For three consecutive years, the Chinese team monopolized the World Table Tennis Championships.

During this period, table tennis in various countries has also been improving, especially the Japanese team, which has begun to learn the Chinese team's playing style. However, how can the progress of various countries be comparable to the inventory in Chen Qiang's mind? Just revealing a little bit in the cracks of Chen Qiang's fingernails can make the Chinese table tennis team lead the world for five years.

Table tennis in China has also been completely popularized. Under the national system formed by the whole nation playing table tennis, a large number of young table tennis talents have gradually emerged. Several of them are something that Chen Qiang had never heard of, but they have very good strength and potential. In the original history, these outstanding athletes did not have the opportunity to come into contact with table tennis, which buried their talents. However, in this time and space, they had the opportunity to come into contact with table tennis earlier and also showed their talent.

In three years, China's table tennis has already started to be on track. The younger generation of athletes led by Rong Guotuan have also grown up and can lead Chinese table tennis to continue to move forward. Chen Qiang feels that his task has been completed, and China's table tennis will develop step by step in the future, and there is no need for Chen Qiang to worry about it.

At this time, Chen Qiang turned his attention to football and the World Cup qualifiers were about to begin.

The head coach of the Chinese football team is Li Huitang, the king of football. He has led this team for more than four years. Over the past four years, the Chinese football team has experienced many ups and downs from scratch. Fortunately, the country's investment in funds has been tilted, so the development of the Chinese football team is still very rapid.

In the past few years, Li Huitang has also led the Chinese football team to study in some countries in Eastern Europe and played friendly matches with some Asian countries. The young Chinese football team is not working behind closed doors, but has some international experience.

...

Chen Qiang and Li Huitang walked side by side on the court.

"When our football team was first established, we went to Hungary to study. If we didn't learn, we wouldn't know. Once we learned, we were shocked. Our football was already too far behind. The waiters in Hungary hotels were better than our players. So after I came back, I learned from my mistakes and focused on improving the players' technical level and practicing basic skills. I have achieved some results in the past few years." Li Huitang introduced.

"Then what level of our players' skills are in Asia?" Chen Qiang asked.

"It's too middle-aged! I don't know if I can beat Japan and the Philippines, but compared with Nanyang, I shouldn't be weaker than them." Li Huitang said.

Chen Qiang nodded with satisfaction. In 1957, the Chinese football team in history could not compare with Southeast Asian countries, and even Myanmar could not win. They could completely compete with the national football team in 2019. However, in this time and space, Chinese football has made more investment, and with Li Huitang, the king of football as a coach, his strength is naturally not comparable.

"Look, that is our main goalkeeper Huang Zhaowen, these are our main defenders Chen Fulai, Gao Yunshi, Jiang Jiexiang, midfielder Zhang Jingtian, Wang Ruiwen, forward Ha Zengguang, Nian Weisi, Zhang Honggen, Sun Fucheng, Wang Lu..." Li Huitang introduced his players to Chen Qiang.

"Three backcourts, two midfielders, and five forwards, they are indeed 3-2-5 formations!" Chen Qiang sighed in his heart.

Based on the future understanding of football, the five forwards were simply funny, but from the 30s to the 1950s, the five forwards were the standard equipment for football.

"Our staffing needs to be changed." Chen Qiang said to Li Huitang directly.

"How to change? Should I change it to 2-3-5? In the 1930s, the 2-3-5 formation was indeed quite popular. Italy also won two World Cup championships with the 2-3-5 formation. However, in recent years, the trend of international football has paid more attention to defense, so I adjusted a midfielder to the backcourt position." Li Huitang explained.

"No, we won't change to the 2-3-5 formation, we will change to the 4-4-2 formation." Chen Qiang said.

"That's to adjust a striker to the midfield..." Li Huitang frowned and thought.

"I'm talking about 4-4-2, not 2-4-4." Chen Qiang said helplessly.

Li Huitang then realized that he showed a surprised expression: "You mean four backcourts, four midfielders, only two forwards?"

"I think there are too many two forwards. A serious forward is enough. The remaining one is with the frontcourt." Chen Qiang explained.

"What should I do when the attack is done? Two people can't attack at all!" Li Huitang said.

"What are the vanguards doing for? When attacking, the vanguards can go together!" Chen Qiang paused and continued: "Old Li, you are the offensive master. If you think about it carefully, do you really need to use all five forwards to score a goal?"

"Well..." Li Huitang lowered his head and thought. As a generation of football king, he certainly knew that there was no need for five forwards to score a goal. Li Huitang could dribble the ball and pass a few people and complete the shot. If Li Huitang completed the attack alone, the other four forwards would become a decoration.

After thinking for a long time, Li Huitang said, "I probably understand your idea, but even as you said, we really used the 4-4-2 formation, and there was no appropriate tactical system."

"Of course there is a tactical system, it's here." Chen Qiang pointed to his head, and then continued: "Let's go to the conference room later, I'll explain to you the tactics under the 4-4-2 formation."

