Quarterfinal Opponent: Switzerland

The Japan Team actually beat the France Team in the U-17 World Cup!

This explosive news spread throughout the entire tennis world in an instant.

On his way back to his hotel, the Switzerland Team's captain gently patted Amadeus on the shoulder.

"Amadeus, the Japan Team will be your greatest enemy in the future!"

After witnessing the endless stream of geniuses on the Japan Team and Byōdōin's willpower, the captain of the Switzerland Team gave Byōdōin and the entire Japan extremely high praise.

"Don't worry, Captain, I will definitely kill his tennis ball! Not only him, but also that brat from the Path of Darkness!"

Upon hearing the captain's praise of the other teams, Amadeus's gaze darkened, becoming as still as a deep pool.

Alexander Amadeus, a rising star of the Switzerland Team, is known as the assassin on the field.

He wouldn't back down because of a strong opponent; hunting down such opponents was what he enjoyed most.

While the Japan Team's medical staff struggled to remove Byōdōin's coat in preparation for re-bandaging him.

Everyone noticed that the clothes inside the Byōdōin were stained crimson with blood.

Tick-tock!

Tick-tock!

As the scissors cut away her clothes, blood dripped down Byōdōin's body, seemingly touching her wounds. The intense pain jolted Byōdōin awake.

"Boss! Are you alright?"

Tōno Atsukyō saw that Byōdōin had woken up, he exclaimed in surprise.

The others did the same, surrounding Byōdōin in the middle.

"It's nothing... hiss~!"

Byōdōin struggled to get off the hospital bed, but the movement aggravated the wound on his back, causing him to gasp.

"Byōdōin- senpai, you'd better stop showing off and just lie there quietly!"

Muneyoshi glanced at Byōdōin, and seeing that the other man was about to get up, he pressed him back down.

"No need... I'm not that fragile!"

Byōdōin tried to put up a fight, but Mifune Nyudo walked in at that moment.

"You bastard! Byōdōin, what are you showing off for? Take him to the hospital!"

Mifune Nyudo a loud roar.

Seeing Mifune Nyudo's anger, even Byōdōin dared not provoke him and could only obediently lie down, waiting to be sent to the hospital.

However, judging from the current situation, Byōdōin will not be able to play in the next match.

Two days later, the group stage concluded.

Apart from the Japan Team's upset victory over the BIG4 France, the other three teams all advanced smoothly to the quarterfinals.

As for other upsets, America, ranked seventh, eliminated England, ranked sixth, which gave Keith and Lin Xiu a little shock.

The top eight contestants have been determined.

Germany, Switzerland, Spain, America, Argentina, Belgium, Japan, Greece.

Of course, there's also France, who can have another match due to the organizers' arrangements.

However, due to the group avoidance mechanism, France will no longer compete against Japan. As for who they will compete against, that will depend on the draw.

In the evening, Tanegashima Shūji and Irie Kanata, who were in charge of the quarterfinals draw, returned to the hotel. Everyone surrounded them, and even Byōdōin, whose body had just been bandaged, insisted on returning to the hotel.

I just want to know who the Japan Team will face in the quarterfinals.

As soon as the two returned to the hotel's rest floor belonging to the Japan, they saw three coaches waiting at the elevator door.

"Head Coach, Tanegashima and Irie are back. Our quarterfinal opponent has been decided."

As Kurobe finished speaking, everyone in the conference room looked eager to learn. Tōno Atsukyō asked impatiently, "Who is our opponent?"

"World number two, Switzerland Team..."

After Kurobe finished speaking, the entire conference room was so quiet you could almost hear a pin drop.

They just finished beating the world's third-ranked player, and now they're here to beat the world's second-ranked

Do you really think this is like leveling up in a video game?

The current Japan Team is not like when they first arrived in Paris, where they only needed Mifune Nyudo them into a frenzied charge.

After three rounds of elimination matches, many people have realized their own level of ability.

Especially the third graders, although they played most of the first round matches, it India India, and they didn't win easily.

The later matches were even worse; apart from Dōmoto Shingo and Natsume Ryūichi, who could still keep up, everyone else started to fall behind.

The majority of them are first graders.

Moreover, in the match against France, their strongest doubles pair lost, their second strongest player, Oni Jūjirō, also lost, and Byōdōin Hōō was injured.

With their strength greatly diminished, they have very little chance of winning against the stronger Switzerland Team.

Muneyoshi was certainly well aware of this.

Such an opponent sent chills down everyone's spine; Oni Jūjirō's brows were so furrowed they could practically trap a fly.

At this moment, Mifune Nyudo stood up, gulped down two mouthfuls of sake, glanced at the Japan Team, and then said in a deep voice:

"Reaching the quarterfinals is an achievement we 'Japan never had before. Every step from here on out is about making history. The Switzerland Team is nothing to be afraid of."

