Historical Breakthrough

The National Team had chosen to train in Kunming for an important reason: South Africa, the host country of this Confederations Cup, was also located at a high altitude. Arriving in Kunming ahead of time to train and adapt to the altitude was itself a preparation strategy.

After completing their final closed training camp in Kunming, the National Team flew to Johannesburg, the capital of South Africa, on the eleventh. China Team's opening match—the opening game of the Confederations Cup—was scheduled for 8:00 p.m. Beijing time on the fourteenth at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg.

Arie Haan's training squad had called up thirty-one players, but only twenty-three of them could actually obtain tickets to South Africa. Eight players missed out on this Confederations Cup trip, most of them young players who played domestically.

When China Team arrived at Johannesburg International Airport, the Confederations Cup organizers were not the only ones there to receive them. Enthusiastic South African fans, as well as Chinese people and overseas Chinese working in South Africa, had also come to greet them.

The atmosphere grew especially heated when they saw Yang Yang appear with a shoulder bag on his back and a beaming smile.

More than a hundred fans at the scene shouted his name. There were also media reporters from all over the world, all of whom had come chasing after Yang Yang. They were filled with anticipation for the Confederations Cup appearance of the number one figure in world football.

Seeing the frenzied fans and media reporters at the scene, the National Team players once again deeply felt Yang Yang's influence in international football. Even South Africa had so many fans specially coming to receive him, which showed just how famous he was there.

Unfortunately, after the long flight and his initial arrival in