Next, it took Chen Qiang two days to introduce the tactical system of the 4-4-2 formation to Li Huitang.

This is just an introduction, not a detailed explanation. Chen Qiang didn't even give Li Huitang too many opportunities to ask questions, but even so, it took two days. This is impossible. There are too many tactics developed under the 4-4-2 formation system. It may not be possible to explain thoroughly if Chen Qiang takes a semester course. Thanks to Li Huitang, a football athlete, who has a great understanding of football, so Chen Qiang only took two days to introduce the 4-4-2 formation clearly.

After listening to the introduction, Li Huitang admired Chen Qiang and was promising. In Li Huitang's mind, the 4-4-2 formation has become a perfect formation with both offense and defense. The two also decided to work together, and the football technology matters were handed over to Li Huitang, while Chen Qiang was responsible for the tactical level.

...

In football, there are 11 people in a team. Except for the goalkeeper who cannot move, the positions of the other 10 people can be adjusted. How to reasonably arrange these 11 people on the court has become the number one issue in the development of football theory and has continued to this day.

When modern football first appeared, the tactical idea was to pursue offense one-sidedly. At that time, we used the 1-9 formation, which was a "swagger" style of kicking, which was completely a beginner's model. Later, we found that the "swagger" style of kicking was unreliable, so the football formation evolved into 2-2-6. From then on, football had defense and midfield organizational support.

With the development of football, people also realize the importance of organization. The first standard formation in football has also appeared, that is, the 2-3-5 formation, two defenders, three midfielders and five forwards. This is still a formation that is biased towards offense. The central frontier mainly participates in the offense. The two wing forwards will fight against the opponent's wingers in defense, and the remaining defensive tasks will be handed over to the defenders and goalkeepers.

Including the goalkeeper, this formation looks like a pyramid, so the 2-3-5 formation is also called the pyramid formation. At the 1930 World Cup, Uruguay and Argentina in South America used the pyramid formation and won the first and second place respectively. The Italians then improved the 2-3-5 formation and became the 2-3-2-3 formation, and won two consecutive World Cup championships in 1934 and 1938.

The World Cup was suspended during World War II, and the development of football also stagnated. After the end of World War II, each team still used the 2-3-5 formation, or other formations that evolved from the 2-3-5 formation.

Until the 1958 World Cup, Brazil's classic 4-2-4 formation brought by the Brazilian team strengthened its defense, and Brazil also won two consecutive World Cup championships. Of course, the super personal ability of the King of Football Pele also made Brazil dare to reduce one striker without worrying about insufficient offensive firepower.

With the development of football, a forward was withdrawn on the basis of the 4-2-4 formation, and a midfielder was added, and a 4-3-3 formation appeared. Football began to emphasize the midfield organization. From this period, the central avant-garde, as the organizer of the team's attack, became the soul center of the team. A large number of central avant-garde master-level figures were born in this era, such as Zico, Maradona, Platini, etc. This formation is still widely used even today.

The next one was the 4-4-2 formation. England lacked world-class wingers back then, so they could only pull one of the wingers into the midfield. This forced situation has made the most classic formation in football.

The 4-4-2 formation has a balanced offense and defense, rich and varied tactics, and can also become a formation of other people. Under the 4-4-2 formation, from personnel arrangement to division of responsibilities, each line and position can be complemented and protected. During attack, it can support and cooperate with each other.

...

There were 16 final places in the 1958 World Cup. In addition to the host and defending champions, there were three places in South America, one place in North America and the Caribbean, one place in Asia, and the rest were all places in Europe.

When the Chinese team participates in the 1958 World Cup, they must first pass the qualifiers and get the only place in Asia, and the first opponent in the qualifiers of the Chinese team is Indonesia.

In history, the Chinese team achieved a record of one win, one loss and one draw when facing Indonesia, but because the Chinese team lost one more away, they ultimately failed to advance.

In this time and space, the Chinese team is stronger and has more advanced formations and tactics, winning two consecutive games to easily advance to the second round of the qualifiers.

At this time something happened. FIFA allowed Israel to participate in the World Cup, which led to some countries with religious beliefs being excluded from the World Cup collectively. Therefore, only China and Israel remained in the Asian qualifiers of the World Cup.

Israel is not a football power. Israel in this era frequently participates in international competitions, more so as to gain international status. For Israel, as long as it can show its face internationally, it will be considered as completing the task.

Under the leadership of Chen Qiang and Li Huitang, the Chinese team eventually defeated Israel and won the only place in the Asian region of the World Cup.

Historically, Indonesia advanced to the qualifiers, and Indonesia also participated in the boycott of Israel, so Israel won without a fight and advanced to the World Cup final circle. However, FIFA still protected Europe. They found a reason to say that Israel's advancement was too simple, so they let Israel and Wales compete for the promotion place in the World Cup. As a result, Wales defeated Israel and won the ticket to the World Cup final circle.

Therefore, in the 1958 World Cup in history, no Asian teams participated.

...