Mifune Nyudo's tone became increasingly impassioned. "We've already defeated the France Team, so we're not afraid to beat the Switzerland Team too. Your names are already etched in the history of Japan tennis!"

"So, let's continue writing new history. Do you have the confidence?"

"Have!"

All the team members were excited. Yes, they had already made history, so what was there to be afraid of?

"Very good, now I will announce the list of participants for the quarterfinals."

"Double Team 2, Dōmoto Shingo, Natsume Ryūichi."

"Yes, Head Coach!"

Upon hearing the arrangement, the two men from the Domoto family beamed with joy and quickly agreed.

"Double team, Tanegashima Shūji, Ōmagari Ryūji."

"Singles, third place, Saeki Muneyoshi."

"Single-handed, two, Irie Kanata."

"Singles 1, Oni Jūjirō."

"Substitute, Kiriya, that's all. Go and get ready!"

"Yes!"

Regardless of whether they were scheduled to play in the quarterfinals, everyone was fully prepared. After returning to the rest room, they washed up and prepared to go to sleep, so as to be well-rested for the upcoming matches.

Meanwhile, in the Switzerland Team's meeting room on another floor, all the players had gathered.

Compared to the somber atmosphere of the Japan Team earlier, the atmosphere among them was much more relaxed. Although they were taking the Japan seriously, they were still relatively at ease.

The team members chatted and laughed about their upcoming opponents.

"Unexpectedly, the Japan Team, which has been dormant for so many years, has risen again this year and even defeated France."

Amadeus couldn't help but sigh, after all, the Switzerland Team hadn't paid much attention to the Japan Team at first.

However, after watching the group stage match against France, the Switzerland Team realized that Japan Team's advancement to the World Cup quarterfinals was not due to luck, but rather to their hard work and performance.

"Amadeus, who is the Japan player you most want to face in the next match?"

Upon hearing Amadeus's exclamation, Switzerland Team's current star player, professional athlete Eddie Youssoff, couldn't help but smile and ask him a question.

"Oh, that's not a good choice. I really want to fight that First Day of the New Year junior high student, Saeki Muneyoshi, to prove my own abilities. But I also want to defeat their captain Byōdōin Hōō."

Amadeus answered decisively that although the Japan Team had many good players, such as Oni Jūjirō, he was most interested in Saeki Muneyoshi and Byōdōin Hōō.

Saeki Muneyoshi's strength stemmed from the same Path of Darkness, Byōdōin Hōō represented absolute power.

Eddie Yusof smiled slightly after hearing Amadeus's words and said:

"Your choice is indeed good. Saeki Muneyoshi doesn't pose much of a threat to you, but you can complement his hidden strengths and further enhance your power."

"As for Byōdōin Hōō, he will indeed be a formidable opponent for you. However, his injury should have forced him to withdraw from this year's World Tournament, so you will likely encounter him again in the future."

"Don't worry, Captain. If we meet, I will do my best to defeat him, but it all depends on the coach's arrangements."

Amadeus nodded, his words brimming with confidence as a rising assassin.

Just as they were discussing this, Switzerland Team coach Jean Onokijha came up to them with a list in hand.

As an octogenarian coach, he is highly respected by everyone on the Switzerland Team.

The previously listless Switzerland Team were now sitting upright, knowing that the head coach was about to announce the starting lineup.

Facing the gazes of the crowd, the Switzerland head coach smiled and announced, "Next, I will announce the starting lineup for the match against Japan Team."

"Double 2, Carl Kushpan, Carl Angelo..."

As he announced the names of the two doubles players, the Switzerland head coach looked at them and smiled as he spoke:

"Carl, as the vice-captain, you must help our Switzerland Team score the first goal in the match against Japan Team."

"Yes!"

The two answered with confidence, which reflected their confidence in their own abilities, especially Carl Angelo, who, as the vice-captain of the Switzerland Team, could turn professional at any time.

"Double pairing 1, Marco Schwegler, Peter Lambert..."

"Marco, as an older man, you can help Pete grow up quickly. We'll be counting on him in two years."

The Switzerland head coach glanced at the two and couldn't help but give them a slight, joking look.

Developing new talent is something every team needs to do. The Switzerland Team doesn't lack talent; what they lack is growth potential.

"Singles three, Amadeus."

"Singles 2, Kuralaga Tasta, if the match comes to you, don't hold back and take him down!"

"Singles 1, first up, captain Eddie Yusoff."

"Everyone, get some rest today, and don't get an upset stomach. Meeting adjourned..."

Coach Qin made a final joke and left the meeting room.

The Switzerland Team's formidable strength was on full display at this moment; whether it was their star player or Marco and Carl Angelo, they were all world-renowned athletes.

Placing the main general in Singles 1 is merely for show; it's just a backup plan.

Throughout the entire process, the Switzerland head coach never uttered a single word about the Japan Team's strategy.

This is complete trust in one's teammates.

P. S.: "Requesting monthly votes"