked Lin Feng for autographs and photos, and he considered how having his fans on the team might strengthen its unity.

The Olympic team won its first two warm-up matches in France, then prepared to face Ligue 1 powerhouse Olympique de Marseille. Lin Feng left Inter Milan after a league match to rejoin the team, and Klopp began preparing him and the squad for the crucial test.

• The Olympic team beat Montpellier 2–0 as Wang Dalei made six important saves and Chen Tao controlled the midfield.
• The Olympic team came from behind to defeat Nice 2–1 through goals from Hao Junmin and Zhu Ting.
• Fans debated whether Lin Feng should return for the Olympique de Marseille match, while Lin Feng chose to travel to France after Inter Milan’s win over Turin.
• Reporters found Lin Feng training with the Olympic team on January 15, and Klopp assigned him light recovery work before the January 18 match.
• Klopp studied Olympique de Marseille’s tactics and planned targeted preparations as Chinese fans bought tickets to watch the game.

The Olympic team faced Olympique de Marseille in a friendly at the Stade Vélodrome, where Marseille’s strong lineup and the French media’s praise of Nasri set up a comparison with Lin Feng. Marseille controlled the opening, but Cui Peng, Feng Xiaoting, and Zhao Xuri stopped Ribery and launched a counterattack, leaving head coach Emon surprised by the Olympic team.

• Chinese and French media compared Nasri and Lin Feng, while domestic fans worried that Marseille had the advantage in nearly every position except attacking midfielder.
• On January 18, the Olympic team played Olympique de Marseille before around fifteen thousand spectators at the Stade Vélodrome, and Gao Lin said he was excited by the crowd and wanted more playing time.
• Klopp chose Cui Peng over Zhou Haibin to strengthen the Olympic team’s defense, and both sides announced their starting lineups.
• Marseille took control after kickoff, and Ribery beat Yuan Weiwei before sending a dangerous shot toward goal in the first minute.
• In the seventh minute, Cui Peng pressured Ribery, Feng Xiaoting joined the challenge, and Zhao Xuri intercepted Ribery’s pass before Feng Xiaoting switched play to Lin Feng.
• An opponent fouled Lin Feng as he began a counterattack, and Emon realized the Olympic team was stronger than he had expected.

The Olympic team frustrated Olympique de Marseille with disciplined defending, while Cissé’s fear of another injury led him to squander chances and get substituted. Maoulida nearly created a goal before halftime, leaving the match scoreless at the break.

• Lin Feng’s set-piece found Dong Fangzhuo, whose header forced Cazorla to tip the ball over the crossbar.
• Klopp’s Olympic team pressed and defended in coordinated layers, keeping Olympique de Marseille from scoring despite having little possession.
• Coach Emon changed Marseille’s approach and tried to use Cissé’s speed to attack behind the defense.
• Cissé hesitated to challenge Feng Xiaoting, then squandered another opening by repeatedly looking behind him as he carried the ball.
• Cissé gave away possession with a poor pass, prompting Emon to substitute him for Maoulida in the 41st minute.
• Maoulida nearly scored from Nasri’s through ball, but the referee ended the first half with the score still 0:0.

Olympique de Marseille intensified its attacks, but Wang Dalei kept the Olympic team in the match with a series of saves. In the 67th minute, Lin Feng dropped back to receive the ball as Marseille’s counterpress left its backfield exposed, creating the Olympic team’s long-awaited counterattacking chance.

• Olympique de Marseille changed its attack after halftime, with Ribery crossing from the byline and Nasri sending through balls through the middle.
• Klopp brought on Zhao Ming for Dong Fangzhuo in the 52nd minute to strengthen the Olympic team's defense with a five-man back line.
• Olympique de Marseille began attacking through the middle after its wing attacks were contained, and the tiring Olympic team made several defensive mistakes.
• Wang Dalei stopped Marseille’s shots and rallied the defense, drawing interest from European scouts watching the match.
• Lin Feng dropped back to receive the ball in the 67th minute as Marseille’s players pressed high and left their backfield exposed.