The 1958 World Cup was held in Sweden. When it comes to this World Cup, many people will think of a name, "King of Football" Pele! It is also this World Cup that the Brazilian team, led by Pele, tasted the taste of the World Cup championship for the first time.

This is China's first time participating in the World Cup. For other teams, the Chinese team is mysterious. At the same time, the Chinese team is also regarded as the weakest among the sixteen teams. Football in Asia is already behind. The South Korean team had the opportunity to enter the World Cup finals before, but was hit by various blows and lost a lot. The largest score difference in World Cup history was 9-0, which was exported by the South Korean team. In the eyes of European and American countries, the Chinese team will also become cannon fodder.

Since you are cannon fodder, you must have the task of being cannon fodder, such as helping the host advance to the quarterfinals.

So, the Chinese team and Sweden were in the same group, with Hungary and Mexico.

Mexico's football is not strong in this era. European third-rate teams can defeat Mexico. As for Hungary, football strength can only be considered second-rate in Europe. Judging from this group, the Swedish team's team promotion should be sure to win.

In order to get a good start, the Swedish team must have the softest persimmons, so in terms of schedule, the Chinese team became the opponent of the Swedish team's first round of group stage.

...

"Four years ago, Hungary defeated South Korea 9-0, which is also the biggest score difference in World Cup history. Today we want to break this record and we want to beat China's double digits!" The head coach of the Swedish team raised two fingers with enthusiasm.

The head coach's words also inspired the players. They shouted happily, and the morale of the entire Swedish team was greatly boosted.

However, when the players stood on the field, the Swedes were confused.

"What kind of hell is this?" The head coach of the Swedish team said to himself.

In this era of five forwards, China's 4-4-2 formation is something that the Swedes could not understand at all.

It was not until the game lasted half an hour before the Swedish head coach realized that this "ghost formation" was really powerful in defense!

In half an hour, the Swedish team kept trying various attacks, but they were unable to break through the Chinese team's defense line. The defense of the four midfielders made the Swedish team unable to form an effective offensive organization. After finally being able to attack the Chinese team's backcourt, they could basically only rely on their personal abilities. Facing the four Chinese team's defenders to defend each other, the players of this era are really helpless except Pele.

The half-hour attack was not only ineffective, but also consumed a lot of Swedish team's physical fitness. As a result, in the forty minutes of the first half, the Chinese team suddenly attacked, and the central defender passed the winger, and then broke through the cross from the wing and shot. The cooperation of three Chinese players broke through the Swedish team's goal.

The defender has no advantage in speed when facing the forward. The defense of the two defenders is like paper-like in the face of this kind of attack. If you poke it a little, you will leak everywhere.

All the Swedish fans at home were stunned. They never thought that at the end of the half, it was the Swedish team that fell behind.

At the beginning of the second half, the Swedish team continued to attack again. Although the skills of Swedish players are much better than those of Chinese players, the tactical system is really several levels behind. Football is a team sport after all, and outstanding personal abilities does not mean that it can definitely bring victory to the team.

The Chinese team seized the opportunity and scored another goal with a defensive counterattack. The Chinese team, which led 2-0, directly played defensive tactics, leaving only one forward in the frontcourt, and the others shrank in the backcourt to defend until the game time was exhausted.

...

Tourists from other countries are talking about yesterday's competition in a café in a major international hotel in Sweden.

"The Swedes wanted to pinch a soft persimmon, but they didn't expect to grab it on the hedgehog!"

"This World Cup, Sweden is still a team, so why did he lose to the Chinese team!"

"In another game in this group, Hungary beat Mexico. If Sweden loses to Hungary, wouldn't the group be eliminated?"

"Even if you draw with Hungary, you have to look at the goal difference, and Sweden may not have an advantage."

Chen Qiang leaned on the chair, listening to the discussions of people around him, while watching his son destroying the chocolate cake on the plate.

Before coming to Sweden, Chen Qiang informed Esther in the United States by telegram, so Esther brought his son to Sweden to reunite with Chen Qiang.

"The World Cup should last for more than 20 days. Since you returned to China, our family has never been together for so long." Esther said with a resentful look on his face.

Chen Qiang held Esther's hand and comforted him: "Before coming to Sweden, I asked the organization for a long-term family leave to accompany you."

"Long holiday? How many months will it take?" Esther asked.

"It's twenty years!" Chen Qiang sighed.

"Twenty years of vacation? Are you kidding? You should retire in twenty years!" Esther suddenly realized something when he said this, and she asked, "You are not planning to go back to China?"

"No, I still have to go back, but it's only twenty years later. China's sports development has been on track. We have a world championship and scored into the World Cup. My job has been completed. In the past ten years, I have lost too much money. In the next time, I will return to my family. After the World Cup is over, let's go home together!" Chen Qiang said with a smile.

"Go home together!" Hearing this sentence, Esther couldn't help but shed tears. She had been waiting for this sentence for ten years!

...

In 1962, in Madison Square Garden, Chen Qiang sat in the VIP seat. Next to him was a man wearing glasses, and it was NBA's president Walton Kennedy.
To be continued...