Lin Feng dribbled past five Olympique de Marseille players and scored to give the Olympic team a 1:0 lead. Klopp used his remaining substitutions to shore up the defense, and the Olympic team held on to upset Olympique de Marseille and claim their third consecutive victory on their training tour of France.

• As the Olympic team's players tired, Lin Feng received a pass and used his conserved stamina to launch a counterattack.
• Lin Feng beat Ribery, Oruma, Shubal, and Beye as he dribbled through Olympique de Marseille's defense.
• Lin Feng scored a low shot past the goalkeeper, putting the Olympic team ahead 1:0 and celebrating by the sideline.
• Ribery and Nasri reflected on their futures, with Ribery considering Bayern Munich's offer and Nasri drawing interest from Wenger.
• Klopp brought on his remaining substitutes to reinforce the defense and disrupt Olympique de Marseille's attack.
• The Olympic team held its lead until the final whistle and defeated Olympique de Marseille for its third straight win in France.

After the Olympic team beat Olympique de Marseille, Klopp faced questions about a possible match against Chelsea, while Lin Feng returned to Inter Milan and scored off the bench against Fiorentina. The Olympic team’s United Kingdom training camp was set to end with a first-team Chelsea friendly that drew intense attention.

• News spread across China that the Olympic team had beaten Olympique de Marseille 1–0, with Lin Feng scoring the winner.
• Klopp cautioned that the victory did not prove the Olympic team could repeat the result and avoided predicting the outcome against Chelsea.
• Klopp learned that Chelsea had changed the planned friendly from its youth team to its first team, and he scheduled the match as the final game of the Olympic team’s United Kingdom training camp.
• Lin Feng flew back to Milan after the Marseille match to prepare for Inter Milan’s game against Fiorentina.
• Inter Milan beat Fiorentina 3–1, with Torres and Materazzi scoring before Lin Feng came off the bench to score in the 85th minute.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Real Madrid makes significant signings: Higuain, Marcelo, and Gago.
• Manchester United tries to sign Hargreaves from Bayern Munich.
• Chelsea struggles with poor performances from Shevchenko and Ballack.
• Beckham's potential transfer becomes a major topic.

Character Developments

• Real Madrid's new president Calderón aims to distance the club from Florentino's era by signing young players.
• Mourinho's relationship with Abramovich deteriorates due to disagreements over transfers.
• Beckham faces uncertainty about his future at Real Madrid.

Significant Themes

• The impact of large-scale transfers on team dynamics and performance.
• The tension between club management and coaches regarding transfer decisions.
• The role of aging squads and the need for rebuilding.

Character Interactions

• Capello's dislike for Beckham leads to his benching at Real Madrid.
• Mourinho's dissatisfaction with Abramovich's transfer choices causes friction between them.
• Rumors circulate about Beckham's potential transfer to Inter Milan, causing confusion within the club.

Figo considered leaving Inter Milan for Al-Ittihad after receiving a lucrative offer, but Lin Feng persuaded him to reconsider, and Figo revealed he had only signed a letter of intent. The chapter ended with Inter Milan unexpectedly announcing Beckham’s arrival for eight million euros.

• Figo accepted Al-Ittihad’s offer of a nine-million-euro annual salary, and Inter Milan responded by offering him a two-year extension worth 4.5 million euros per year.
• After Figo was left out of Inter Milan’s squad for a 2–0 win over Sampdoria, Lin Feng worried that the dispute could hurt the team ahead of the Champions League.
• Figo asked Lin Feng whether he should go to Saudi Arabia, and Lin Feng highlighted the challenges of adapting to its football, culture, climate, and food.
• Figo admitted Al-Ittihad had refused his request for a 70 percent salary advance, so he had signed only a letter of intent rather than a formal contract.
• Inter Milan announced that Beckham would join the club for a transfer fee of eight million euros.